MBB: University Athletic Association

[magicman]

Washington U. up  50-47 over UR with 5:30 remaining.

[magicman]

Washington U wins 54-53.  UR misses a 3 at the buzzer.

[BoomerIL]

Not taking anything away from Wash. U., but UR has been playing terrible as of late.  Their "big guy" keeps getting into foul trouble and at times they seem to take some bad shots.  Probably because they have been playing fro behind.  They are pressing too much, and not playing like they have been a few weeks ago.

No sour grapes, just plain disappointed in how they have been playing.  They need to stay out of foul trouble, period!!!!

[magicman]

Not taking anything away from Wash. U., but UR has been playing terrible as of late.  Their "big guy" keeps getting into foul trouble and at times they seem to take some bad shots.  Probably because they have been playing fro behind.  They are pressing too much, and not playing like they have been a few weeks ago.

No sour grapes, just plain disappointed in how they have been playing.  They need to stay out of foul trouble, period!!!!

I have to agree with part of what you stated. They're certainly not the same team that started the year out 14-0. They took control of those games and rarely were tested. In their last 6 games, however they've looked like a different team. The losses to Emory and to Chicago at home were inexcusable and they couldn't even put away Case who was within 6 pts with 2:10 to play. Offensively during this stretch they've averaged 47.8% which would be higher but for the 40.4% they shot in today's game. Their 3 pt. shooting is 39.7%, certainly respectable, and their free throw percentage is 66.6. It would appear on the surface that they need to regain the defensive intensity they exhibited earlier in the season. During their 14 game winning streak they gave up an average of 57.5 pts per game. In their last 6 contests the opponents have scored an average of 69.3. Foul problems did hurt them in the Emory game as Ndubizu only played 16 mins. and fouled out, but it was Emory, a team they should beat without one of their bigs. In the Chicago game that they lost, Onyiriuka got 2 quick fouls and was on the bench with 13+ mins. left in the 1st half. But they were only down 2 at the half and he played almost all of the 2nd half. Don't think foul trouble was the problem there. Today against Washington U. Onyiriuka again in foul trouble early but in crunch time he played the last 8 mins. of the game. Today's game appeared to be a defensive battle and Rochester only shooting 9 for 24 in the 2nd half cost them. Ruths & Nading for Wash. U outscored Ndubizu & Onyiriuka 28 to 12. That was the difference.     

[BoomerIL]

magicman....

They have looked like a different team, that's for sure!  They definitely have to tighten-up defensively.  Late in the game Friday against Chicago, they went to a zone defense.  I just wonder if at certain other times during a game they might try doing the same thing again.  Mix it up!!  Their normal pressure defense hasn't been working lately, or at least until someone gets into foul trouble.  It has been kind of surprising though that since the Emory loss, they have not played well.  I would like to think that they can handle adversity, but also lately they have even had trouble scoring.

[ILive4This]

The Emory game was not at home, it was in Atlanta, so perhaps a bit more excusable than if it were at the Palestra.

[BoomerIL]

ILive4This....

Maybe so!  It's always tougher when on the road.

[Gregory Sager]

A key stretch in last night's game was the final 3:30 of the first half.  Chicago had Rochester on the ropes, having gone on an 18-4 run to take a 28-17 lead.  Mike Neer called timeout, and considering UC had just won at the Palestra 5 days earlier, Rochester had to be wondering at that point if Chicago was simply the better team.  But the Maroons let off the gas somewhat, allowing the Yellowjackets to score the final 7 points of the half.  The score was 28-24 at intermission, which had to do wonders for Rochester's confidence.

Good point, HD.

That said, we're all singing a different tune about this game if Nate Hainje puts a little more on his 25-foot jumper at the buzzer.  Despite the final miss, Hainje put forth a terrific all-around effort last night.  Playing with a large bandage on his chin, Hainje took an inadvertent elbow to that area in the second half and was in some pain.

That wasn't why Hainje left the game in pain. After he got poleaxed by that inadvertent Onyiriuka elbow at the 14:07 mark of the second half, Hainje crumpled to the floor right underneath the basket ... and when the ball came down through the net after Onyiriuka's layup it fell right on the prone Hainje's groin. He was helped to his feet and spent a couple of minutes doubled over in agony behind the Rochester bench. He couldn't even make it to his own bench.

I watched the rest of the second half with my legs crossed.

I've been critical of Hainje's antics in the past, but I love to watch him play. He only has one speed, and that's all-out. Plus, his moxie is starting to grow on me a little. On Friday after he'd mildly protested a foul called on him by veteran referee Ken Falkner, Hainje grinned and patted Falkner on the butt as he trotted downcourt. Ol' Kenny would whistle a T on his own mother if she ever showed him up on the court, but all Falkner did was smile. I think that the refs that do U of C games have figured out that Nate's basically harmless.

