University Athletic Association

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

For much of Division III, there hasn't been any basketball so far this season. Unfortunately for a growing number of schools, there won't be any season. Either because of a school decision or a conference one, more and more coaches are having to tell their teams they won't be playing any intercollegiate games until next season.

Those conversations have to be tough. What can also be difficult is keeping student-athletes engaged or even keep busy as a coach.

In this second of three podcasts surrounding the coronavirus climate in DIII, we chat with a couple of coaches who have programs on the back-burner until next academic year. Emory women's coach Misha Jackson discusses how and why the Atlanta-based institution decided to shutdown winter sports and how it has impacted her team. And Plattsburgh State men's coach Mike Blaine brings his perspective of a shutdown program, but from a conference-wide decision in New York State.

You will also hear how both coaches are working with their players, but also trying to be careful about their time and the stress of everything going on in player's lives.

You can listen to the podcast here: https://bit.ly/37r92A5

If you have questions, ideas, or want to interact with the show, feel free to send them to hoopsville@d3sports.com or use any of the social media options available.

If you enjoy the show via the podcasts, choose your favorite avenue to listen and/or subscribe via the the following four avenues (click on the images when necessary):
SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/hoopsville


 
   
We also have the podcast now on Tune-In and others coming. We will update them once we have better abilities to do so.

Don't forget you can always interact with us:
Website: www.d3hoopsville.com
Twitter: @d3hoopsville or #Hoopsville
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Hoopsville
Email: hoopsville@d3sports.com
Hoopsville Season Archive: www.team1sports.com/Hoopsville
YouTube: www.youtube.com/d3hoopsville

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The Division III basketball season technically started nearly three months ago, but it has taken until the end of January for it to start feeling like the season is really underway. Even so, only about a quarter of the division has played just a single game. Another quarter of the division will never take to the court. And in between is wide gulf of different options.

On the first video-version of Hoopsville this season, Dave McHugh is joined by much of the D3hoops.com crew, Pat Coleman and Ryan Scott, to react to what has been one of the more unique seasons ... to say it lightly.

We react to the challenges schools are facing, what coaches are grappling with on a daily basis - especially beyond games and practices, and why schools are making so many different decisions.

We also discuss what is likely the future of this season's NCAA Championship Tournaments and, more importantly, when the decision on those tournaments will be made.

Plus, will there be a Top 25? No. Well, yes. Kind of. Tune in to learn more on what's coming. Plus a lot more including Dave spinning off Pat's thoughts on those wishing to attend games.

Hoopsville is presented by D3hoops.com and airs from the WBCA/NABC Studio. You can watch the show by clicking on the video player above. Or you can listen to the podcast available on any of the service options in the right panel.

If you have questions about Division III basketball, feel free to send them and we will answer them on a the show. Email them to hoopsville@d3sports.com or use any of the social media options to the right.

You can WATCH the show or listen to the podcast here: https://bit.ly/3oASGKl or https://www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2020-21/january

Hoopsville broadcasts from the WBCA/NABC Studio. All guests are featured on the BlueFrame Technology Hoopsville Hotline.

If you have questions, ideas, or want to interact with the show, feel free to send them to hoopsville@d3sports.com or use any of the social media options available.

If you enjoy the show via the podcasts, choose your favorite avenue to listen and/or subscribe via the the following four avenues (click on the images when necessary):
SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/hoopsville


 
   
We also have the podcast now on Tune-In and others coming. We will update them once we have better abilities to do so.

Don't forget you can always interact with us:
Website: www.d3hoopsville.com
Twitter: @d3hoopsville or #Hoopsville
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Hoopsville
Email: hoopsville@d3sports.com
Hoopsville Season Archive: www.team1sports.com/Hoopsville
YouTube: www.youtube.com/d3hoopsville

[deiscanton]

Well, a new season is starting up soon, and a change is in the air, as for the first time in the history of the UAA, the UAA Women's Basketball games will be the second half of conference doubleheaders for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons. 

Friday tips for the women's UAA basketball games will be at approx 7:30 PM local time; Saturday'games at the beginning and end of UAA season when the teams play against their travel partners will have tips at approx 3 PM local time, and Sunday games will have a tip time of approx 2 PM local time.  In all cases this season, the men's basketball games will tip off the conference doubleheaders, and the women will play second.  This will once again be the case the following season before the men and women change places in the 2023-2024 season for the following 2 years.

