MBB: University Athletic Association

hopefan · September 13, 2010, 08:33:32 AM

Wonderful article regarding how the Wash U national champs are making out in the real world after graduation, and their memories of a championship weekend in Salem. One thing about that article REALLY surprised me though, and that was the remark that evidently, Aaron Thompson had hoped to give European hoops a shot, but that it didn't work out..... that is just so hard to imagine... if Aaron was just a shooter, I could understand it.. but to me, he seemed to be a gifted athlete as well as a smart player...

Perhaps Aaron shot for a level across the pond that he was unable to reach (ie level 'A' rather than level 'B', but I have to think that at some lesser level he would have been successful..... can anyone fill us in on his 'rejection'? I am totally curious.....

Wydown Blvd. · September 13, 2010, 11:55:40 AM

From what I heard, he simply couldn't find an agent.

Hugenerd · September 14, 2010, 07:53:06 PM

Quote from: Wydown Blvd. on September 13, 2010, 11:55:40 AM
From what I heard, he simply couldn't find an agent.

I heard something along the same lines.

hopefan · September 21, 2010, 11:38:50 AM

Wydown... another curiosity question regarding Wash U.... Was checking their roster and note JD Elder was not on it... while I didn't see a starting role for him, I thought he woud see 10-15 minutes a game as a backup guard, especially given no certain man at point just yet (Seymore?) and the somewhat enigmatic dylan Richter at the 2... Was he gone from the get go, or displaced by underclassmen?

I've seen the Freshmen writeups..... and they sound good... can anyone write about how they are competing in the pick up games?

Titan Q · September 27, 2010, 01:56:14 PM

So this is how the UAA finished in 2009-10...

1. Wash U, 13-1
2. Brandeis, 9-5
T3. Chicago, 7-7
T3. NYU, 7-7
T3. Emory, 7-7
T6. Rochester, 6-8
T6. Case, 6-8
8. Carnegie Mellon, 1-13

And the all-conference team...

FIRST TEAM
Austin Claunch, Emory 5-9 G So.
Terrell Hollins, Brandeis 6-4 F Sr.
Keith Jensen, NYU 6-4 F Sr.
Jake Pancratz, Chicago 6-1 G Sr.
Kenny Small, Brandeis 6-0 G Sr.
Aaron Thompson, Washington 6-4 G Sr.
Sean Wallis, Washington 6-2 G Gr. (Player of the Year)

SECOND TEAM
Jack Anderson, Carnegie Mellon 6-3 G Sr.
Reid Anderson, Case 6-6 G Jr.
John DiBartolomeo, Rochester 5-11 G Fr. (Rookie of the Year)
Bryan Erce, Case 6-3 G Sr.
Spencer Gay, Washington 6-6 F Jr.
John Kinsella, Chicago 6-4 F Sr.
Nate Novosel, Rochester 6-5 F So.
Cameron Smith, Washington 6-5 F Sr.
Tom Summers, Case 6-6 F So.

Is it me or does it seem the 2010-11 UAA race is completely up for grabs? And that heading into the season, there is not really a Top 25 team here? (That's not to say one won't emerge by January.)

Wydown Blvd. · September 27, 2010, 05:24:03 PM

Quote from: hopefan on September 21, 2010, 11:38:50 AM
Wydown... another curiosity question regarding Wash U.... Was checking their roster and note JD Elder was not on it... while I didn't see a starting role for him, I thought he woud see 10-15 minutes a game as a backup guard, especially given no certain man at point just yet (Seymore?) and the somewhat enigmatic dylan Richter at the 2... Was he gone from the get go, or displaced by underclassmen?

I've seen the Freshmen writeups..... and they sound good... can anyone write about how they are competing in the pick up games?

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, Ive been in and out on these boards as of late. I don't know the particulars about JD, he was certainly not displaced...WashU has a lot of opportunities, so if I had a guess, he probably just wanted to pursue other ventures. Quite a few players have dropped over the years, so losing someone from the roster doesn't surprise me at all.