Greg, this Top 25 voter is curious how you think Rochester stacks up vs Augustana, Wheaton, and Elmhurst.  (I have seen Chicago.)

Thanks.

Shave Brent Ruch's and Jared Hintzsche's heads, lock 'em into tanning beds and turn the dial to "max", and people would have a hard time noticing if you switched Elmhurst's and Rochester's jerseys. They're extremely similar: Both have a dominant big man and an effective sidekick; both have a great deep shooter and an effective spot-up shooter with whom he works in tandem (Burks and Ryder for Elmhurst, Dominiak and Chmielowiec for Rochester); both teams mix up their defenses well but are prone to spells of failing to stop penetration; and neither team has a penetrator of its own. The key differences are that Rochester has a much more stable PG situation than does Elmhurst (Jeff Juron is a steady hand for the Yellowjackets, and St. Ignatius product Max Kaplan is a strong backup), and I think that Burks and Ruch can do a little more for the 'jays than Ndubizu and Dominiak can do for the 'jackets. But they're extremely similar in composition, and comparable in overall team ability.

[magicman]

The Emory game was not at home, it was in Atlanta, so perhaps a bit more excusable than if it were at the Palestra.

I didn't say to Emory at home. I knew it was on the road. I don't think when you are the #1 team in the country as UR was at the time, you go on the road and lose to a team near the bottom of the standings. #1 teams aren't supposed to do that. I guess that's why they are no longer #1. No disrespect intended, heck I'm rooting for them since they are a N.Y. team and I live in upstate N.Y. I just think they've let some games slip away that they should have won. Hopefully it's a wake up call and come stretch time we'll see the team that ran off 14 in a row rather than the team that's 3-3 in the past 6 games. 

[Jacketfan2011]

We should also remember that in that 3-3 record are wins over what were the #2 and #1 teams in the country at the time.  I am mentally exhusted from watching/listening to the games the last 3 weeks.  The UAA is an INSANE league.  The loss to Emory was 1000 miles from home and in OT.  The loss to Chicago was after one of the most intense games I've ever seen (Wash U didn't fare so well in their next game) and was "avenged" in their next game.  The loss to Wash U was in St. Louis where Wash U has not lost in 2 years and was by 1 point in a game UR led most of the way.

I am with you Magic - I root for NY teams - and I agree UR may be off a little bit currently.  I do remember thinking early in the season that UR needed to finish their games better.  RIT for example was a 16 point game at the half, but the lead shrunk to 3-4 in the second before UR won by 10.  Several early games followed that same pattern.  The trouble is, there is not a SUNYIT, Morrisville, New Paltz, Cazenovia etc in the UAA to get well with.

[BoomerIL]

Gregory Sager...magicman...Jacketfan2011.....

Great feedback!!  I guess we are all seeing/hearing the same things when UR is playing.  I can't imagine how hard it must be to play in a "hostile" environment when on the road.  I only wish I could have been at The Chicago game this past Friday.

Maybe they will get these not so good showings out of their systems and re-group before the season ends.  How do you all see them when it comes to the post-season?

[Jacketfan2011]

Lord knows, they shouldn't be afraid of a close game.  They have a number of guys willing to take the big shot and they have been pretty successful.  If MC's last second shot falls yesterday I don't think anyone at UR would have been shocked.  However, I firmly believe that the team goes as JO goes.  Not sure what is going on inside his head (maybe senior pressure of graduation/real world/grad school) but he, more than anyone, seems to be pressing.  Uche, Juron, Dominiak, MC, and the reserves all seem to be doing their jobs but JO is a half beat off.  If he regains the confidence and dominance of earlier in the year, I think this team has a nice run in the tournament.  If not, they are still a very good team but there is less room for error.

[jagluski]

Personally (and yes, I'm biased)...I think we should just stop the season now and have a 3rd Wash U-Rochester game on a neutral court for the national championship.  I wonder if there's any way we can even top the first two!

[BoomerIL]

Jackertfan2011....

I think your right.  He may be pressing too much.  Maybe he should just try and relax and let the game come to him, as one might say.  I think that when all of the Jackets are playing like they can, no one can stop them.  I know that's a pretty bold statement considering the other teams that are out there in DIII, but if they can control the boards, or have a dominating presence in the paint, they could end finishing on top.

Go Jackets!!!  Sting'um Rocky!!!!

[Jacketfan2011]

If Wash U and UR play again, they had best pass out tranqs at the door.  I swear, since the Chase, UR has been in some intense games that has my usualy low BP through the roof.

Even without JO, Uche is an above average post, from what I've seen.  With JO playing to his potential, they are a scary post team.

As for the new mascot, sorry, but I gotta call him 'Chester!