MBB: University Athletic Association

[Hugenerd]

The Bears had plenty of points inside, driving the lane, and doing what they needed to do inside.  I would not agree that Brandeis won the battle inside.  You said that Brandeis could have won in regulation with more control inside.  WashU would have won in regulation if they had shot the season average on free throws.

Wallis had a number of turnovers, but two were tipped out of bounds, and not called (I was right under the basket) for example, and several were just bad passes.  Wallis was defended well, but smothered, not really.

First, I didnt say Brandeis won the battle inside, I said WashU should have exploited their advantage inside more than they did.  I also did not say Brandeis would have won in regulation with more control inside, I said that they would have won in regulation if their guards, who drove from the perimeter, would have been able to convert on some of the rather routine layups and 5 foot runners that they missed.

With respect to Wallis, I dont know what you would call it, but he didnt look right.  I was expecting to see a potential POY candidate for all D3 and instead I saw someone who didnt look all that comfortable on either end of the court all night.  On defense he was using his hands alot and was not always able to keep up with the quicker Brandeis guards, resulting in him being in foul trouble in the second half.  Offensively, he didnt seem that comfortable, he tried to force some passes where he shouldnt have.  In terms of scoring, he got off to a hot start, scoring ten in the first half, but Brandeis completely shut him down in the second half and OT.  After the first half he only attempted 1 FG, had 0 points, including 0-2 from the FT line. Its only one game, but this is the first time I watched an entire WashU game all season and I came away a bit disappointed.  They dont seem to have that inside presence this year to take pressure of their guards.  Just from what I saw tonight, they have some apparent weaknesses that good teams will exploit, especially if they have off shooting nights.  Brandeis is a good team, but I dont think they are a top 10 team, and if they can beat WashU on a night where they didnt play all that well themselves (especially on the road),  WashU may not be a top 10 team right now either.  They may get there at some point this season, but they have some things they need to address.

[WUPHF]

First, I didnt say Brandeis won the battle inside, I said WashU should have exploited their advantage inside more than they did.  I also did not say Brandeis would have won in regulation with more control inside, I said that they would have won in regulation if their guards, who drove from the perimeter, would have been able to convert on some of the rather routine layups and 5 foot runners that they missed.

Fine on the first point and I my control inside was in reference to the routine layups comment.  Not sure how one thought became another inside my head, but, well, its been a long week with new student orientation.  I think I better wait until tomorrow before I comment further.

[WUPHF]

Also, thanks for posting details regarding Caleb Knepper in the Top 25 poll thread.  The Bears need a healthy Caleb Knepper and a healthy Zach Kelley--playing his second game back after weeks away--to do well in the postseason.

Also, is there any way we could get Tyler Nading back?  No?

[Hugenerd]

Also, thanks for posting details regarding Caleb Knepper in the Top 25 poll thread.  The Bears need a healthy Caleb Knepper and a healthy Zach Kelley--playing his second game back after weeks away--to do well in the postseason.

Also, is there any way we could get Tyler Nading back?  No?

Maybe Ruths has a year of eligibility we didnt know about?

[BUBeaverFan]

That was a brutal game to watch. The free throw shooting woes seemed to spread through the team like a virus.  The Bears certainly have bigger question marks, on both ends of the floor, than they have had to deal with in the past few years.  I trust Coach Edwards and crew to make adjustments and get and or keep the Bears on track.  The UAA like so many other leagues is a league you need to take care of business at home and the Bears let one slip away.  Credit to Brandeis for dictating tempo and forcing the Bears to play from behind for most of the night.  Go Bears!   

[Marty Peretz]

The Bears will get it together. A 3 pt OT loss when you go 10-22 from the line to a top 20 team is a bummer, but by no means an indicator of how the team's season will go. Wash.U went absolutely cold all night and still managed to keep it close. Plus, ZK is not at 100 percent yet and Knepper was out. Also, Deis plays Wash.U. well in St. Louis. Two years ago, they handed Wash.U. a 2 point loss in late February in front of 2000+. Last night, Wash.U was sans its usual home court advantage since very few students were back from break. I'm disappointed, but people tend to forget that Wash.U., even in its last 2 title runs, has never been a dominant, blow you out of the gym type of team. Generally, they pull out a lot of close games with clutch play down the stretch and last night was the first time I can remember since the Deis game in 2008 where they didn't pull it out. Things happen. They'll be fine.

