Even with the seemingly large gap between the top and bottom of the UAA at this point, I have no doubt that everyone in the conference will beat the crap out of each other and the conference champ will more than likely have at least 4 losses

The Dec. 20th match up between CMU and Richard Stockton keeps getting more interesting as both teams rise in the polls. Should be a good test for both squads.

It is way too early in the season to make any solid predictions being that most schools are only a game or 2 into their conference schedule and some haven't had a conference game at all yet. This should be interesting to see what people say on this board.

Quote from: Gregory Sager on December 01, 2008, 01:32:19 AM

Quote from: tommygun on December 01, 2008, 12:46:24 AM
I thought it worth noting that CMU won their 18th consecutive non-conference game today.  That surprised me.  Their last three wins have been against Catholic, John Carroll, and Wooster.  Last year they beat a 21 win Gwynedd Mercy team, and a 19 win Misericoridia team in the ECAC, as well as Christopher Newport, Ohio Northern, Averett, and Capital (they beat Catholic last year as well.)  So it seems they haven't exactly been ducking people. 

I'm not really sure what any of this means, other than recently Carnegie Mellon has won a lot of non-conference games, but it seemed worth mentioning.  Wash U. has also won 18 consecutive non-conference games.  This is also an outstanding achievement as six of those wins came in last year's NCAA tournament, as many people might remember.

That's the hallmark of a good conference: Top-to-bottom strength. CMU only went 6-8 in UAA play last season, so that 19-9 final record achieved by the Tartans is a testament to the fact that even mediocre UAA teams are very good by D3 standards. The same thing applies to the WIAC, where even the bottom-feeders traditionally hover somewhere in the 15-win range, and to the CCIW, where the team that's picked to finish last this season, Millikin, is already 5-0.

Does anyone know of any other impressive winning streaks in D3 hoops? (non-conference, rivial, ect.) I don't know if that information is even tracked by the NCAA or anyone for that matter.

Quote from: LogShow on January 17, 2008, 02:03:41 PM
Looks like Brandeis will have their hands full this weekend...hopefully they can make it through Friday first.

Does anyone smell any upsets this weekend?

I think the Tartans are going to come up with a HUGE win on Friday night.

Quote from: ILive4This on January 17, 2008, 01:30:25 PM
okay so I would really like to get the convo going to this weekend's matchups, especially since the game of the week if not the season is perhaps in our conference this weekend. Although with a tough game for Brandeis in Pittsburgh on Friday, who knows...

The atmosphere in Skibo on Friday night for the CMU-Brandeis game should be awesome. There is a great deal of excitement on campus and I look for it to be a packed house. Links to both the CMU radio broadcast and LiveStats of the game can be found here.


http://www.cmu.edu/athletics/intercollegiate-sports/mens-teams/basketball/schedules/index.html

Quote from: Dave "d-mac" McHugh on January 15, 2008, 10:26:39 PM

Quote from: hugenerd on January 15, 2008, 01:50:17 AM
Dave "d-mac" McHugh --

I presented the data from Massey as well.  I dont know exactly what criteria goes into this rating but "at least I am presenting another fact to the argument." WIAC and CCIW are not in the top 3 in either Massey rating (regular or MOV). Additionally I said nothing about the 0.500 benchmark in my comment, I was talking about the overall out of conference record for the UAA, and the UAA has the best out of conference record in the country (UAA: 70-18 (Massey incorrectly counts Emory's exhibition loss to davidson and NYU won tonight), 0.795; NESCAC: 92-27, 0.773; ODAC 47-21, 0.691; CCIW: 60-28, 0.682, and WIAC, 51-27, 0.654).

Additionally, since you are so adamant about this top to bottom argument, how can you put the WIAC ahead of the UAA when they have a team that is 3-11.

The arguement that started this is debate was that every team in the UAA was above .500 - thus they should be considered the best conference in the nation.

Quote from: bouttime on January 14, 2008, 12:14:44 AM
With the start of UAA play underway, I think it should be noted of the rediculous non-conference record racked up by UAA teams. 69-14. As of today, all teams in the UAA are above .500. Also there are 3 (hopefully 4) teams in the top 25. With numbers like that, I dare anyone to name a better conference top to bottom in the country.

