University Athletic Association

martin · October 17, 2007, 01:45:44 AM

Quote from: newtonnancy on October 16, 2007, 07:41:12 AM
Well, read a nice little article yesterday about both the men's and women's Maroon's teams.

Where was this article?

newtonnancy · October 22, 2007, 07:20:32 AM

Why is everything so quiet? Just a couple weeks before the season! Somebody must be getting Psyched. Were is Sandman and Alen whenyou need them? Sandman must have that Masters done by now and graduated to bigger fish then CWR Women's Hoops!

ILive4This · October 22, 2007, 11:27:59 PM

Allen is still very much engrossed in the fall sports, but I am sure he will be popping up on here soon, as vball, soccer and yes (he has even been to an XC race) seasons wind down.

mark_reichert · October 24, 2007, 02:04:09 PM

I didn't mention it in March, but this reminded me:

http://www.d3hoops.com/dailydose/2006/02/17/the-12-days-of-championships-will-bears-roll-deis/

The trend has continued.

All I can say about the current freshman is that they are tall, that most were all conference, and Alex Hoover may be the best of the crop.

http://bearsports.wustl.edu/womensbball/2007-08CoSIDA.pdf

Alex seems to be short for Alexandra from this:

http://www.news.ku.edu/2006/october/27/khpchapman.shtml

but all other references seem to stick with Alex.

Oh, and until I found out that Sarah Tibesar was staying on, I thought there would be no Senior Day this year.

nobody · October 24, 2007, 03:53:44 PM

Other than the news on Alex Hoover at Wash, what other freshmen are highly touted?

atn alum · November 01, 2007, 10:58:10 PM

Mr. Karon (Deiscanton)

Your thoughts on the Brandeis women getting a preseason first-place vote...Are you going to tell me it was probably meant for the men?

newtonnancy · November 02, 2007, 09:11:35 AM

Wow,

That is a great point. The men had a super year last season and have the entire team back as seniors, played Amherst close and I saw them when they came to town and they were impressive.

Can't imagine that the women are superior to last years team and they lost their center although I am told that freshman Amber Strodthoff from DePere, WI is a real deal D1 player who turned down D1 offers to attend Brandeis.

martin · November 02, 2007, 08:06:59 PM

Quote from: newtonnancy on November 02, 2007, 09:11:35 AM
.... although I am told that freshman Amber Strodthoff from DePere, WI is a real deal D1 player who turned down D1 offers to attend Brandeis.

Strodhoff is a nice player but not D1 caliber. The best player on De Pere last season was Natalie Taylor who did go D1 - to Southern Illinois. The second best player was probably a sophomore - Claire Steffen. A very good team that was ranked as high as #2 in Wisconsin - but lost early in the state playoffs. Yes, like many in Chicago, we have a house up north and know way too much about Wisconsin.

More interesting new arrival from the Land of Cheese is Micaela White (Milwaukee University School), now at Chicago. She started last season at D1 Colgate but left before the second semester. I am not sure about the transfer rules but I think she will be eligible in January.

In addition to White, Chicago has four freshmen:
Dana Kaplan G 5-11 Commack, N.Y. (Commack)
Stacey Leach G 5-6 Gurnee, Ill. (Warren) - Alex's sister
Claire Gerall G 5-8 Houston, Texas (Kinkaid)
Karly Kasper F/C 5-11 Palos Park, Ill. (Stagg)

Korry Schwanz is still around - as an assistant coach.

y_jack_lok · November 02, 2007, 08:53:16 PM

Nancy Fahey did a heck of a coaching job at Wash U last year to get to the championship game. After graduating Kelly Manning, Danielle Beheler (sp?), and Katie Benson I never imagined they would even win the UAA championship with what I thought was a much less talented team than the '05-'06 team. She has just as tough a job this year having once again graduated three starters. She also only has one senior this year. So I am questioning the #6 pre-season ranking, but not nearly the way I was questioning the potential for last year's team. At the moment I'd once again say this year's team is not as talented as last year's, but I am now expecting, even hoping, to be proven wrong.

nobody · November 04, 2007, 10:37:07 PM

You may recognize a few of the names on Chicago's roster...Dana Kaplan is the sister of Erica (Emory), while Stacey Leach is the sister of Alex (Chicago). The younger Leach is out with an ACL torn in a summer league.

I've also seen Amber Strodhoff play...very nice athlete, but an undersized post and in my opinion, not a D1 talent.

I expect big things from the Maroons this year, as they only lose the services of Korry Schwanz. She was a HUGE part of the team, but the imcoming players and improved returners should be able to pick up the slack.

Micalea White is eligible right away. When transfering to a DIII, there is no mandatory sitting time.