[WUPHF]

The Bears will get it together. A 3 pt OT loss when you go 10-22 from the line to a top 20 team is a bummer, but by no means an indicator of how the team's season will go.

I am bitter, but positive enough that I agree completely.  It seems so long ago, but the 2007-2008 national championship team dropped 6 or 7 games, including a few when they were favored.

Generally, they pull out a lot of close games with clutch play down the stretch and last night was the first time I can remember since the Deis game in 2008 where they didn't pull it out.

The last time was last year against Rochester at home.  If I remember correctly (and my memory fades quickly) Rochester had its best three point shooting performance of the season.  The Bears played tough and had a chance to win it but could not pull out the win in the end.

I am going to make a bold prediction: Washington University over a talented NYU squad on Sunday and a victory over Brandeis in Taxachussets.  [Well intentioned, light hearted trash talk and nothing more]

[bobcat10]

I am going to make a bold prediction: Washington University over a talented NYU squad on Sunday and a victory over Brandeis in Taxachussets.  [Well intentioned, light hearted trash talk and nothing more]

All that NYU talent will be wasted by THE WORST COACH IN AMERICA AND POSSIBLY THE UNIVERSE aka the one and only Joe Nesci. Never have seen a coach waste so many good players by over coaching with the worst offensive scheme ever. Teams don't even play defense against NYU, they literally just defend spots and render NYU's offense useless, all NYU can do is rain deep threes and hope that they are hitting that night. Nesci has his best team since 05-07 when he possibly had the best D3 team in the country in 06-07 and managed to not make the tourney. NYU should be ashamed that they have allowed him to collect meaningless wins vs. terrible schools in order to pay for his children's tuition. I feel awful for his players; I've never seen a team that was not allowed to run fast breaks or team that was forced to run the same antiquated offense/plays. You would think that the AD would see the futility in Neck's coaching style and would either fire him or talk to him about maximizing potential. NYU could potentially be a D3 powerhouse... the allure of the school, the reputation of the education, and the plethora of basketball talent located in/around NYC should add up to repeated success ala Janice Quinn and the women's program. Instead Nesci produces annual appearances in the ECAC's, which end up in losses to terrible CUNY of NJAC schools. Nesci should be ashamed of himself, and the NYU AD should equally be ashamed.

[y_jack_lok]

I am going to make a bold prediction: Washington University over a talented NYU squad on Sunday and a victory over Brandeis in Taxachussets.  [Well intentioned, light hearted trash talk and nothing more]

All that NYU talent will be wasted by THE WORST COACH IN AMERICA AND POSSIBLY THE UNIVERSE aka the one and only Joe Nesci. Never have seen a coach waste so many good players by over coaching with the worst offensive scheme ever. Teams don't even play defense against NYU, they literally just defend spots and render NYU's offense useless, all NYU can do is rain deep threes and hope that they are hitting that night. Nesci has his best team since 05-07 when he possibly had the best D3 team in the country in 06-07 and managed to not make the tourney. NYU should be ashamed that they have allowed him to collect meaningless wins vs. terrible schools in order to pay for his children's tuition. I feel awful for his players; I've never seen a team that was not allowed to run fast breaks or team that was forced to run the same antiquated offense/plays. You would think that the AD would see the futility in Neck's coaching style and would either fire him or talk to him about maximizing potential. NYU could potentially be a D3 powerhouse... the allure of the school, the reputation of the education, and the plethora of basketball talent located in/around NYC should add up to repeated success ala Janice Quinn and the women's program. Instead Nesci produces annual appearances in the ECAC's, which end up in losses to terrible CUNY of NJAC schools. Nesci should be ashamed of himself, and the NYU AD should equally be ashamed.

WOW!!! That is quite a first post. Perhaps venting a little pent up fustration over a long stretch of time??? Just a guess.

[Hugenerd]

Speaking of underperforming teams, CMU squandered several opportunities down the stretch to fall to CWRU 74-70 in UAA play today.  CMU drops to 4-9 and 0-3 in the UAA, all by themselves in last place.

