Predicting a Case Western 2-0 weekend. If they stay unselfish and no one starts believing it is "their turn" to shine, frankly they are unbeatable. They have 7 all conference level players, elite guard play, bigs with grit, and the 2 best "bench" players in the ENTIRE COUNTRY. Adjusted for size and comp, maybe in all of the NCAA. I mean it isn't even funny; Maccaux and Trunley can go.

Interested to see how Trunley adjusts next year to basically an entire new team of transfers.

I could see an update in Cleveland this weekend if Case doesn't come to play or rebound like they did at NYU or CMU. You would've thought that they all planned to box out with their hands down the last time the played Carnegie. Offensively they will be fine, but the game is played at both ends.

I do not see any upset potential with NYU/Brandeis. If I was a betting man, I'd bet on a 3 way tie for first in the UAA.

Quote from: ADL70 on December 12, 2023, 11:59:16 AM

Quote from: UAA_Truthsayer on December 10, 2023, 06:55:13 PM
Got an early look at CWRU going into conference play. I think it is silly that division 3 doesn't value strength of schedule as much as they should. There are 3 top 15 teams in the Cleveland Metro and they don't play each other: why?

Colin Khal is an early lock for all conference, all region, and maybe all-American. The kid competes at a high level. At times Case can lack direction and focus as they are team that relies almost entirely on transfers. I would press them when their primary ball handler is on the bench. It is tough to piece together former starters from previous schools with former starters at the current school. It will be interesting to see how it all works when they start play competition that matches the skill on their roster.

I'm disappointed that CWRU and JCU aren't playing one another and the first four games in December are against weak teams. But Capital is 8-2 with losses only to CWRU and 6-2 RV Marietta. Then too in Vegas after Christmas Spartans face # 4 Oswego State and  8-1 Clark whose only loss is to #5 Tufts by 4 points. And of course three other UAA squads are in the Top 25. SoS will be just fine.

I think that it's inaccurate to say CWRU relies almost entirely on transfers.  The top 5 in minutes/game are 2 transfers and 3 returners from last year. To me their weakness is the absence of a true point guard. Mazzeo is filling that role, but it wasn't his role at BW.

I wouldn't compare minutes played with impact on the court. Mazzeo and Khal are undoubtably the heart and soul of this team. With Maccaux and Manigault starting to contribute more off the bench, this team could be called the "Weather School of Management Spartans." Trunley and Rashid are both extremely valuable pieces and Thronburn gives them size on defense, but they don't seem to have the same domineering power.

Got an early look at CWRU going into conference play. I think it is silly that division 3 doesn't value strength of schedule as much as they should. There are 3 top 15 teams in the Cleveland Metro and they don't play each other: why?

Colin Khal is an early lock for all conference, all region, and maybe all-American. The kid competes at a high level. At times Case can lack direction and focus as they are team that relies almost entirely on transfers. I would press them when their primary ball handler is on the bench. It is tough to piece together former starters from previous schools with former starters at the current school. It will be interesting to see how it all works when they start play competition that matches the skill on their roster.