I took the dare... and named the CCIW and the WIAC. The reason I took the WIAC over the UAA right now is because I feel that they are a stronger conference from top-to-bottom than the UAA, at this time.

Quote from: Dave "d-mac" McHugh on January 14, 2008, 11:41:37 PM
And I am willing to bet that will change as we get further into conference action!

I also pointed out that my thoughts on the fact may change.

The fact that all UAA teams was not my sole arguement for them being the best conference in the country. You need to take the other points that I made (non-conference record, teams with national ranking) into consideration as well. Even though there are other conferences that have 4 teams in the top 25, there is not another conference in the country with 3 teams in the top 5. I also agree with the points made by hugenerd reguarding the Massey rankings and the WIAC having a 3-11 team.

Quote from: David Collinge on January 15, 2008, 01:56:41 PM

Quote from: bouttime on January 15, 2008, 01:19:45 PM

Quote from: chubbyboybaby on January 15, 2008, 08:56:01 AM
Even if Brandeis beats Rochester this Sunday, I do not think they should get the number 1 ranking.   If you compare Rochester and Brandeis's schedule you can see how many close games Brandeis had to teams they should have blown out.  They lost to Umass Dartmouth who at the time was considered a bum team, they hardly beat elms, they beat Framingham state by 4, and they beat Bridgewater state by 5.  Their only "real" test this year so far was Amherst in which they won (which is a HUGE win... but still).  Rochester on the other beat Nazareth twice, beat Carnegie Mellon by double digit numbers, and beat Brockport state.  Their schedule thus far has been harder and their victory margins have been better than Brandeis.  If both Rochester and Brandeis has one loss, I think Rochester should keep the #1 ranking.  If you are going to give it to Brandeis, you might as well give it to Umass Dartmouth should they stay undefeated that long.

I'm not following the logic here. Forget all the margin of victory and strength of schedule stuff. If the #2 team in the country beats the #1 team, there is no reason that they shouldn't take over the #1 spot.

Unless, of course, the #24 beats the #2 team two days earlier...

I can only hope that this is the case.

Quote from: chubbyboybaby on January 15, 2008, 08:56:01 AM
Even if Brandeis beats Rochester this Sunday, I do not think they should get the number 1 ranking.   If you compare Rochester and Brandeis's schedule you can see how many close games Brandeis had to teams they should have blown out.  They lost to Umass Dartmouth who at the time was considered a bum team, they hardly beat elms, they beat Framingham state by 4, and they beat Bridgewater state by 5.  Their only "real" test this year so far was Amherst in which they won (which is a HUGE win... but still).  Rochester on the other beat Nazareth twice, beat Carnegie Mellon by double digit numbers, and beat Brockport state.  Their schedule thus far has been harder and their victory margins have been better than Brandeis.  If both Rochester and Brandeis has one loss, I think Rochester should keep the #1 ranking.  If you are going to give it to Brandeis, you might as well give it to Umass Dartmouth should they stay undefeated that long.

I'm not following the logic here. Forget all the margin of victory and strength of schedule stuff. If the #2 team in the country beats the #1 team, there is no reason that they shouldn't take over the #1 spot.

With the start of UAA play underway, I think it should be noted of the rediculous non-conference record racked up by UAA teams. 69-14. As of today, all teams in the UAA are above .500. Also there are 3 (hopefully 4) teams in the top 25. With numbers like that, I dare anyone to name a better conference top to bottom in the country.

look for the UAA to get its 4th team in the top 25. CMU has recieved votes in the last 2 polls and with 2 more wins this weekend moving them 10-2, I would be shocked if they weren't included in the top 25.

There has been alot of talk about the UAA this year with Rochester, Brandeis, and WashU being a big factor in the national picture. Even though they lost their UAA opener, look for CMU to sneak up on some teams as the UAA schedule progresses. They are 8-2 right now coming off a huge win at then #12 Captial and a win at Juniata. The Tartans host Averett tonight and Lycoming on Sunday. I would love to see a 10-2 Tartan squad with Brandeis coming into Skibo on January 18th. Mark your calendars, that is going to be a very good game.

