University Athletic Association

[martin]

Ok enough Wash U and Rochester, the real question becomes CAN CHICAGO LEAP EVERYONE IN FRONT OF THEM THIS WEEK AND BECOME #1 IN THE COUNTRY after they beat Rochester tomorrow? Undeafeated, only Howard P and make the same claim...............come on Maroon

NO!!!  Top ten would be OK but we don't need the potential bad karma that comes with such a lofty perch.

I think Chicago could very easily be 7-0 in the UAA on Sunday evening, Jan 28.  That means they would have defeated the four other contenders - but at home.  They still will have to face all four of them on the road.

I think Chicago needs to win their next three at home - Rochester, NYU and Brandeis - to have a shot at the UAA.  A team that wins out at home and goes 2-2 on the road against the four other contenders,  would win the UAA title.  That assumes no slipups against the bottom three.  A 12-2 team undoubtedly wins the UAA.  It may be 11-3 or a massive tie with a bunch of 10-4 teams.

Brandeis has the toughest road, NYU a leg up on the rest - since NYU won at Brandeis.  I think the UAA champion will have to hold court at home.  Right now, the four of the five are still holding court at home.  Even if Rochester loses to Chicago on Saturday, that is not a fatal blow.  A win would be huge - any road win against another contender is huge.  Winning on the road in the UAA is very tough.

[roaring0506]

I think Rochester's loss last night played a pivotal roll in not allowing them to take over the #1 position in next weeks poll.  My money goes back on Hope or Scranton taking over the #1 position.   Even if Chicago wins against Rochester, I don't think they (Chicago) could jump in front of those two frontrunners.  Chicago hasn't played the best of the UAA's programs yet.  I think Chicago's good.... but are they worthy of the top position??

Hope's only loss is to Calvin - which is also in the top 10... and Scranton lost in there 2nd game of the year. 

Howard Payne hasn't played anyone thus far... and according to the Massey Rating, ranks 132 in strength of schedule in Div III.  Therefore, its hard for me to see them take over the #1 spot, when based off who they've played, I wouldn't see them in the top 10.  We'll see how good Howard Payne is in a few weeks when they play there first real competition of the year in conference foes McMurry and Hardin-Simmons.  If they beat them... then I'll take back my thoughs on them and say they are worthy of their high ranking.

[mark_reichert]

Feel free to contact them.

I just did, telling them, as I did here, that I thought the press release was good except for that one puzzling gaffe.  I had to assume that the sports information director and the assistant SID were the proper ones to contact since what of their releases is posted here contain no clue as to the actual person who wrote them and/or sent them to you.

I also told them that you suggested that I contact them.

Press Release posted by Emory

And in what way did I ever imply that the press release didn't originate with Emory?

That was after all why I included this link in my post:

http://www.d3hoops.com/pressreleases.php?release=928

[Pat Coleman]

You're bringing back a 10-day old post, huh?

I re-read the original post. You didn't imply they didn't write it. In fact, you mentioned nothing at all about who wrote it except to say they didn't do their research.

While it's certainly possible you knew who wrote it that doesn't mean that someone else reading your post might not jump to the wrong conclusion.

[mark_reichert]

The fact that WashU were good in 2000 doesn't make them any good right now.

If that's a dig at me (since I've been only one mentioning the 2000 team lately), you don't seem to have actually read my posts.  I've been the first to admit the Bears are weaker this year, though apparantly not quite as weak as I thought.  They still have good defensive skills.

I only started on the 2000 kick because of one Hope fan's statement that Fifield had said that Hope's team last year was the best he'd ever seen.  Even Fifield's actual statement that they were as good as any of the WashU team doesn't hold up, but I'll give him credit for politeness to the newly crowned champions.

  As for Chicago, certainly a strong year for them, but after only a three point win over WashU at home, what makes them that much better?  For that matter, on what objective basis is Chicago any stronger than UR right now?

Umm.......

[mark_reichert]

I've seen enough Wash U women's basketball over the past 6 year to know that this year's team doesn't measure up to those of the past -- especially on offense.

Which my dad and I were predicting as far back as two seasons ago.  Last year wouldn't have been successful as it was if Manning hadn't had both a year of eligibility and classwork left.

The "especially on offense" is right.  For the first time in many years, there just isn't a consistant scoring threat, and not even an underclassman with promise.  But as long as they play tenacious defense for Fahey, they've still got some teeth.

[roaring0506]

Chicago 67
Rochester 60
Final

[martin]

Final Scores Sunday Jan 21

at NYU 88  Case 74
at Brandeis 79  Emory 59
at Washington 76  CMU 64
at Chicago 67  Rochester 60

Chicago led by as much as 22.  Rochester got it down to 5 with under two minutes left but that was as close as they could come.  Not a good weekend for the #2 ranked team - but UAA road weekends can be a nightmare.  Chicago and Wash will not have their tough road weekends until the second half of the season.

