University Athletic Association

[WUPHF]

Congratulations to Washington University on yet another big-time win over a quality opponent.  You have been doing this all season long.  No need to stop now.  And, congratulations on earning the privilege to host next weekend.

I have been saying this all season long, but this team is playing the best defensive and probably the best offensive Bears squad that I have seen.  And, the balanced scoring on offense means than almost everyone who gets on the court will score and several will score in double figures.  I cannot wait for next weekend.
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Congratulations to Rochester for saving your best basketball for last.  Glad to have another UAA team in the mix.

[WUPHF]

Tip-off for the Washington University regional takes place in 5 minutes.  I am headed over to watch a little George Fox/Carthage game.

[WUPHF]

Congratulations to the Bears for yet another big win last night.  The headline on the Washington University Athletics reads: Unruh and McFarlin Power Bears into NCAA Elite Eight.  That is an understatement for sure.

Mount Union played a very tough first half and played strong in to the second half, but the Bears defense, along with cold shooting on the part of the Purple Raiders, allowed the Bears to take over the game.  Is that right?  Purple Raiders?

The second half included some big time plays down low from McFarlin, Evans, and others.

I watched the George Fox-Carthage game.  Very good teams.  The game should be great tonight.  And, the thought that the Bears get a rematch of the 2009 title game makes this all the more intriguing.  My prediction: Coach Fahey will double check the roster personally before the game begins.
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Also, congratulations to Rochester for taking down No. 10 Christopher Newport!  Good luck with Kean tonight!  The UAA rules!

[BruinFan]

I watched the George Fox-Carthage game.  Very good teams.  The game should be great tonight.  And, the thought that the Bears get a rematch of the 2009 title game makes this all the more intriguing.  My prediction: Coach Fahey will double check the roster personally before the game begins.

I wondered if anyone would remember that very surprising scorebook mistake from last year.   
I'm guessing most would consider WashU the favorite tonight, especially playing at home. We will see if the Bruin defense can keep the Bears under 55 points, which will be very tough to do.

[WUPHF]

I wondered if anyone would remember that very surprising scorebook mistake from last year.  I'm guessing most would consider WashU the favorite tonight, especially playing at home. We will see if the Bruin defense can keep the Bears under 55 points, which will be very tough to do.

I remember it like it was yesterday, and most fans that I talked to last night do as well, though no one could remember exactly what the problem was.  Something small.

George Fox played a great game last night.  They may be the most talented team we have at home in over a year.  Maybe even longer, based on the way they played last night.

I do believe that this Bears squad is more talented than the team we had in Michigan last year.

[BruinFan]

I think the roster issue last year in the final was that a player was inadvertently not listed in the official scorebook. Usually an assistant coach checks the roster and submits the starters to the official scorer about 12-15 minutes before game time ... then the head referee comes over and makes sure that the number of players listed in the book matches the number of players suited down and warming up on the court. It was a procedural oops, but still surprising given the magnitude of the game.

Regarding comparing last year's teams to this year. I cannot say that 09-10 Bruins are stronger than last year, but I also don't want to say they have dropped off from last year ... they are just different. Last year was magical and in some ways there were so many moments that just went their way that it started to seem easy even though I now they were working very hard. This year I don't think it has come as easily for them.

I hope it is great game tonight.

[mark_reichert]

Congratulations to the Bears for yet another big win last night.  The headline on the Washington University Athletics reads: Unruh and McFarlin Power Bears into NCAA Elite Eight.  That is an understatement for sure.

Mount Union played a very tough first half and played strong in to the second half, but the Bears defense, along with cold shooting on the part of the Purple Raiders, allowed the Bears to take over the game.  Is that right?  Purple Raiders?

The second half included some big time plays down low from McFarlin, Evans, and others.

As a Bears fan who was there, the Bears were greatly aided by Tessa Pohovey fouling out, and a sub-par game by Rosa LaMattina.

http://bearsports.wustl.edu/womensbball/NCAA2.HTM

I had thought Pohovey had been taken out with four fouls somewhere between five and ten minutes into the second half, but the box score reveals why she never came back in.  Not having to worry about her popping a three aided the Bears defense.

As good as the Bears defense is they still have a lot of trouble with fast teams that can hit three pointers.

[WUPHF]

As a Bears fan who was there, the Bears were greatly aided by Tessa Pohovey fouling out, and a sub-par game by Rosa LaMattina.

The Bears have been playing very good defense all season long and really pressured LaMattina.  And, the squad ranks 37th in three-point field goal defense.  I was there as well and that is my version of the story.

The Bruins, if I understand correctly, shoot very well from outside.  Maybe we can test your theory tonight.

[GoGreenGoRed]

In addition to the win, congratulations to Jaimie McFarlin for becoming the all-time leading rebounder at Wash U!

[Ethelred the Unready]

OK Wash U.   U of R took care of business.  Now it's your turn.

[deiscanton]

Wash U has indeed taken care of business.    UAA got 2 teams into the Final Four on the women's side.

Wash U has a rematch with Amherst next week.    

Rochester plays Hope in the other national semifinal.

Wash U remains perfect in home sectional contests in the NCAA tournament.

[WUPHF]

And, the Bears get a little revenge for last year.  Congratulations Coach Fahey and company for a great win. 

[mark_reichert]

A Great game to be at.  With the students still on break until Monday, there wasn't as many there as should have been, but we made a lot of noise anyway.

Go Bears!  Refamiliarize yourself with Shirk Center where you played in the annual Tip Off tournament this year (I think WashU's turn is next year), go beat Amherst (you have your work cut out for you), and root for your fellow UAA team Rochester (because Hope has played at the Shirk this year too.)   Also because an all UAA final would be sweet.

On the other hand, defeating Hope would be sweet revenge for 2006.

But let's concentrate on Amherst for now.

[WUPHF]

Go Bears!  Refamiliarize yourself with Shirk Center where you played in the annual Tip Off tournament this year (I think WashU's turn is next year),

We lose three key players this year.  What makes you think next year is our year?  This team can beat Amherst.

[mark_reichert]

Go Bears!  Refamiliarize yourself with Shirk Center where you played in the annual Tip Off tournament this year (I think WashU's turn is next year),

We lose three key players this year.  What makes you think next year is our year?  This team can beat Amherst.

Cough, Cough.  I was talking about hosting the Tip Off tournament next year   You know, that thing where IWU, Depauw and WashU lure a victim to one of their campuses.

I hope they can beat Amherst, since I was just reminded they beat at least a few of them 65-49 in Holland last year.

And  Hope has a advantage in having just played two games at Shirk.  Thank Stevens Point for  preventing IWU from being the first champion to win all of its tournament games at home, though I'm sure Hope would have been highly motivated to beat IWU because they didn't get to play in a Final Four at home.

Since the Final Four has slowly worked its way west, do you think WashU should put in a bid for 2012 and 2013?