MBB: University Athletic Association

[DagarmanSpartan]

Gang,

Well, at Case, we seem to be off to a slightly better start than normal.

We're 3-0, having beaten Baldwin-Wallace for the first time ever.

It'd be nice if we could secure our first ever bid to the DIII tourney, on the heels of our unprecedented football success.

[Hugenerd]

Gang,

Well, at Case, we seem to be off to a slightly better start than normal.

We're 3-0, having beaten Baldwin-Wallace for the first time ever.

It'd be nice if we could secure our first ever bid to the DIII tourney, on the heels of our unprecedented football success.

Dont get ahead of yourself, still the whole UAA season to go (and most of the out-of-conference schedule also).  3 games doesnt mean much (and sorry, Baldwin Wallace was horrible last year and they are likely not that good this year).  I hope Case does well, but they need to win a lot more than 3 before they gain nationwide respect, or get an at large bid (they have 0 chance at the AQ with WashU in the conference).

Good luck to them though.

[WUPHF]

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I believe Case Western is 3-1, having lost a close one to Thomas More.

It'd be nice if we could secure our first ever bid to the DIII tourney, on the heels of our unprecedented football success.

The Coaches have Case Western finishing 6th out of the 8 UAA teams.  I do see the Spartans improving on last year though. 

No offense, but the goal this season should be to finish with a winning record, and maybe engineer a few upsets (everybody is beatable).

[Wydown Blvd.]

maybe engineer a few upsets

[Wydown Blvd.]

WUH, post on the women's UAA board about the game(s) from the McWilliams tournament if you have a chance! I was busy all weekend, and have not reviewed the box scored or stories about any ganes, but your post would be well-received on the board.

[WUPHF]

Hey Wydown: I do not have much to say about the games over the weekend.  WUSTL looked very good in both games, on both sides of the court, against relatively weak teams.

In regards to the UAA Men's Basketball.

It looks like the UAA is off to a good start.  Our teams are 27-8 in the first few weeks.  Its obviously very early, but we should have a better idea where we stand in a matter of weeks.

Rochester 5-0
Chicago 4-0
Washington U. 3-0
Brandeis 3-1
Emory 3-1
New York University 3-1
Case Western Reserve 4-2
Carnegie Mellon 2-3

[WUPHF]

The pollsters decided to keep No. 1 Washington University and No. 23 Brandeis more or less in place in the latest rankings.

The University of Chicago and Rochester ended up with a few votes.

[WUPHF]

Congratulations to the Washington University Men's and Women's Basketball programs for being named the top programs of the decade by DIII News.

Bears Sweep DIII News Basketball Programs of the Decade

MEN'S ALL-DECADE | WOMEN'S ALL-DECADE

St. Louis, Mo., December 1, 2009 – The Washington University men's and women's basketball teams were named the top programs of the 2000s, as announced by DIII News today. Head coaches Mark Edwards and Nancy Fahey were also named best coach for the first decade of the new millennium.

With two-consecutive national championships and three-straight trips to Salem, Va., to close out the decade, the men's basketball program ranked ahead of runners up from Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Amherst, Virginia Wesleyan and Williams. The Bears finished the decade with five University Athletic Association (UAA) championships and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament on six different occasions. Washington U. finished the 2000s with an overall record of 220-52 (.809), in addition to a 112-30 (.789) record in UAA play. The 2009 squad was also named the runner-up for best team of the decade behind the 2002-03 national champion, Williams College.

The women's basketball program captured two national championships of its own during the decade, and reached the title game on four occasions. The clear-cut choice for team of the decade ranked ahead of runners up Bowdoin, Hope, Scranton and Southern Maine. The Bears won nine of 10 UAA titles during the 10-year span, including eight in a row from 2000-07, and played in the NCAA Tournament in every year of the decade. The program finished the 2000s with an overall record of 252-38 (.869), including 126-16 (.887) in UAA action.

Edwards was named the Molten/DIII News National Coach of the Year three times during the decade, on his way to being named best coach of the 2000s. He finished ahead of Jack Bennett of UW-Stevens Point and Dave Hixon of Amherst. The UAA was named conference of the decade, while the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) was named runner up. Troy Ruths, a 2008 graduate, was named runner up for player of the decade. Ruths was a two-time DIII News first-team All-American, the 2008 DIII News Player of the Year, and also received the Jostens Trophy that year as well.

Fahey was named the Coach of the Decade for the second time in her career, as she shared the honor with Capital's Dixie Jeffers in the 1990s. Fahey coached two national players of the year and took home her own Molten/DIII News Coach of the Year honors. WUSTL Sports Hall of Famer Alia Fischer was a runner-up for the best player of the decade after winning the honor in the 90s, and having an undefeated season in her only year of this decade. The UAA was named the conference of the decade on the women's side

[Marty Peretz]

Wash.U. McKendree could be the Bears toughest challenge of the season tonight, according to people who've seen the NAIA power compete. Apparently they're bringing a large fan base and WU will draw well also. Should be a very compelling early season match-up.

[Hugenerd]

WashU all over Mckendree.  9 minutes to go in the first, WashU up 27-8.


****The announcer for the game is really good.  By the way, WashU is pounding McKendree at the half: 47-22.  WashU looks awfully good.

[Marty Peretz]

Though admittedly a Wash.U homer, that's the most impressive and dominant I've seen the Bears play in a half in the last four years, Amherst championship win 2 years ago included.

[Hugenerd]

A little shaky at the beginning of the second half as McKendree had a huge run to cut it within 4 or 6, but then WashU went to work again, slowly building the lead, and ended up winning pretty comfortably.

[WUPHF]

I have seen McKendree and I knew Washington University would be playing a tough team, but I also expected a similar result.  I do think we are that good. 

Overall, I thought it was a good game, despite the 8-10 minute scoring drought in the first half.  In my opinion, the Bears had a number of good looks during the time, but for whatever reason went cold.

Wallis and Thompson played to expectations with the exception of the four blocked shots.  I am not sure that I have ever seen Thompson blocked.

Knepper had a phenomenal first half and played well enough in the second, finishing with 13 points.

Kelly, Kelley, and Toth are always dependable, though it seems that they had to share some playing time with the others.  Spencer Gay featured more prominently in the line up tonight and played very well.

I expect a lot more offense from Richter and Smith this season. 

I know nothing about Pomona-Pitzer, but it should be a good game tomorrow night.

[y_jack_lok]

Wallis and Thompson played to expectations with the exception of the four blocked shots.  I am not sure that I have ever seen Thompson blocked.

I think both Wallis and Thompson were surprised to get those shots blocked. Credit McKendree's #22 Andy Wolf for a couple of those blocks on Wallis. He's one of the best defenders I've ever seen.

A great win for Wash U against a very good basketball team that for whatever reason had a horrible first half. I'm sure McKendree would like a rematch. But chalk one up for D3.

[y_jack_lok]

Here's the write up from the McKendree website on tonight's game:

http://athletics.mckendree.edu/News/mbball/2009/12/4/mbbwashu_120409.asp?path=mbball