On another front, sometimes being a fan of Brandeis for years gets me something like what I got yesterday.  A friend of mine who I watch the Boston Marathon with every year called me yesterday and told me that he is friends with a local dentist in the Boston area (Jessica Locke White) who captained the Brandeis women's basketball team during her senior year in the 1996-97 season, when she played with Kate Drummond. 

Apparently, during the call with my friend yesterday, I was told that Jessica Locke White remembered me from her playing days and wanted to say hi to me.  At my age, it sometimes happens that if the player is an average player in Brandeis women's basketball history (like Jessica was), and it has been a long time since that player played at Brandeis, then the player may remember me more than I remember her.  I tend not to dwell too much on the years that Brandeis goes 3-11 in the UAA these days-- I will watch and cheer them on, but it is not like Jessica Locke White will be the first player that pops in my head when I think of Brandeis women's basketball, sorry about that.....

Apparently, Jessica Locke White is a successful dentist, though.....

[Jester1390]

so what your saying is your a bandwagon fan. if things are good  your there with the sweatshirt and popcorn claiming your love for the program but when its down and all programs will eventually have a down cycle just ask conhusker football fans. You put away the jersey until its safe again.  Hmmm you don't remember average players sounds like she was above average in character since her teammates chose her as captain. 

Just a odd thing to write im so rememberable players remember me but you have to be at a certain level to get on my radar. I feel it was worth a little ball busting.

[WUPHF]

To be fair (and provide context), he is basically a legend as far as Division III fandom goes.  For example, you can find profiles on him in multiple student newspapers for schools other than Brandeis.  It does make sense that he would be the more memorable person in this case...

[Jester1390]

Just having fun

[gordonmann]

I remember the day I met DeisCanton but I'm not sure he does.

[WUPHF]

Just having fun

As jesters are wont to do, lol.

[RogK]

I'm sure at least 60% of Dr Locke White's dental patients switched to other dentists by late Friday after learning that deiscanton doesn't remember her much and that deiscanton wasn't suitably impressed when she played basketball.

[deiscanton]

Okay, enough of the heckling-- I get it when I am taking pies to the face....

Gordon, I am sure that you came to Auerbach Arena once or twice over the years to do a Brandeis game for the D3HoopsNet national internet radio network many years ago-- before streaming video came into existence.

I also attended 3 DIII Women's Basketball "Final Fours" over the years in person-- one was in Danbury, CT in the 2000-2001 season, when Wash U played Emmanuel in a national semifinal.  Wash U won their 4th straight national championship that weekend.

The other 2 "Final Fours" that I attended in person were when Springfield College hosted them.  The first year was Hope vs Southern Maine in the national title game, and the following year had Wash U play NYU in a national semifinal from Blake Arena while DePauw played Mary Washington in the other national semifinal.  DePauw went to Emmanuel for the Sweet 16/Elite 8 matches that year-- defeating Emmanuel in the Sweet 16 and Calvin in the Elite 8.  DePauw went on to win the national title that year by beating Wash U in the championship game.

I also remember meeting Mark Simon and Pat Coleman on their trips to Brandeis to cover games over the years as well....

I think that I may have met you, Gordon, at least at one of those "Final Fours" if not at Auerbach Arena.

And of course, how can I forget the internet radio call on D3HoopsNet of the Wash U at NYU game from Coles Center in the 2000-2001 season?  I listened to the entire game on replay the morning after the game.

[deiscanton]

DIII Men's and Women's Basketball open up their seasons today, but there is only one UAA team playing this weekend.

That would be NYU, who opens away at Kean Saturday afternoon at 1 PM Eastern.

NYU had an exhibition game last Sunday at DI Ivy League team Columbia, in which the Violets trailed by 11 at halftime before Columbia pulled away in the second half to win 89-55.   NYU did at least score the opening basket to take a 2-0 lead in the first minute, but that was the only lead NYU would have all game.

Brandeis women open their season Monday night at home vs UMass-Boston at 7 PM Eastern.