Seymore and maybe Brett Sapp will fight for the starting spots at point. Brett has been biding his time to get some PT and I could see coach's eyes being open to all options. With Max Needle and Ben Hoener fighting for back up duties unless one of the freshmen step up. They had this problem before in '08...an up for grabs at point guard, and we saw someone with little experience at the varsity level with Ross Kelley step in. I could see some of the same thing here. There is a lack of depth in experience at the guards spot, but with Toth, Gay, Knepper, and Burnett... they look good in the post.

Dylan is more of a 3 playing the two spot, he is big and strong...reminds me of a high-flying version of paul pierce. He seemed misplaced at times in their offense, but this year I really see him wrapping his head around it all and being one of the integral pieces. He did break his leg or foot his freshman year so he has had only one full season to get in the action.

Ethelred the Unready · September 27, 2010, 10:43:04 PM

Quote from: Titan Q on September 27, 2010, 01:56:14 PM
So this is how the UAA finished in 2009-10...

1. Wash U, 13-1
2. Brandeis, 9-5
T3. Chicago, 7-7
T3. NYU, 7-7
T3. Emory, 7-7
T6. Rochester, 6-8
T6. Case, 6-8
8. Carnegie Mellon, 1-13

And the all-conference team...

FIRST TEAM
Austin Claunch, Emory 5-9 G So.
Terrell Hollins, Brandeis 6-4 F Sr.
Keith Jensen, NYU 6-4 F Sr.
Jake Pancratz, Chicago 6-1 G Sr.
Kenny Small, Brandeis 6-0 G Sr.
Aaron Thompson, Washington 6-4 G Sr.
Sean Wallis, Washington 6-2 G Gr. (Player of the Year)

SECOND TEAM
Jack Anderson, Carnegie Mellon 6-3 G Sr.
Reid Anderson, Case 6-6 G Jr.
John DiBartolomeo, Rochester 5-11 G Fr. (Rookie of the Year)
Bryan Erce, Case 6-3 G Sr.
Spencer Gay, Washington 6-6 F Jr.
John Kinsella, Chicago 6-4 F Sr.
Nate Novosel, Rochester 6-5 F So.
Cameron Smith, Washington 6-5 F Sr.
Tom Summers, Case 6-6 F So.

Is it me or does it seem the 2010-11 UAA race is completely up for grabs? And that heading into the season, there is not really a Top 25 team here? (That's not to say one won't emerge by January.)

I would say having the last 2 ROY's would bode well for U of R, but I'm not sure what else they have. Their starting 4 and backup PG are spending the semester at sea (others may be as well). Many of last years freshmen have left (all but 2 or 3) and this years years class never really materialized. I know they are looking for players from the general population and I believe the top prospect has decided not to play. It looks like replacing Coach Neer may be just one of the taskd facing the Jackets this year.

Hugenerd · October 18, 2010, 07:28:38 PM

Former Brandeis star Kwame Graves-Fulgham ('08) is now a member of the Boston Celtics staff, as a video coordinator.

http://www.nba.com/celtics/contact/front-office.html

ADL70 · October 20, 2010, 09:55:22 PM

CWRU Preview

The Spartans finished 5-2 in the second half of the UAA season after the return of double-double Tom Summers. One of the losses being by three points at WUStL. Eric Duerr gained confidence by being the main man in the middle during Summers' absence giving the Spartans a one-two combo down low. Leading scorer Reid Anderson also returns, as only PG Brian Eryce has departed.

Newcomers include 5'10 PG Mike Byrne Newton PA (Holy Ghost Prep) who was third team AAA all-state and all SE PA defense team, LA County All-Star 3 point shooter Tim Chung (Los Alamitos HS), and 6-5 F Austin Fowler (Detroit Brother Rice) a sophmore transfer from DI St Francis (PA).

I see at top four finish for the Spartans.

