Top 25 talk

[Hugenerd]

Chicago also wins.  WashU and Chicago still control their own fate for the UAA AQ.  Brandeis needs to winout and help from Chicago. 

If Chicago wins the UAA, the UAA has a very realistic shot at 4 teams in the NCAAs.

Precisely, hugenerd, because the UAA gets to put a contender into the Pool C calculations in each region in which they have a contender.

Possibly the statistically weakest team, Chicago enters as the Pool A bid.  Let's assume that Chicago is the Pool A bid.

Rochester's chance at a Pool C bid comes out of the East Region.  Rochester is most likely the East Region leading Pool C bid.

Wash StL is in the Midwest Region.  If Augie wins the CCIW tourney, they have inflicted another loss on Wheaton, Elmhurst and IWU.  Lawrence probably wins the MWC.  Thus, WUSTL is the leading Pool C candidate from the Midwest Region.

Brandeis is in the Northeast Region.  They are currently regionally ranked #3, trailing Amherst and UMass-Dartmouth.  Losing to Chicago, but beating NYU probably doesn't hurt their New England Regional Ranking too badly, especially if Amherst, UMass-Dartmouth and WPI inflict losses in their conference tourneys.

Voila, 4 UAA's in the tourney.

The challenge for a "mono-region" conference, e.g., the CCIW, is that the CCIW can only bring one team to the table at a time from the Midwest Region.

Great possibilities guys but I don't think Chicago wins the Pool A bid. That will go to Washington or Brandeis, making Chicago a bubble Pool C bid. I could be wrong but I think the UAA only get three teams and Chicago is the odd man out, especially if any of the region's top seeds get bumped off in their conference tournament. If all the current conference leaders get the Pool A  bids then they might have a shot at a Pool C.

I dont see how you think Brandeis has a better chance at winning the AQ than Chicago. Chicago just has to win out, Brandeis needs to win out AND for Chicago to beat Washu.  Any other realistic scenario and someone else, besides Brandeis gets the AQ.  That said, Chicago still has to play Brandeis and WashU to complete their run to the AQ, which wont be easy, but they at least have both games at home. 

The reason I think it will be even harder for Brandeis is that if they beat Chicago tomorrow, Chicago really wont have much to play for next weekend and, for Brandeis to get the AQ, Chicago has to win.  So in my opinion, the most probably scenario is still for WashU to get AQ, with the second most likely being Chicago getting the AQ, and the least probably (due to tiebreakers and needing help from other teams) is Brandeis getting the AQ.

Chicago's Pool C chances are slim at best if they get another loss.  That said, if they win out, they get the AQ, so it doesnt matter what their Pool C resume would be.

[Gregory Sager]

Great possibilities guys but I don't think Chicago wins the Pool A bid. That will go to Washington or Brandeis, making Chicago a bubble Pool C bid.

If the Maroons play Brandeis on Sunday and Wash U next Saturday the way that they played NYU last night (I was at the game), then Chicago will definitely win the Pool A bid from the UAA. Given the fact that the Maroons will play those two games in their own building, it's quite feasible.

The reason I think it will be even harder for Brandeis is that if they beat Chicago tomorrow, Chicago really wont have much to play for next weekend and, for Brandeis to get the AQ, Chicago has to win.

Even if Brandeis beats Chicago on Sunday, I don't look for a letdown from the Maroons next weekend. They'll have plenty to play for -- for two senior starters and two senior reserves it'll be their last game ever (because Chicago's already a wobbly Pool C possibility at best, and a loss to the Judges will completely wipe the Maroons out of Pool C consideration). Plus, Wash U is Chicago's archrival, and the presence of several Chicagolanders on the Wash U roster will fire up the Maroons even more. You never lay down for an archrival, especially when you're playing them on your home floor in your final game.

[Hugenerd]

I didnt mean the would lay down, I was just saying that it could make a slight difference in the players attitudes towards the game, regardless of what they would admit.  Of course they would still want to win, but they may not have the same urgency as if they were playing for the UAA championship.

[Ralph Turner]

Injury update -- UMHB's 6'7" forward Matt Dickey (and starter of 12 of 19 games) is out for the season with a broken hand.  He is a versatile player in their rotation. He has a big vertical leap and can move outside.  In 19 games he had 6 points and 5 rebounds in 20 minutes per game.

Another UMHB starter, Jason Wagner a 5'10" guard, has also been injured for the last few weeks.  Wagner had started 15 games (of 20) and averaged 11 points and 3 steals in 21 minutes.

[wooscotsfan]

Final:  #12 Wooster 92  Earlham 65

Wooster gets the road win led by James Cooper with 29 points.  Scots are 22-3, 15-1 NCAC.  Next game is NCAC tourney first round at home.

[magicman]

Plattsburgh State goes to 23-2 with an 86-75 win over SUNYIT. It was the Cardinal's 16th straight victory and also gave them a perfect season in the SUNYAC conference at 16-0. It marked the first time since the 1986 Potsdam St. Bears that a team has run the table in the always tough SUNY league. 

[Gregory Sager]

I didnt mean the would lay down, I was just saying that it could make a slight difference in the players attitudes towards the game, regardless of what they would admit.  Of course they would still want to win, but they may not have the same urgency as if they were playing for the UAA championship.

I think that the idea of playing spoiler to their most hated rival would give them all the urgency that they need.

