University Athletic Association

[WUPHF]

The Bears quickly moved past a slow start to knock off NYU 70-50.

I watched the first half, but had to leave before the half-time ping pong exhibition.  I did watch some of the ping pong between games.  Fun.

NYU did go on a few runs in the second half to make the game interesting, cutting a 20 point lead to 12, but the Bears quickly battled back.  Very good and balanced play by the starters and key reserves.

[newtonnancy]

Interesting year for the UAA, a really down NYU-where is Janice Quinn when you need her , a Case team that looks interesting, I don't know what to make of Rochester, does anyone have any thoughts?, Maroon's can beat anybody on any given day, Brandeis back to its long ago self, throw up 3's and hope and a Wash U team that again is the team to beat.

Re: Allen's comment about shutting down Chapin, its the first weekend that they played a team that understands defense and a staff that knows you don't have to outscore somebody only by going shot for shot

[deiscanton]

The Wash U vs Brandeis match sort of gave an indicator of how Amherst stacks up with Brandeis in a head to head match.     Amherst plays a similar style defense, and when I saw how Amherst easily shut down Emmanuel earlier this season in LeFrak Gym, it took all of my interest in a rematch with Amherst out the window for the time being.   An Amherst vs. Brandeis match would still be a decent game, but I would like to have some confidence in Brandeis being able to score enough against Amherst's defense to win before I ask for that rematch.  (And should it happen in a post-season setting, I'll prepare for that.)

The rematches with Wash U and Chicago come up in a few weeks in Waltham, MA, and I'll cheer Brandeis hard in those games-- but I honestly though that the Brandeis women did okay this weekend despite the two losses-- I am very fortunate for the win down at NYU in that tough 3 game stretch.

Now, Brandeis has 4 home games in conference play, and let's see how the Judges perform in those games.

I'm finally glad to see Lauren Rashford having a great weekend in conference play once again.

[WUPHF]

Case Western-Washington University is underway: http://tv.case.edu/athletics/.

The Bears with a quick start, but the Lady Spartans battle back and forces four turnovers and poor shooting.  Lots of lead changes and fast paced.

19-15 Washington University up over Case Western at the 10:00 minute mark.

A couple of random notes.  The quality of the video is not so good, but the announcers are first rate.  And, I am glad to be able to watch the games online, but I miss the Fahey foot stomps.  Also, bravo to Case Western for fielding a pep band!

[WUPHF]

Chicago with the lead in Pittsburgh, leading Carnegie Mellon 30-13 with 2:32 left in the first half.  CMU also has a pep band.

It may be the video, but that looks like the darkest gym I have ever seen.  Turn on the lights!

______________

Case Western plagued by cold shooting.  Washington University up 26-18 with 5:00 left in the first half.

[WUPHF]

Case Western-Washington University tied 30-30 with 33 seconds.  Have to go home for the evening.  Hope to watch a little of the Men's game.

[WUPHF]

Evening plans cancelled.  Another night of pizza, basketball, and maybe the Australian Open, with the wife and kitty.

Washington University up 58-50 with 3:26 left.  Case Western mounting a possible come back.

[WUPHF]

Brandeis takes out visiting Rochester 55-48 and Washington University with a win over Case 65-57.

[sumfun]

Nice win for Emory over Brandeis.  Maybe after being just behind the top teams in the UAA, Emory is turning the corner.  Good news unless you're a Brandeis fan.  They seem to be a bit down this year after their run in the NCAA's last year.

[deiscanton]

Halfway through the UAA season--

Wash U went 3-1 in their 4 game road stand to end up the leader at the halfway mark at 6-1 in UAA play.  The Bears now play Rochester and Emory at the Wash U Field House next week before going to Brandeis and NYU.

Rochester is now tied for second with Chicago at 5-2 in UAA play-- thanks to Rochester holding serve at home with the home sweep of Wash U and Chicago.  (Last year, Rochester was able to win the Friday game at the Palestra against Wash U, but dropped the Sunday game to Chicago.)   Rochester now has the tough Midwest trip at Wash U and Chicago next week.

Chicago is also at 5-2 in UAA play with the needed Friday night win at Emory to get a split on the road weekend.   Chicago hosts Emory and Rochester next week before going to NYU and Brandeis.

At the halfway mark, Wash U, Chicago, and Rochester seem to be in the driver's seat for spots in the NCAA tournament field with Wash U in the lead for the UAA automatic bid.