UAA Standings

1.  Chicago 5-0
2.  Washington 4-1
     NYU  4-1
4.  Rochester 3-2
     Brandeis 3-2
6. Emory 1-4
7. Case 0-5
    CMU 0-5

[atn alum]

I was joking with our publisher that I should put my Top 25 vote up for auction this week...

I'll admit to having a vote (and hopefully won't get deluged for it) and not having any idea what to do with it...

What do I do about the likes of Messiah, Howard Payne, and of relevance to this board, Chicago? Should I give Bowdoin a mulligan. Legitimate arguments (as opposed to trash talk) considered...

[martin]

I think the top 5 UAA teams should all be in the top 25.  Based on the results to date - I would put them in this order:

Chicago, Washington, Rochester, NYU, Brandeis

Where you place them is up to you.  Given the strength of the conference, Chicago should be in the top 5, Wash in the top 10.

So far, Chicago beat Wash and Rochester
Wash beat Rochester
Rochester beat NYU and Brandeis
NYU won at Brandeis.

That goves me my current UAA ranking.  It may change dramatically after the next two weekends.

[newtonnancy]

Well AWESOME performance, period

They may not want it but at least in the WBCA Poll with Bowdoin, Rochester, Hope going down and Scranton squeaking out a 1 point victory, it will be a first, THE MAROONS WILL BE #1 IN THE COUNTRY

[Hoop Dreams]

Chicago 67, Rochester 60

The Maroons led by 22 early in the second half, but the Yellowjackets used a slew of three-pointers to whittle down the deficit.  A Megan Krebbeks trey cut the lead to 63-58 with a minute to play.  Chicago's Alex Leach was fouled, and just like in the victory over Wash U., Leach swished both foul shots in the final minute to effectively seal the win.

Solid low-post defense from Nicaya Rapier, Molly Hackney and Anna Woods frustrated UR to 6-30 shooting in the first half.  In fact, for the game Rochester was 12-50 (24%) from inside the three-point arc.

The Maroons were consistently aggressive on offense -- it was fun to watch.  Nofi Mojidi scored a game-high 19, most on plays exploding past her defender to the basket.  Alex Leach, who also displayed a quick first step, added 15 points.  Molly Hackney scored 14 from the post, and senior Korry Schwanz added 12.

Big win for UC, and 16-0 feels great, but there are several tough games left on the schedule.  NYU and Brandeis visit the Ratner Center next weekend.

[newtonnancy]

WBCA

1. University of Chicago (Ill.) -7 5 16-0 246
2. Bowdoin College (Maine) - 1 1 17-1 212
3. Messiah College (Pa.) 7T 16-1 206
4. Calvin College (Mich.) 10 15-1 202
5. Wilmington College (Ohio) 9 16-1 196
6. University of Southern Maine 6 15-1 193
7. Howard Payne University (Texas) 12 17-0 192
8. Hope College (Mich.) 3 15-2 191
9. University of Scranton (Pa.) - 2 4 15-2 187
10. University of Rochester (N.Y.) 2 14-2 175
11. DePauw University (Ind.) 11 16-2 145
12. New York University 14T 15-1 138
13. University Of Wisconsin, Stout 14T 15-3 125
14. Illinois Wesleyan University 17 15-1 108
15. Baldwin-Wallace College (Ohio) 7T 14-3 98
16. Hardin-Simmons University (Texas) 18 14-2 95
17. Brandeis University (Mass.) 16 13-2 88
18. McMurry University (Texas) 13 15-2 84
19. University of Mary Washington (Va.) 19 13-2 79
20. University of Puget Sound (Wash.) 21 14-3 57
21. Kean University (N.J.) 23 16-1 42
22. Simpson College (Iowa) 22 14-3 38
23. Maine Maritime Academy (Maine) NR 15-0 27
24. Emmanuel College (Mass.) 25 13-1 21
25. Washington University (Mo.)

[Pat Coleman]

I found it odd in this poll that Scranton has two No. 1 votes but also two losses. When did this vote take place exactly??

[thx4playing]

They may not want it but at least in the WBCA Poll with Bowdoin, Rochester, Hope going down and Scranton squeaking out a 1 point victory, it will be a first, THE MAROONS WILL BE #1 IN THE COUNTRY

The USA TODAY ESPN Board of Coaches is made up of 10 head coaches at Division III institutions. All are members of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). The 2006-07 board: Aaron Roussell  (University of Chicago), Brian Niemuth (Simpson College), Deb Hunter (Austin College), Helen Higgs (Whitworth College), James Scheible (University of Rochester), Jerry Scheve (Wilmington College), Mike Strong (University of Scranton), Nan Hambrose (St. Marys College of MD), Ron Rohn (Muhlenberg College), Stefanie Pemper (Bowdoin College).

While I'm not saying that Rochester and Chicago aren't good teams - great even - it's hard to take a poll seriously when the coaches are out lobbying for their own teams.  Much more respect for the Wash U's and other teams who get noticed on their own...and when a coach makes it public to fans before the poll is even released, what does that say??