MBB: University Athletic Association

[Hugenerd]

And (fess up, Martin) Chicago was afraid they couldn't compete in the CCIW!

I would like to see MIT and Hopkins join the UAA.  I think Hopkins would have to change its outlook and commit to the UAA fully - which I doubt will happen.

Johns Hopkins was in the UAA until 2001, although it never fully participated in some sports like basketball (they played each team only once) and then left the conference completely due to costs.  MIT would also be impossible for three main reasons.  One:  They are in the same city as Brandeis, which would be unfair to the other teams in terms of travel costs because these two schools would just have to drive 20 minutes to play eachother.  Second: having an odd number of teams would mess up the current conference play schedule.  Three, and most importantly, MIT would never be able to afford competing in the UAA (and they just wouldnt join for one sport).  MIT has 42 varsity sports, or something ridiculous (I think it is actually the largest number of varsity sports of any university in the country), so the money is spread so thin they dont even get a lot of the simple luxuries most other d3 schools get--like free shoes.

[Hoop Dreams]

Thinking about this weekend's action, I believe it's imperative for Rochester and Brandeis to sweep in order for them to remain in contention for the UAA title.

Rochester finishes with 5 of 7 on the road after this weekend, so the Yellow Jackets need to take care of business at The Palestra.  That will not be easy against Wash U and Chicago teams that are playing with a lot of confidence right now. 

Meanwhile, Brandeis cannot afford to stumble on the road at either Emory or Case.  A fourth UAA loss would effectively bring down the gavel on the Judges' UAA title hopes.

Hard to believe I'm saying this about teams that were on top of the D3 world (#1 and 2) just 10 days ago.

[Pat Coleman]

I'm looking forward to Friday night's games. Making the trip up U.S. 15, etc., from D.C.

Driving.

Alone.

Yeah, I think I'm a little nuts.

[formerbant10]

I'm looking forward to Friday night's games. Making the trip up U.S. 15, etc., from D.C.

Driving.

Alone.

Yeah, I think I'm a little nuts.

Don't worry Pat, weather in the ROC won't be that bad.  Low is only 29 for Friday nite with wintery mix.

[ILive4This]

Side note, I am fairly certain Harvard offers more sports than any other in the country. However, while the UAA may not be right for MIT, i am not certain the NEWMAC is the appropriate conference for them either, only the all girls schools really share the same philosophies as MIT.

[Hugenerd]

Side note, I am fairly certain Harvard offers more sports than any other in the country.

According to the MIT website, MIT has 41 varsity sports and says that they have the most in the country:

http://web.mit.edu/fofdaper/docs/Varsity-sports-facts.html

However, on the wikipedia Harvard page, it says that Harvard has 41 varsity sports (as of 2006), more than anyone else in the country. 

So, in fact, it may be a tie, depending on if either school has dropped/added any sports in the last year or two.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I'm looking forward to Friday night's games. Making the trip up U.S. 15, etc., from D.C.

Driving.

Alone.

Yeah, I think I'm a little nuts.

For the record... I was asked to come along... I just can't. And trust me, I am kicking myself! Really wish I could join Pat for that lovely drive through the PA mountains and the beautiful roads of western New York - haven't done that in a LONG time!

Oh... and the game. Of course, the game!

[Hugenerd]

Thinking about this weekend's action, I believe it's imperative for Rochester and Brandeis to sweep in order for them to remain in contention for the UAA title.

Rochester finishes with 5 of 7 on the road after this weekend, so the Yellow Jackets need to take care of business at The Palestra.  That will not be easy against Wash U and Chicago teams that are playing with a lot of confidence right now. 

Meanwhile, Brandeis cannot afford to stumble on the road at either Emory or Case.  A fourth UAA loss would effectively bring down the gavel on the Judges' UAA title hopes.

Hard to believe I'm saying this about teams that were on top of the D3 world (#1 and 2) just 10 days ago.

As I said before the start of the season, I think the winner of the UAA will have 3 or 4 losses, just like when CMU won with a 10-4 record 2 years ago.  I think the conference is too balanced for any team to run away with it.  WashU still has to play Rochester twice in 9 days (and CMU twice in the same span), Brandeis, at Chicago, at Emory, vs. NYU, and at Case.  They could conceivable lose any of those games.  I think going through the rest of their schedule with only 3 losses would be very impressive.  If they lose less than that, I would be very impressed.  We saw that anything could happen in this conference when Emory upset Rochester, its just a question of who will come up with the next big upset.

