Top 25 talk

[Fifth and Putnam]

Marietta brings back all but one. Big aspirations next year for the Pioneers.

[SpartyBlue]

Dubuque belongs on a preseason list by virtue of going 14-0 in a top 10 conference, being a top 5 Massey offense, and the top three point shooting team in the nation.  Very likely returns 9 of top 10 players and all 5 starters.  I thought they deserved a top 5 ranking at the end of this season on the basis of undefeated record, but hard to carve out respect in a year like this, I suppose.  Again, a shame there is no tournament, could have been settled on the court. 

[Titan Q]

Will keep a running/work in progress/unofficial preseason Top 25 list here based on info posted...

- Randolph-Macon
- Yeshiva (placement depends on Leifer decision)
- Illinois Wesleyan
- Marietta
- Trine
- UW-Oshkosh
- Dubuque
- Wheaton
- Emory
- St. Joseph (CT)
- Elmhurst
- Rochester

[Titan Q]

Thank you to Wheaton's Mike Schauer for joining me on episode #2 of the Q-cast!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_XlWlch4pk

0:00​ Playing Through a Pandemic
6:30​ National Committee Role
12:05​ Why the 2021 D3 MBB/WBB Tournaments Were Cancelled
22:55​ Selection/Seed Criteria
33:20​ Wheaton Thunder 2021
38:54​ Wheaton vs Illinois Wesleyan 2021 Title Game
43:00​ Wheaton and CCIW 2021-22
46:12​ The CCIW
48:45​ IWU/Wheaton Rivalry; Perspective
54:23​ Final Thoughts

[Titan Q]

Will keep a running/work in progress/unofficial preseason Top 25 list here based on info posted...

- Randolph-Macon
- Yeshiva (placement depends on Leifer decision)
- Illinois Wesleyan
- Marietta
- Trine
- UW-Oshkosh
- Dubuque
- Wheaton
- Emory
- St. Joseph (CT)
- Elmhurst
- Rochester

UAA intel in reaction to this post...

* 5 of Emory's seniors not returning including Williams/Davet.

* 90% chance Jack Nolan does not return to WashU.

* All Brandeis guys back.

* Rochester will be picked 4th or 5th in UAA.

[WUPHF]

You got all that from a reaction to a conversation with Mike Schauer?

In regards to Emory, they have 8 seniors so 5 is substantial, but not enough to keep them out of contention for the UAA.

I heard Rowley, Schner, Stuck, and Williams back with a relatively recent confirmation.

No way Rochester gets picked 5th, but as I said a year ago, they were not going to be a serious threat for the UAA championship in 2020-2021.  They went 1-5 against the top 3 teams last season. 

Rochester is a good team with a very good coach, but they are down from where they were a few years ago.  They are losing a talented point guard, though his back-up looked good in games this season.

[Titan Q]

You got all that from a reaction to a conversation with Mike Schauer?

I quoted the wrong post...corrected above now.

[Titan Q]

You got all that from a reaction to a conversation with Mike Schauer?

In regards to Emory, they have 8 seniors so 5 is substantial, but not enough to keep them out of contention for the UAA.

I heard Rowley, Schner, Stuck, and Williams back with a relatively recent confirmation.

No way Rochester gets picked 5th, but as I said a year ago, they were not going to be a serious threat for the UAA championship in 2020-2021.  They went 1-5 against the top 3 teams last season. 

Rochester is a good team with a very good coach, but they are down from where they were a few years ago.  They are losing a talented point guard, though his back-up looked good in games this season.

The main point of the comments I received was basically:
- The UAA will be strong in 2021-22 and have 4-5 teams that could be NCAA tourney contenders.
- At this point it does not look like the league has a preseason top 10 team...unless Jack Nolan returns to WashU.

[WUPHF]

I got that from your post and was responding with additional thoughts.  I was kidding about the Mike Schauer part of course.  I really enjoyed both interviews by the way.  Keep them coming.

[Titan Q]

I got that from your post and was responding with additional thoughts.  I was kidding about the Mike Schauer part of course.  I really enjoyed both interviews by the way.  Keep them coming.

Thank you!

[Gregory Sager]

You got all that from a reaction to a conversation with Mike Schauer?

You've gotta hand it to Mike. He's really got his ear to the ground ... even regarding leagues other than his own.

[WUPHF]

You got all that from a reaction to a conversation with Mike Schauer?

You've gotta hand it to Mike. He's really got his ear to the ground ... even regarding leagues other than his own.

Ha, ha! As the person who makes more mistakes than anyone, I know I should avoid pointing out the mistakes of others...

[Titan Q]

My interview with Whitworth coach Damion Jablonski...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt_Qyt2s54o&t=2157s

0:00​ Playing Through a Pandemic
5:00​ March Madness/Go Zags
6:52​ Whitworth 2020-21 Season
13:18​ Support from Former Whitworth President Beck Taylor
15:40​ Damion's Unique Road to Coaching & Division III Basketball
27:00​ Whitworth and the NWC
29:00​ Building an NCAA Tourney Resume
31:45​ 2019-20 Whitworth NCAA Tourney Run
34:30​ Cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Tournament
40:00​ Division III Brand in the Pac NW/Recruiting to Whitworth
42:54​ Thoughts on Division III After 10 Years
44:55​ Whitworth 2021-22 Expectations
49:30​ Final Thoughts

[Titan Q]

My conversation with Yeshiva head coach Elliot Steinmetz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CROUfJyJfPw

0:00​ Yeshiva University
8:00​ Elliot's path to the Yeshiva MBB job
15:01​ The last loss - Occidental, last season
17:32​ The Skyline Conference
19:30​ Chances of an at-large bid last year
22:17​ Huge wins in NCAA rounds 1&2
24:53​ The Sweet 16 game that didn't happen/The world changed
30:05​ Being in the epicenter of the pandemic
31:53​ Ryan Turell
37:35​ Gabriel Leifer
41:32​ This season - Rochester and St. Joseph (CT) games
46:53​ The Illinois Wesleyan game - December 2021
49:26​ Watching games this year
53:35​ Playing for a lot
57:22​ The Streak (36)
59:36​ Student-athletes as leaders and role models

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

They never should've lost that Oxy game. A bit of a choke job down the stretch.  Lot of guys from LA I think felt the pressure of playing before a big pro-YU crowd, although I suspect not being undefeated last year helped them throughout the season.