MBB: University Athletic Association

[Hugenerd]

Congrats to Troy Ruths for being named a Jostens Finalist.

[Hoop Dreams]

Troy Ruths, last 3 games vs. Chicago:

Jan. 6, 2007: 28 pts, 11-12 FG (WU 70, UC 59)
Feb. 24, 2007: 19 pts, 8-13 FG (WU 79, UC 74)
Jan. 12, 2008: 26 pts, 12-18 FG (WU 76, UC 50)

Average, last 3 games: 24.3 ppg, 31-43 FG (.721)

[Hoop Dreams]

I'm really looking forward to the games at Ratner tomorrow.

To have both the men's and women's teams at Chicago playing for the UAA title against their arch-rivals from Wash U is just tremendous.

It will be great to have one more chance to watch Nate Hainje and Nofi Mojidi play at home -- two of the most fun players to watch on the men's and women's sides in my 14 years of following Maroons basketball.

At stake on the women's side, for those who aren't aware, is Wash U's remarkable streak of 10 consecutive UAA championships.  Like the men, the UC women will take the title outright with a victory on Saturday.

If anyone wants to say hi tomorrow, I will be wearing a short-sleeve maroon U of C shirt and my wife will be wearing a long-sleeve maroon (not UC) shirt.

Go Maroons!

[deiscanton]

Hoop Dreams--

Have fun at the games tomorrow.  The Ratner Center should be jumping. 

PS-- You didn't ask Tom Weitgarner to make you a "Cago, Cago, Cago" t-shirt yet, did you? 

[Gregory Sager]

If anyone wants to say hi tomorrow, I will be wearing a short-sleeve maroon U of C shirt and my wife will be wearing a long-sleeve maroon (not UC) shirt.

I'll look for you. I'm not quite sure, but there's a fairly decent chance that I'll be the only person in the Ratner Center wearing a blue North Park hoodie.

[Greek Tragedy]

I had my dates and times messed up.  I was thinking Wash U at Chicago was on Sunday (since they like that Fri-Sun stuff)...not on Sat.  Then when I saw it was on Saturday, I was hoping the game was at 2 pm, not 3 pm.  Anyway, I wanted hit that game and then head to Whitewater for the WIAC final vs. Stevens Point.

Alas, a 3 pm game starts too late to make it to Whitewater on time.  I thought the Aurora/Lakeland game was Saturday at 2 pm, it's on Sunday at 2 pm...

Can the UAA switch the game time to 2 pm? lol 

[Greek Tragedy]

I'll look for you. I'm not quite sure, but there's a fairly decent chance that I'll be the only person in the Ratner Center wearing a blue North Park hoodie.

I was the only person at The Alex in Appleton for the Lawrence game that was wearing a Stevens Point Pointer hat.  The LU AD basically said that I was risking my life doing so! 

[Gregory Sager]

I'll look for you. I'm not quite sure, but there's a fairly decent chance that I'll be the only person in the Ratner Center wearing a blue North Park hoodie.

I was the only person at The Alex in Appleton for the Lawrence game that was wearing a Stevens Point Pointer hat.  The LU AD basically said that I was risking my life doing so! 

Not a problem in Ratner, since I suspect that the only two people in the building besides me who've even heard of North Park will be Mike McGrath and Mark Edwards.

If Martin shows up, there will be three.

[Marty Peretz]

Chicago announcers= suspect. a bit too homerish.

[sean-o]

With d3hoops.com doing the game from a neutral perspective, I think the homer broadcast has its place today. So long as its not biased, it's good to have the emotion and excitement.

[Marty Peretz]

scratch that. these guys are pretty good.

[jagluski]

Chicago wins the UAA title, 74-66 over Wash U.

[Jacketfan2011]

UR 74-67 over CMU.  Good win for the Jackets.

[Gregory Sager]

Let's have a show of hands for everybody who thought that Chicago was going to win the UAA this season.

[note -- my hand is not raised, either]

OK, now let's have a show of hands for everybody who thought that the Maroons would even finish in the top three of the UAA this year.

[I still don't see a lot of upraised hands]

Just a magnificent, magnificent job by Mike McGrath and his players this season. Congratulations to them on what must be an immensely satisfying finale to the regular season. How much better could it be than to clinch it with a win over archrival Wash U in a tense nailbiter in front of a packed house at Ratner, and to gain with it an automatic bid to the big dance that's sitting there like a Christmas gift waiting to be unwrapped on Monday morning?

Nate Hainje had another Nate Hainje kind of day, with his 19 and 11 game capped by a 23-footer that found nothing but net with 49 ticks left on the clock and Chicago nursing what was only a one-point lead at the time. But the true hero of the game might be Jake Pancratz, whose 15 points were accompanied by a whopping nine assists and only one turnover. Adam Machones had a breakout game, scoring 18 and hitting all four of his shots from downtown, and Matt Corning's 11 and 7 reflected his usual solid effort. But the unsung hero has to be John Kinsella, whose unlikely reverse layup at 3:20 with the shot clock down to one second and the ensuing made free throw boosted Chicago to a 65-60 lead and made the uphill climb for Wash U that much harder.

The Maroons did a terrific job on Bears All-American center Troy Ruths. He scored 24, but the Maroons forced him to earn half of them from the FT line, as the Wash U senior went only 6-19 from the field. Aaron Thompson had 18 and Tyler Nading had 12 for the Bears, as both Nading and Cameron Smith fouled out trying to guard Hainje. That was really the big story of the game, as Chicago was much more aggressive with the ball than was Wash U; by putting the ball on the floor and forcing the Bears to foul him, Hainje really took over the game.

Once again, congrats to the Maroons on a fantastic accomplishment!

[howardjp]

And the Judges hold serve versus NYU to hit the 20 win mark.  Nice job, gentlemen.

And thanks for "live stats", I was at the BC - North Carolina game, watching an unbelievable game by Tyrese Rice of BC -- 34 points in the first half, 46 altogether, and refreshing my PDA for 'Deis updates.  BTW - Legendary Brandeis alum Andy Jick is the PA announcer for BC, as he was previously for Brandeis and the Boston Celtics.  Good job, AJ!

Congrats also to the 'Deis women, please don't go to the ECAC tournament!

Update -- UMass Dartmouth and Amherst both lose!  Does that make Brandeis a better prospect for a regional?