I just wanted to mention that NYU will be playing their non-conference home games on their Brooklyn campus at the Brooklyn Athletic Facility before playing their UAA home games at the Sportsplex at Hunter College this season.

Carnegie Mellon will be playing their home games at Wiegand Gym at the Cohon University Center on the CMU campus due to Skibo Gym being renovated this season.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, in-person attendance at Carnegie Mellon and NYU home games are limited to fully vaccinated members of their on-campus home communities (students, faculty, staff, and administrators) as well as 2 fully vaccinated family members of each player on the home team, per their respective university policies.

Both Wiegand Gym and the Brooklyn Athletic Facility gym are designed more as player basketball courts-- designed to be watched by spectators on streaming video rather than have in-person spectators.

Most of us will be watching Carnegie Mellon and NYU home games on streaming video and live stats this season.

[deiscanton]

I was not able to watch the NYU at Kean game on-line Saturday due to watching so many DIII soccer matches over the weekend, but I was not surprised that NYU had a comfortable victory over Kean.

Brandeis opens up at home against UMass-Boston at 6 PM Eastern.

Returning starters for Brandeis:  Camila Casaneuva, Emma Reavis

Other returning players who had previous playing time for Brandeis:  Kerry Tanke, Franchesa Marchese, Shannon Smally, Courtney Thrun

Tathiana Pierre may or may not be a returning member, but she has not played a minute on the court for Brandeis yet.

The other players on the Brandeis women's basketball roster are new this season.

Coaching changes for Brandeis:  Former associate head coach Scott Foulis has retired from the Brandeis staff-- Aseem Rastoogi promoted to top assistant coach.

This is the fifth meeting between Brandeis and UMass-Boston:  Brandeis leads the series, 3-1.  Each team has been undefeated vs the other on its home floor this series.

Also of note:  Heather Jacobs makes her DIII coaching return today as head coach of UMass-Boston.  She got her DIII coaching start as an assistant for Norwich.  Ms. Jacobs has also been the head coach for former institution Daniel Webster.  She has also coached for DII Adelphi and DI Wagner.

Another note:  The Little East is in the same evaluation region as Brandeis (Region II) for both men's and women's basketball-- In men's and women's soccer, the Little East is in Region I.

In soccer, the MASCAC is in the same evaluation region as Brandeis.  In basketball, the MASCAC is in Region I.

Brandeis team news:  Starting lineup for Brandeis are 4 returning players (Camila Casanueva, Kerry Tanke, Emma Reavis, and Francesca Marchese) and 1 new player starting in her first game as a member of the Brandeis Judges: #14 Caitlin Gresko.

[deiscanton]

Final score:  Brandeis 77, UMass-Boston 55

Judges could work on their FT shooting, but overall, a great opener.

(1)  Caitlin Gresko is a great find for the Judges.   Gresko starts her college career by scoring the opening basket and the first points of the season for the Judges-- a 3 pointer.  Overall, for a first game of her college career, a good performance by Gresko.

(2)  Later on, we get the Camila Casaneuva show.

(3)  Brandeis dominated on the 3 ball and on the offensive glass.

(4)  Kerry Tanke scored a lot of points from inside.

(5)  The other new players also made their contributions to the ball game as well.

(6)  At one point in the second quarter, Brandeis only scored 1 point in a little over 5 minutes.  However, the Judges ended the quarter on a 13-0 run to practically decide this one by halftime.

Next Brandeis game:  Friday vs Wheaton (MA)-- opening game of the Women's Tip-Off Tournament  (The opponents in the second game are Connecticut College vs Husson.  Losers play in the consolation game, while the winners play in the championship game on Saturday.)

[deiscanton]

I also noticed that 41 of the 89 points that NYU scored against Kean on Saturday were scored by 3 new players making their first college career start as Violets, with Jenny Walker also contributing a role.  Brooklyn Shelton only made 1-1 from the foul line vs Kean, so Coach Meg Barber also picked up some new players worth following.

[ronk]

I also noticed that 41 of the 89 points that NYU scored against Kean on Saturday were scored by 3 new players making their first college career start as Violets, with Jenny Walker also contributing a role.  Brooklyn Shelton only made 1-1 from the foul line vs Kean, so Coach Meg Barber also picked up some new players worth following.

I expect another frosh, Chloe Teter, to make an impact soon, also.