[magicman]

Greg and hugenerd,

I'm not saying that Chicago can't win the UAA as they've certainly proven they can play with the best. I just think they have a tougher road than Brandeis or Washington U. and the odds are against them. Both those teams finish with NYU and Chicago. I think 1 of them will win both games and that will be your champion. That will leave Chicago with a 17-8 record if they split their last 2 and I don't think that will get them in with a Pool C bid. Kind of strange because they could finish better than UR in the conference and UR will get a Pool C because of their ranking in the East region. Lots of good teams with better records than 17-8 will be staying home. Our SUNYAC conference in NY will probably have 3 teams with 20 or more wins and 2 more with 18 or 19 wins but at best we'll get 2 teams into the NCAA's. Just the way I see it  with Chicago. On the flip side of that, just saw Ithaca College beat Stevens and Nazareth the 4th and 5th ranked teams in the East region on back to back days to claim the Empire 8 regular season crown. So Chicago, facing the top 2 teams in the UAA a week apart could pull it off and claim the AQ.     

[LogShow]

Thats quite a bit of red I see...typical weekend

[ILive4This]

The Terrell Hollins show is back as Brandeis leads at Chicago 43-38 with 19 remaining in the game

Interesting statistic, Brandeis has not lost a game it led at the break all season, and they led 39-36 at half time in this game

[ILive4This]

Also WASH U was down by 4 to NYU at the half but have since taken the lead by 5 with 14 minutes to go.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Wash U just lost its first game when leading at the break... Chicago 74 - Brandies 66

[Hugenerd]

Great possibilities guys but I don't think Chicago wins the Pool A bid. That will go to Washington or Brandeis, making Chicago a bubble Pool C bid.

If the Maroons play Brandeis on Sunday and Wash U next Saturday the way that they played NYU last night (I was at the game), then Chicago will definitely win the Pool A bid from the UAA. Given the fact that the Maroons will play those two games in their own building, it's quite feasible.

The reason I think it will be even harder for Brandeis is that if they beat Chicago tomorrow, Chicago really wont have much to play for next weekend and, for Brandeis to get the AQ, Chicago has to win.

Even if Brandeis beats Chicago on Sunday, I don't look for a letdown from the Maroons next weekend. They'll have plenty to play for -- for two senior starters and two senior reserves it'll be their last game ever (because Chicago's already a wobbly Pool C possibility at best, and a loss to the Judges will completely wipe the Maroons out of Pool C consideration). Plus, Wash U is Chicago's archrival, and the presence of several Chicagolanders on the Wash U roster will fire up the Maroons even more. You never lay down for an archrival, especially when you're playing them on your home floor in your final game.

Chicago beats Brandeis today so I guess we have a championship game to look forward to in the UAA, as Chicago hosts WashU next weekend.  Chicago could make it (potentially) four UAA teams in the NCAAs by winning at  home against the Bears.  We also wont have to worry about any tiebreakers as the winner will be the outright champion.  Chicago has only lost once at home in conference this year, by one (64-63) to Rochester.  Should be a good matchup.

[David Collinge]

HOW THEY FARED (week of Feb. 18-24) (COMPLETE)      
      
#   1   Amherst (23-2) def. Colby 86-69
#   2   Centre (23-1) won at Oglethorpe 65-59 and won at Sewanee 82-50
#   3   Hope (21-3) def. Calvin 76-59 and won at Tri-State 74-57
#   4   Washington U. (19-5) lost to #6 Brandeis 68-66 and def. NYU 61-52
#   5   UW-Stevens Point (20-5) def. UW-La Crosse 89-62 and lost at #23 UW-Platteville 84-65
#   6   Brandeis (19-5) won at #4 Washington U. 68-66 and lost at Chicago 74-66
#   7   UW-Whitewater (21-4) def. #20 UW-Oshkosh 66-51 and def. UW-River Falls 80-75
#   8   Capital (21-4) lost to Heidelberg 80-74 and won at Otterbein 87-77
#   9   Mass.-Dartmouth (23-2) won at Mass.-Boston 92-72 and def. Plymouth State 80-67
#   10   Augustana (20-5) def. Illinois Wesleyan 83-68 and won at North Central 63-59
#   11   Plattsburgh St. (23-2) won at Cortland St. 56-53 and won at SUNYIT 86-75
#   12   Wooster (22-3) def. Allegheny 84-74 and won at Earlham 92-65
#   13   Guilford (21-4) won at Washington & Lee 65-52 and def. Emory & Henry 122-104
#   14   Rochester (19-5) def. Case Western Reserve 75-56 and def. Emory 76-63
#   15   Mary Hardin-Baylor (22-3) def. Hardin-Simmons 82-76 and def. McMurry 70-59
#   16   St. Thomas (21-4) lost at Concordia-Moorhead 67-57 and won at St. John's 82-63
#   17   Ursinus (23-2) def. Haverford 82-75 (OT) and won at Muhlenberg 72-69
#   18   Lawrence (20-2) def. St. Norbert 69-61 and won at Carroll 92-80
#   19   Virginia Wesleyan (20-5) def. Lynchburg 86-52
#   20   UW-Oshkosh (17-8) lost at #7 UW-Whitewater 66-51 and lost to UW-Superior 77-67
#   21   Maryville (TN) (22-2) def. Piedmont 98-70
#   22   Occidental (20-4) def. Cal Lutheran 67-63 and lost at Whittier 69-65
#   23   UW-Platteville (19-6) def. UW-Eau Claire 75-58 and def. #5 UW-Stevens Point 84-65
#   24   Millsaps (22-3) def. Hendrix 78-55
#   25   Stevens (20-5) lost at Ithaca 93-82

[magicman]

Wash U just lost its first game when leading at the break... Chicago 74 - Brandies 66

Did I miss something?