Brandeis is in 4th place in the UAA with a 4-3 mark in UAA play and a 11-6 overall record, but with the 3 losses in non-conference play, (2 of whom are to Tufts and Emmanuel, who are expected to return to the NCAAs-- the other to U. New England, which has a shot to win the TCCC and get that bid)  the Judges will need to step it up in February if they are to return to the NCAAs for a fifth straight year.  Brandeis will need to sweep Case and Carnegie Mellon on the road for starters next week to set up their February run.  A tough road to hoe over the next seven games, but if Brandeis can go 5-2 in February, the Judges may be able to get an at-large bid to the NCAAs with a 16-8 overall mark due to their strength of schedule.  Not an easy road, but not impossible either.  The Brandeis men were able to pull it off last year-- let's see if the Brandeis women can do the same.

NYU is in an either tougher road to return to the NCAAs with a 3-4 mark in UAA play and an 11-7 mark overall.  With 3 losses in local play to Mt. St Mary, Skidmore, and Hunter-- the Violets may have to go 6-1 the rest of the way to get a shot at an NCAA at-large bid.

Were people expecting Case to go 2-5 in league play at the halfway mark after their great start in non-conference play?  As NYU showed a few years back when the Violets went 3-11 in league play after a perfect non-conference start, having success in local play does not guarantee success in UAA play. 

Emory has had a few successful wins in league play (although the win at Brandeis seemed to be a result of Brandeis breaking down defensively at the wrong moment in giving up so many 3 pointers in the second half), but the Eagles also lost to Carnegie Mellon.  Emory may be at least a year away from being a top-level UAA team.

As for Carnegie Mellon, the Tartans may be 1-6 in UAA play halfway, but a very unfortunate turn of events having to go without Jacki Cortese for the remainder of the season.  It seems every year that the Tartans always seem to play better than their record indicates, but due to the respect that the other UAA teams have for CMU, the UAA teams do not take CMU lightly.

[WUPHF]

Washington University is alone at the top of the UAA today with a big win over Emory.  The Eagles really took it to Washington University early, but the Bears battled back to tie the game at the half 37-37.

Emory shot very well in the first half (56%), but Washington University turned up the defense in the second half.

Congratulations to Zoe Unruh for a career day, scoring 25 points including 5 three pointers.  Keep it up!

Unfortunately, the Bears suffered one of their worst defeats in recent memory on Friday in New York with a 63-51 loss to Rochester.

[Wydown Blvd.]

I get all my Washington University athletics related news from Student Life, the University newspaper that provides Division I level coverage to our Division III level sports teams. 

I mention Student Life and Division I because I found this editorial in the award winning newspaper this morning: http://www.studlife.com/forum/2010/02/01/why-washington-university-should-consider-starting-a-division-i-basketball-program/

I feel like I read the same editorial every few years.  These always make me laugh.

Just wanted to put the link for this accidentally funny editorial on the women's board (thanks for the laughs WUH +1)

[deiscanton]

Regional rankings for February 3 have been released by the NCAA

UAA teams regionally ranked:

Central

Wash U-- #3 in Central
Chicago-- #6 in Central

(Top two teams ranked in Central are Illinois Wesleyan and Carthage of the CCIW)

East

Rochester-- #3 in East
(Top two teams ranked in East are Ithaca and Skidmore)

No other UAA teams are regionally ranked.

If the field of 64 were determined today, the UAA gets 3 teams in-- with Wash U getting the Pool A automatic bid and Chicago and Rochester getting Pool C bids.

[WUPHF]

Washington University avenges the loss to Rochester with a big time win at the Field House, 68-40, in front of the largest crowd of the season.  The Bears move to 17-2 on the season and 7-1 in the UAA.

The story is much the same as it has been: a balanced offense along with relentless defense.  The Bears win the battle of the boards 43-28. 

Alex Hoover leads the way with 15 points.  Hoover is playing great basketball, by the way.  Very good play by Unruh, McFarlin, Evans, Morrison.

Incidentally, this game included something I have never seen before (or maybe just never noticed): two of the three officials were women.  The officials did a very good job tonight, though I am not sure that the intentional foul was necessary.

[WUPHF]

Elsewhere in the UAA

Chicago with the 31 point win at home over Emory University, 82-51.  Rochester looks to recover on the road against Chicago on Sunday.  New York takes out Carnegie Mellon on the road 66-52 while Brandeis wins by nine over Case Western 65-56.