*** 2025-26 ISU WBB Season Thread ***
- Thread starter BoxsterCy
- Start date
I’m excited to see the season play out. I think we have a really talented team. We have the preseason Big 12 player of the year and another first team selection. We added a former McDonald’s All American at PG. We have lots of returning players. I understand the tempered expectations based on the disappointment of last year, but this year and next the expectation should be a conference championship and a run in the tournament. These expectations should be on CBF too. If we have another season like last, I personally think that falls on CBF.
No it was held on private property with "no trespassing" signs on the doors and guarded by black helicopters.
Seems to be almost nothing on social media about ANY of the scrimmages. I get the agreement on no news but you'd think there would be some leaks. Did see the posts here about Williams maybe getting her nose smacked but no follow-up.
Gophers played KSU and all I have found here locally on Gopher stuff is that they also played last year and in Mpls with this year being in Manhattan.
Illinois State WBB went 24-13 (14-6 in the MVC) last season. They lost their best player to Mizzou and their #2 scorer to graduation, but did return some good players. Their only player over 6'1" is a 6'3" freshman. As a team they hit around 39% of their threes last season.
In short, they are a solid team probably about on par with UNI. They did split two meetings with UNI last season but lost 3x to Drake (including in the MVC tournament). They won three games in the WNIT.
In short, they are a solid team probably about on par with UNI. They did split two meetings with UNI last season but lost 3x to Drake (including in the MVC tournament). They won three games in the WNIT.
What's everyone's prediction for the non-con? What would satisfy you?
I predict 9-2, with the losses coming from two of Iowa, Drake, Marquette, Indiana/Gonzaga. I would be satisfied with this but frustrated if one or both of those losses came from Iowa or Drake. I think the likelihood they go undefeated is about the same a going 9-2.
I predict 9-2, with the losses coming from two of Iowa, Drake, Marquette, Indiana/Gonzaga. I would be satisfied with this but frustrated if one or both of those losses came from Iowa or Drake. I think the likelihood they go undefeated is about the same a going 9-2.
Iowa is going to be very good. I won’t be surprised to see that as a loss. To me the key is if Williams is a scorer or not. Drake will be a win. They lost a lot. Marquette returns everyone, but they shouldn’t be a threat as they struggled offensively last year. They also don’t have the size to deal with ISU. Indiana has potential, but is rebuilding. After losing three of their top players from a mid pack BIG team. Competitive? Absolutely. The Zags return the WCC fresh of the year and a 6’6”post who wasn’t particularly effective last year and have a brand new backcourt. They will be interesting. I’d agree with 9-2 as likely unless our new lineup gels with multiple scorers making this a hard team to defend. Keep your eyes on Williams and Hare to make that difference and a, hopefully, consistent scorers making in Harris off the bench.
Coming off his only regular season conference championship, shared three ways, and returning almost everyone (except Des Francis) in 2000-2001, ISU finished a distant third to Sherri Coale and the fabulous Stacy Dales.
Saying CBF has "three solid pieces" in 24-25 is disingenuous:
Audi Crooks is 2x All Big XII First Team and a Third-Team All American
Addy Brown & Jada Williams - McDonalds All Americans - Brown is a preseason All Big XII pick - both have been starters since they were Freshman
Evangelia Paulk - (Wofford) - SoCon Player of the Year & SoCon Defensive POY (2024) / SoCon Freshman of the Year (2023) - Led SoCon in Steals and ranked #2 in Rebounding
Kenzie Hare - (Marquette) - Big East Honorable Mention - Averaged 14 Pts / Game and led Big East in 3 Pt Shots Made - 2022-23 - Made Big East All Freshman Team
Sydney Harris - 2023 MAC Freshman of the Year at Central Michigan - ISU Career leader in 3PT% Shooting (with > 100 attempts) at .462.
Arianna Jackson - Started 32 of 34 Games in 2024-2025 - recognized as "defensive stopper"
This team is seven deep with experienced players, six of whom have been "honored" by the other coaches in their respective conferences. On top of that, they're smart - seemingly the whole team makes the academic honor role. Even the casual fan can see how the skill sets of each player fit the framework of team needs. This team is LOADED and should win conference with a deep NCAA run, if Fennelly can handle the pressure of being the hunted favorite.
Nothing dishonest (that’s what disingenuous means) about saying three solid pieces. While others have been honored in other conferences, we all know that doesn’t necessarily translate to a power conference. High school all Americans are included in my three. Harris has potential but could disappear last year. AJ is very inconsistent offensively as she has always battled injuries. I’ve also consistently mentioned Hare as one to watch this year since she is healthy, but has yet to show her potential in limited play here. As for my statement about 99-01 you decided to nitpick with one season. Those two teams went 54-12 and 25-7 in conference play. The 99-00 team had four all conference players and finished the season ranked #7. The 00-01 team a distant third? Three games back and one out of second. Finished the season ranked #8 in the country, one spot behind OU, and they beat that OU team to repeat as Big 12 tournament champions.
Illinois St also has a Freshman From Ankeny Centennial, Jayden Pratt. Also I think the Head Coach is related to Josh Carper.
Some might say Stacy Frese was a pretty big loss as well...
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The Illinois St Head Coach is Carper's sister-in-law
I agree with most of this. The team is still trying to play the underdog to a certain extent even though they are ranked #14 and expected to host in March.
I think we clearly have the best top three of anyone in the league and depth the equal or better than anyone else. Baylor would be second for top three players. TCU added Miles and bunch of roster fill-ins. I think the coaches voted TCU over ISU/Baylor because they were voting Campbell over Fennelly and Colleen. For me not getting at least a piece of the title this season will be hugely disappointing. If I had my hands on the pressure wheel I'd turn it full on. We have a two year window to excel before I fear we will be cast into the WBB wilderness. We can't play the old standby excuses "We don't have a quality post", "We need a PG" or the "But we're so young!".
We really should expect to win all of our NC games, we'll be favored in all of them. Iowa will be tough. We will be favored but they are 8-2 in our last 10 rivalry games so they will be confident. 10 years ago you'd just pick the home team. Key to that game will be Iowa bigs IMHO. Not many teams have a post to match up with Crooks. They have the size to not let Crooks score 30+ and work for her 25 and also the speed/quickness that might give her trouble defending. This assumes Hawks Heiden doesn't get in early foul trouble. One team or the other will probably smoke a bunch of threes and than the losing fans can say it they lost only because the other team got hot!
Very well said, the one big factor IMHO is staying healthy. Getting one of the top three hurt and out for the season can/will change everything.