[y_jack_lok]

Great job by the announcers broadcasting tonight's Rochester-Wash U double header.

[Gregory Sager]

And (fess up, Martin) Chicago was afraid they couldn't compete in the CCIW!

I got the impression that the CCIW had an even higher rabble content than the MWC. 

UofC may have been afraid of the bad influence of regular interaction with the evil doers who wear the colors of the Wheaton Sonic Disturbance (nee Crusaders).  I have to admit that I would never gained admission to Wheaton.  I would have a hard time coming up with a pastor's letter.  Do you think they would take an autographed copy of "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins instead?     

Seriously, the concept of "peer institutions" is big with the UAA schools - and Chicago and Wash are the hardest core on this subject.  I believe the other schools, which may have not been fully sold on the concept before, are embracing it more and more.  They think it reflects well on the school and helps in general recruting - not just for athletics.  Any of the schools can say we are just like these other seven schools.

I think the only other D3 schools which fit profile of a UAA school are MIT, Johns Hopkins, CalTech and maybe Tufts.  All, except Tufts, are members of the Association of American Univerisities (AAU).  CalTech is too far away - and too uncompetitive.  Only 615 men and 249 women.  Too small a pool of nerds. 

Tufts is more like a UAA school than the liberal arts colleges that make up the NESCAC.  Tufts has massive graduate programs in biology and medicine - but weak in other areas.  I think that is what keeps it out of the AAU. 

I would like to see MIT and Hopkins join the UAA.  I think Hopkins would have to change its outlook and commit to the UAA fully - which I doubt will happen.

BTW, the only athletic conferences with all its member also members of the AAU are the UAA and Big Te1n.  Dartmouth keeps the Ivy League from making that claim.  Only 62 schools in the AAU - so the UAA and Big Te1n make up almost a third of the members.  Chicago is still a member of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation along with the Big Te1n schools. I think the CIC needs Chicago and its resources more than Chicago needs the CIC.  The CIC was a big reason why Penn State joined the Big Te1n - which gave a new spelling for 11.  Everyone at Notre Dame, except the football program, wanted to join the Big Te1n - and become a member of the CIC.  Touchdown Jesus won that debate.

Does anyone know if the UAA has looked into forming an academic adjunct like the CIC?

Martin, I enjoyed this post, just as I enjoy all of your posts ... in spite of the fact that as a graduate of a CCIW institution I am clearly a loincloth-clad troglodyte in the eyes of you UAAers.

I can only be thankful that I am allowed to watch games in the Ratner Center in spite of the fact that my knuckles drag on the freshly-waxed gym floor.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Kicking myself... kicking myself... kicking myself... kicking myself... and KICKING MYSELF!

DAMN IT... had a chance to try and get to the game at Rochester... and didn't! Pat is going to hang this one over my head for some time to come.

That being said... I watched the game online via the video (hmm)... and listened to the call by J.C. DeLass (always enjoy)... and it did go into overtime... that should have been expected!

[fcnews]

UAA faithful...

Not meaning to start anything, but this was posted in the MWC page.  Just curious if you could give us some insight.

So I went to yesterday's Brandeis - Wash U game, and wasn't at all impressed with either team. Both teams looked very sloppy on offense, and Brandeis' defense was downright atrocious. Brandeis had some good shooters, and Wash U's big man was pretty impressive, but nothing beyond what I've seen in the Alex in past years from good Carroll and Ripon teams, and I think Braier's final team could have handled both teams with relative ease. Although I don't know about both teams at the same time...

Chicago and Wash were instrumental in starting the UAA.  Wash did not want to associate with the SLIAC rabble.  Chicago wanted to get away from the MWC rabble.  Why should we dirty ourselves now? 

Very strange comment Martin. Considering Wash U has continued to fill it's schedule, usually 4 games, with SLIAC teams. And has co-hosted classics with a couple of the same. Jab not well taken!!!!

[y_jack_lok]

Ditto what fcnews just said. Wash U definitely belongs in a stronger conference than the SLIAC, but otherwise the relationship between Wash U and SLIAC schools is solid. Someone correct me if I am wrong about this, but I beleive that when Wash U hosted the first round of the NCAA tournament last year, a SLIAC coach was the coordinator for the event.

[Pat Coleman]

Was the NCAA rep, you mean?

[y_jack_lok]

I guess that's what I mean. fcnews could probably confirm that. He and you know a lot more about this stuff than I do.