MBB: University Athletic Association

[Marty Peretz]

With games to be played at Ruth Bader Ginsburg Arena on Stephen Breyer Court...

[WUPHF]

Today's Boston Globe notes that Brandeis defeated NYU and thus clinched the #2 seed for the UAA tournament

I am trying to decide whether poor coverage is better than no coverage at all.  The St. Louis Post-Dispatch had nothing more than the box score.  Probably about equal.

[howardjp]

I am trying to decide whether poor coverage is better than no coverage at all.  The St. Louis Post-Dispatch had nothing more than the box score.  Probably about equal.
[/quote]

Wow! You get box scores?

[Titan Q]

Wash U has landed another stud from the Chicago area...

http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/klimek.html

http://ilprepbullseye.com/page8.html

[deiscanton]

NCAA brackets announced at 9:56 AM Eastern to 10:10 AM Eastern

First and second rounds March 5 and 6

Brandeis is travelling to Rochester, NY for first and second round action

St. John Fisher is hosting the pod that Brandeis will be travelling to.

Brandeis plays St. Lawrence in the first round on Friday at St. John Fisher in Pittsford, NY  (Rochester suburb).

St John Fisher plays Brooklyn in the other first round game with the winners to face each other on Saturday.


Wash U is hosting a pod

Wash U will play Westminister (MO) in the first round

The other first round game at the Wash U Field House will be Illinois Wesleyan vs Central (Iowa).

[Pat Coleman]

Bracket: http://www.d3boards.com/playoffs/mbb-bracket2010.pdf

[BUBeaverFan]

Good luck to both the Bears and the Judges!  Go Bears!

[pradam]

Haven't been following as much this year since I'm out of college, but can anyone tell me how good St. John's Fisher is?  I'm guessing Brandeis should beat St. Lawrence pretty easily (crossing fingers!), which is why I ask.

If I'm off base here, let me know. 

[Ethelred the Unready]

Haven't been following as much this year since I'm out of college, but can anyone tell me how good St. John's Fisher is?  I'm guessing Brandeis should beat St. Lawrence pretty easily (crossing fingers!), which is why I ask.

If I'm off base here, let me know. 

U of R beat Fisher in the Wendy's (Chase) Challenge in January by 5-6.  UR has been anything but consistent this year and the cast of characters has changed over the season, but my guess is that Brandeis/Fisher, if it happens, will be a good game.

[Marty Peretz]

1) The Klimek kid is apparently a true stud. My sources tell me he could be a starter from the get-go. If you look at Wash.U is losing, that really isn't terribly surprising. And Edwards has never been reluctant to play guys their freshman year. Nading, Smith, Thompson, O'Boyle, Ruths, and Wallis all started or saw significant minutes their freshman season.

2) Pleased with the draw but worried about IWU. They always play Wash.U. well and the law of averages figures to work in their favor at some point. Also, Wash.U. students will not be on campus due to Spring Break. This effectively offsets any meaningful home court advantage, since the vast majority of WU's fan base is its kids. They may be there Friday, but by Saturday, the place will be empty, a huge bummer considering the way IWU travels. Wash.U. will certainyl draw some community members and a large family/friends contingent of players, but the Field House is truly a home court advantage when the students are there and that will not be the case this time around. There will be less students there Saturday than there were in Salem last year if I had to make a prediction.

[WUPHF]

2) Pleased with the draw but worried about IWU. They always play Wash.U. well and the law of averages figures to work in their favor at some point. Also, Wash.U. students will not be on campus due to Spring Break. This effectively offsets any meaningful home court advantage, since the vast majority of WU's fan base is its kids. They may be there Friday, but by Saturday, the place will be empty, a huge bummer considering the way IWU travels. Wash.U. will certainly draw some community members and a large family/friends contingent of players, but the Field House is truly a home court advantage when the students are there and that will not be the case this time around. There will be less students there Saturday than there were in Salem last year if I had to make a prediction.

You are usually so glass is half full.

The CCIW-affiliated posters, who all know more than I do, will break this game down in so many ways, left right, up down, quantitatively and qualitatively, so there is not much that I need to say but I will say this:

Home court is home court.  I am sure that many students will leave on Saturday, but a few will be here.  The parents, friends, faculty, staff and community will be here.  It all makes a difference.  I would even suggest that the little things, like the announcer yelling AT for three gets the team going.  This is our house: we do not sell Beer Nuts.

The Bears obviously know Illinois Weslyan well, and should match-up well after competing in the UAA for several weeks.  It will be a tough game that may very well come down to the wire, but the Bears have been playing so well through the high pressure situations.  And, everyone has been playing well lately.

I am sure that the team is not looking past Westminster though.  I expect two very good games this weekend with Washington University advancing.

[Mr. Ypsi]

All time series record: IWU 16, WashU 10.

While I wasn't there, reports say that a few years ago the Bears' students were on break and IWU fans made up about 3/4 of the attendance.  Could that be the year we came to StL with WU ranked #2 in the country (and IWU unranked) and came away with the NCAA tourney victory?

Aw, forget the 'trash talk' - neither team will underestimate the other (nor the teams they have to beat in order to meet).  IWU and WashU did not develop their tournament pedigrees by taking anything for granted (OR by being intimidated).

[Titan Q]

Aw, forget the 'trash talk' - neither team will underestimate the other (nor the teams they have to beat in order to meet). 

Yes, don't forget IWU has to beat a Central team that both D3hoops.com and Massey Ratings say is better than the Titans.  No need to talk about a Wash U matchup until it's a reality.

[WUPHF]

Aw, forget the 'trash talk' - neither team will underestimate the other (nor the teams they have to beat in order to meet).

Your trash talk is always welcome here!  If it does work out that Washington University plays Illinois Weslyan and the Titan fans outnumber the Bears fans, at least we will all be wearing green.

For those driving in to watch the game, Washington University has a website with all the relevant details for the weekend: http://bearsports.wustl.edu/releases/2010NCAARegional.html

[Gregory Sager]

All time series record: IWU 16, WashU 10.

It will be interesting to see which school fares better in this year's dance, since their tournament winning percentages are currently identical at .684. IWU is 39-18, and Wash U is 26-12.