On a brighter note, Rochester won the Wendy's Classic today with a nice win over St. John Fisher.  If not for that loss to Clarkson at home, I am sure Rochester would be ranked pretty high right now in the Top 25.  I think they will pick up some votes in next week's poll with their strong performance this week, however.

[bobcat10]

I am going to make a bold prediction: Washington University over a talented NYU squad on Sunday and a victory over Brandeis in Taxachussets.  [Well intentioned, light hearted trash talk and nothing more]

All that NYU talent will be wasted by THE WORST COACH IN AMERICA AND POSSIBLY THE UNIVERSE aka the one and only Joe Nesci. Never have seen a coach waste so many good players by over coaching with the worst offensive scheme ever. Teams don't even play defense against NYU, they literally just defend spots and render NYU's offense useless, all NYU can do is rain deep threes and hope that they are hitting that night. Nesci has his best team since 05-07 when he possibly had the best D3 team in the country in 06-07 and managed to not make the tourney. NYU should be ashamed that they have allowed him to collect meaningless wins vs. terrible schools in order to pay for his children's tuition. I feel awful for his players; I've never seen a team that was not allowed to run fast breaks or team that was forced to run the same antiquated offense/plays. You would think that the AD would see the futility in Neck's coaching style and would either fire him or talk to him about maximizing potential. NYU could potentially be a D3 powerhouse... the allure of the school, the reputation of the education, and the plethora of basketball talent located in/around NYC should add up to repeated success ala Janice Quinn and the women's program. Instead Nesci produces annual appearances in the ECAC's, which end up in losses to terrible CUNY of NJAC schools. Nesci should be ashamed of himself, and the NYU AD should equally be ashamed.

WOW!!! That is quite a first post. Perhaps venting a little pent up fustration over a long stretch of time??? Just a guess.

so much furstration. i've watched and repeatedly told myself that even nesci himself will one day realize how awful he is but that day has not come. im going to lobby for a new head coach. i don't know where to believe but change is necessary and eventually it will happen. i would love to hear dblock's POV on Nesci and his coaching style. i know that he has first hand experience dealing with nesci on a day-to-day basis.

[Ethelred the Unready]

Speaking of underperforming teams, CMU squandered several opportunities down the stretch to fall to CWRU 74-70 in UAA play today.  CMU drops to 4-9 and 0-3 in the UAA, all by themselves in last place.

On a brighter note, Rochester won the Wendy's Classic today with a nice win over St. John Fisher.  If not for that loss to Clarkson at home, I am sure Rochester would be ranked pretty high right now in the Top 25.  I think they will pick up some votes in next week's poll with their strong performance this week, however.

The Clarkson loss was bad, but the loss to RIT was worse.  Only defense  I guess is that they are very young with 8 new players this year so there may be some inconsistency.  Moncrief was selected MVP and is the first freshman in the 44 year history of the tournament to be so chosen. I think Moncrief is actually an academic soph who was a DI track guy out west. Also have to wonder about the legs of the freshman PG by the end of the season.  Kid has logged 100+ more minutes than anyone else on the team and historically Neer shortens his rotation in league play so it's not likely that will change.

[WUPHF]

The Clarkson loss was bad, but the loss to RIT was worse.  Only defense  I guess is that they are very young with 8 new players this year so there may be some inconsistency. 

You did not reference the loss in Hyde Park as a bad loss and I have to agree.  I am convinced that Chicago is much better than the 7-6 record would suggest.  This based on watching them play twice, so you guys probably know much better than I.

Headed to the Field House today.  Tip off in 90 minutes.

[Ethelred the Unready]

The Clarkson loss was bad, but the loss to RIT was worse.  Only defense  I guess is that they are very young with 8 new players this year so there may be some inconsistency. 

You did not reference the loss in Hyde Park as a bad loss and I have to agree.  I am convinced that Chicago is much better than the 7-6 record would suggest.  This based on watching them play twice, so you guys probably know much better than I.

Headed to the Field House today.  Tip off in 90 minutes.

The only reason I didn't mention it is because UofR didn't lose to Chicago.  Haven't played them yet actually.

[Hugenerd]

NYU up on WashU 18-17, 8 minutes left in the first.  When was the last time WashU was swept over a conference weekend?  Still a lot of time, but just curious.  Has it ever happened?