My predictions for the UAA:

1. WashU - they find a way to get it done, even when it appears that they shouldn't be as good
2. Chicago - very good returning core, solid newcomers to fill the gaps
3. NYU - can't count out the Violets...seem to have the most talent year in and year out
4. Rochester - Jim is a great coach, he'll have them ready
5. Brandeis - it's going to be the Jamie Capra show, but I'm not sure about their others
6. Emory - will they break into the top 5? They seem to threaten each year.
7. Case - many unknowns, with a new coach and all
8. CMU - getting better, but recent history isn't on their side

Other predictions?

deiscanton · November 05, 2007, 10:10:14 AM

I have been reading up on the upcoming season for UAA Women's Basketball-- due to my being sick the first week of practice, I was not able to get to the Brandeis campus until the end of the second week of practice. I have also been reading up on Caitlin Malcolm's first year as a pro basketball player with Dart Killester of the Ireland Women's Basketball Superleague-- she seems to be doing well in Ireland. Check out http://www.killester.com for more info.

I have not been able to check out the Brandeis women's basketball team in practice or scrimmage, and I may not be able to have time to see them until the first game on Nov. 16 against Mt. Holyoke. I have spoken to coach Simon, Jaime Capra, Jessica Chapin, and Kiersten Holgash about how practice has been going-- according to them, practice was fine over the first few weeks.

On paper, I see a good Brandeis women's basketball team, but Caitlin Malcolm will be very tough to replace. Jaime Capra is obviously the best player back on the team, but there are a lot of question marks about who of the returning players will improve their games enough over last season to give me an impression that Brandeis will be as strong on the women's side this year as they were last year. Clearly, I would not give Brandeis a first place vote on the women's side right now-- that first place vote should have gone to the Brandeis men's basketball team. Maybe the Brandeis frosh can impress me come conference time, but it is really too early to tell, and from what I hear on paper, none of the Brandeis frosh on the women's basketball side look to be first-team all--UAA off the bat.

Every first semester game seems important for me to watch, but in particular, the games against Mt. Holyoke, Tufts, Emmanuel, WPI, Wheaton, and Williams will start to determine whether or not Brandeis can do any better than an ECAC post season bid this season.

Early on-- I pick the co-favorites for the UAA crown to be Wash U and NYU-- I think that both the Bears and Violets will share the UAA title again this year with a tiebreaker to once again determine the automatic bid. Chicago will probably break into the top four teams of the UAA women's basketball league this year, with Rochester more likely than Brandeis to remain in the top four of the UAA women's league.

nescac hoops · November 05, 2007, 11:27:43 AM

Quote from: deiscanton on November 05, 2007, 10:10:14 AM

Every first semester game seems important for me to watch, but in particular, the games against Mt. Holyoke, Tufts, Emmanuel, WPI, Wheaton, and Williams will start to determine whether or not Brandeis can do any better than an ECAC post season bid this season.

as a williams alum i can say that williams is having the biggest rebuilind year they have had in the last decade. they will NOT be the team they have been over the past 5 years or so. they will be extremely young. the same can probably be said of mt. holyoke. i think emmanuel and tufts will be their biggest tests.

nyufan · November 05, 2007, 02:26:14 PM

Hi everyone- new to the list and new to the UAA. My daughter is a freshman at NYU. NYU was the only school she wanted to attend, and that we were both impressed with the quality of play in the UAA. I'm looking forward to talking with you all and meeting some of you as we begin the new season! Can't wait!

nobody · November 05, 2007, 11:35:31 PM

nyufan - I hope your daughter will have a good experience at NYU...I'm sure she's a great kid and she deserves to have a great college athletics experience. There have been some negative posts in the past regarding the treatment of NYU players, but hopefully your daughter will not encounter similar treatment.

Looking forward to games...expecially for UAA play in January!

deiscanton · November 06, 2007, 07:50:54 AM

I just took a look at the final Emmanuel roster for the upcoming 2007-2008 season. With Jade Paez, Jackie Pannell, and Iman Davis back on the team for the Emmanuel Saints, I am looking forward to the rematch between Brandeis and Emmanuel on November 27.

The Brandeis home match on November 25 against Tufts will also be one to check up on, but I think that Brandeis will be favored to beat Tufts at Auerbach Arena-- the Brandeis men's basketball team will also be playing at Tufts at the same time, so there will be a lot of pressure from Tufts men's coach Bob Sheldon for me to attend the men's game that day.

As for trips:

I will definitely be going to New York for the Brandeis at NYU game on January 12 and I will be looking forward to seeing all of the new fans there. Due to the rising prices of air fares and the like, I am still considering about whether or not to go on other trips. Going to Rochester by bus/train is still a possibility, but I probably won't combine Rochester and Pittsburgh for that weekend unless someone is willing to pop up and offer me a ride between the two cities for January 19.

The Midwest trip is late for Brandeis this season (last weekend of February), so I have not ruled out that one yet, but air fares keep on going up, so I may have to consider Amtrak for part of the way if I go. I don't know about Atlanta, but if I visit Emory, it will probably be in the place of the Midwest trip.