Really tough "in-region" start for the CCIW

The CCIW's 10-11 (.476) start in in-region games (through Nov. 24) is absolutely awful, especially considering that 8 of the losses, in my opinion, were games we probably would have considered "upsets" before the season started:

- Carthage to Whitworth
- Elmhurst @ Cornell
- Elmhurst vs Hamline
- Millikin vs Franklin
- North Central vs Bluffton
- North Central vs Edgewood
- North Central vs Aurora
- North Park vs Concordia

(Wheaton @ Manchester, Elmhurst @ St. Norbert, and Millikin vs Nebraska Wesleyan on a neutral court were probably games you expect to lose coming in.)

6 of the games above were home games, and 1 was by the preseason #5 team in the nation on a neutral court.

The league could really use a 5-0 record the next 2 days to get back on track a little. Those games are:

11/26, Carthage vs Pacific (in Honolulu)
11/27, Illinois Wesleyan vs Dominican
11/27, Augustana vs Anderson
11/27, North Central @ Illinois College
11/27, North Park @ Fontbonne


How the CCIW fares in its 65 in-region non-conference games is very important in building a good Opponents' Winning Percentage (OWP). With 34% of the precincts reporting, it looks like we're not going to build much of an advantage there this year.

I'll see my first 2010-11 IWU game in person Monday @ Webster. So far I've been all live video, live stats, and radio. Looking forward to seeing the boys in person...will blog about my observations here afterwards.