The West Penn Classic was done away with because there was not support from all of the participating coaches to continue the event. It was always a nice way to start the year and get a decent gauge on how the team was coming along. It's a shame that it was continued.

Quote from: Wydown Blvd. on July 09, 2007, 12:19:19 PM
Finally some movement on this board!!!

Not too much disparity from Marty's post. The best in the UAA are teams that did not lose much. Wash U, Brandeis, and UofR could all win the conference.

1) Wash U. (13-1)
2) Brandeis (12-2)
3) Rochester (11-3)
4) Chicago (6-8)
5) NYU (4-10)
6) Emory (4-10)
7) Case (3-11)
8) Carnegie (3-11)

Sleeper picks to be above .500: Chicago, Case

WashU: They could go undefeated. Didn't really lose anyone except Nickitas really. And they are simply "that" good. The challenge for them came v. NYU (and Boone, Decorso, and Falcon graduated). I think the loss at Brandeis for them was a fluke. It was their worst game of the second half of the season and when Wallis and Nading fouled out, it was over. Ruths didn't get enough shots off, etc. Not having a solid backup point was the biggest deficit to this team. And O'Boyle should be back (not to mention the 3 recruits at point guard), so it'll get better and better for WashU. Game to watch: WashU at Rochester.

Brandeis: Their senior class is stacked: DeLuca and co. (Coppens, Graves, and Rexhepi). Great recruits coming, who Ole Ollie mentioned before; I think they can beat Wash U once so I gave them one; Rochester will beat them once at the Palestra. Game to watch: BU at Rochester.

UR: Onyiriuka can single handedly destroy teams. Lost Snider. Experience helps them and will be a huge factor; Im thinking loss to Brandeis 1x and loss to Wash U 2x, and loss to hmm Chicago maybe. Wash U and Rochester have the greatest home-court advantage. Could win the conference. They don't play as well on the road. Game to watch: UR at BU.

Chicago: Two heads of the three headed monster graduate; Hainje impresses me more than Federigos

NYU: This is just based on gut. Third best home-court advantage especially on Friday nights; however, I don't think they have enough to capitalize.

Emory: Coming off a 2-12 conference record, I don't think they are going to have a five game improvement. New coach also -- it'll take a little time for this team to get to the middle of this top-heavy conference. I don't know if Federigos can carry the load without Sosa. They'll have one surprise win though at least. But they even lost their senior night game at home last year to Case; Ill check their recruits again but I don't think they are getting that much better.

Case: hey you never know, and they were young last year and still won some. They return their top four leading scorers, Conrad (15.7 ppg), Young (14.2 ppg), Bradford (8.2 ppg), and Skuski (8.0 ppg). They will win a few. They were in several games last year (Senior Night v. Brandeis, Chicago 2x, Carnegie Mellon 2x); Could win as many as 6 or 7.

CMU: What a difference from 2006, wow. Is Greg Gonzalez coming back? (I wouldn't think so, but I figured I'd ask) Otherwise they need more size. Einwag has the talent to be 1st team UAA, but will CMU get enough wins? I hate putting them this low though.

Greg Gonzalez will be back for one more season after redshirting last year. I look for good things from the Tartans this year they had a solid recruiting class with Matthew Pettit, F 6-6; Shane Rife, F 6-6;  Sam Huebner, F 6-6, Drew Cole, G 6-1. Add them to the mix with returners Geoff Kozak, Ryan Einwag, Jack Anderson, and Corey O'Rourke; good things could happen. We will have to wait and see.

Just a heads up to the UAA faithful. CMU plays Lebanon Valley tonight in the ECAC South quarter finals. The ECAC is the D3 equivilent of the NIT. I know NYU is also in the ECAC Metro tournament as the #1 seed. I think that it is safe to say that the UAA has solidified itself as one of the top conferences in the country considering 6 out of 8 teams are involved in post-season play.