Hugenerd · October 20, 2010, 10:24:28 PM

Quote from: ADL70 on October 20, 2010, 09:55:22 PM
CWRU Preview

The Spartans finished 5-2 in the second half of the UAA season after the return of double-double Tom Summers. One of the losses being by three points at WUStL. Eric Duerr gained confidence by being the main man in the middle during Summers' absence giving the Spartans a one-two combo down low. Leading scorer Reid Anderson also returns, as only PG Brian Eryce has departed.

Newcomers include 5'10 PG Mike Byrne Newton PA (Holy Ghost Prep) who was third team AAA all-state and all SE PA defense team, LA County All-Star 3 point shooter Tim Chung (Los Alamitos HS), and 6-5 F Austin Fowler (Detroit Brother Rice) a sophmore transfer from DI St Francis (PA).

I see at top four finish for the Spartans.

I heard of Case getting a 6'9" freshman center, David Thompson, whose brother is playing D1 (I believe), who is supposed to be a real strong, athletic big man. Case has their roster up also and all those guys are listed:

http://www.case.edu/athletics/varsity/sports_men/mbasketball/roster.html

He is also listed on rivals:

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recruiting/player-David-Thompson-99367

Case may be legit this year. They also list Austin Fowler at 6'6", not 6'5"

ADL70 · October 21, 2010, 08:08:46 PM

Several of the newcomers are listed at heights different than those on their previous team's roster; eg, Thompson is listed at 6'8. Fowler was listed at 6'5 on the St Francis roster.

I couldn't find much online about Thompson earlier, but now I see he was 2nd Team All-Dist as a junior. I also see he missed some games at the end of last year for unspecified "off-court" issues.

Hugenerd · October 21, 2010, 08:28:34 PM

Quote from: ADL70 on October 21, 2010, 08:08:46 PM
Several of the newcomers are listed at heights different than those on their previous team's roster; eg, Thompson is listed at 6'8. Fowler was listed at 6'5 on the St Francis roster.

I couldn't find much online about Thompson earlier, but now I see he was 2nd Team All-Dist as a junior. I also see he missed some games at the end of last year for unspecified "off-court" issues.

Regardless, I hear he is a player, he may push Deurr for the starting job.

ADL70 · October 26, 2010, 09:33:03 PM

Quote from: hugenerd on October 21, 2010, 08:28:34 PM
Quote from: ADL70 on October 21, 2010, 08:08:46 PM
Several of the newcomers are listed at heights different than those on their previous team's roster; eg, Thompson is listed at 6'8. Fowler was listed at 6'5 on the St Francis roster.

I couldn't find much online about Thompson earlier, but now I see he was 2nd Team All-Dist as a junior. I also see he missed some games at the end of last year for unspecified "off-court" issues.

Regardless, I hear he is a player, he may push Deurr for the starting job.

Thompson is now listed at 6'9. If he can push Duerr, who is a senior, that would bode well for the future.

Hugenerd · October 26, 2010, 10:31:13 PM

I think it will depend on what type of offense they try to run. If they are going to slow it down, Duerr may be the better option as he has 45 pounds on Thompson. From what I have heard of Thompson, he is a great athlete, as well as having tremendous size and length. He may fit better in an uptempo offense, or at the 4 alongside Duerr. I wouldnt be surprised to see Thompson earn himself more minutes as the season progresses.

Ole Ollie · October 27, 2010, 08:45:06 AM

The University of Massachusetts men's basketball team has added an exhibition game for a good cause.
The Minutemen announced Tuesday they will host Division III Brandeis University at 7 p.m. on Nov. 4 at the Mullins Center. The game will benefit The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.
"For us to give back to The Food Bank is extra special to me," UMass coach Derek Kellogg said in a statement. "We are doing our part for the Pioneer Valley, my home, with this game to benefit The Food Bank."
To gain admission to the game, fans must bring two cans of non-perishable food or a meal to be donated to The Food Bank. All seating will be general admission.