MBB: University Athletic Association

[hugenerd]

Ok, so maybe Case is the worst team in the UAA, still a very good squad.

Case beat CMU(17-3) and Bethany(18-4).  They are a dangerous team.

[hugenerd]

Carnegie Mellon is 5-0 against the top 4 teams in the UAA (excluding themselves) and only 2-2 versus the bottom 3 teams at the moment (both losses have been by 3 points).  I dont know exactly what to attribute this to but I thought it was interesting.  Probably a combination of the league being so competitive, CMU getting up for the big games and them having a few bad games against teams with worse records in the league.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Teams have to take a break sometime and there is no one in the UAA that you can beat going 85%.

[username1111]

Hey, first post.

I took it upon myself to check if NYU had played any D-I opponents since beginning play as a D-III school, and I found two short game recaps from the mid-late 80s of NYU-Columbia games. While NYU lost, they were by 10 and 14 points. Another article noted that Columbia was NYU's first opponent when the basketball program re-started.

So, considering that Ivies do still play D-III teams -- CMel v. Princeton, Cornell v. Ithaca, and even Columbia v. CCNY -- does anyone know why NYU never goes uptown to play Columbia anymore? I think that having an annual game against Columbia would help build student interest in the team. Heck, even a charity game between the unofficial basketball teams of their LAW SCHOOLS fills the gym every year. What's the deal?

[TheFence]

Take a look at NYU's Non-Conference schedule.  Lets just say a D1 school probably doesn't fit their non conference schedule criteria.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Especially when they are trying to get their QOWI numbers up in a weak region.  They can't afford to give that game away.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Although, that does bring up one question I had.  Why is NYU in the East region, when every other NYC school is in the Atlantic?  Does anyone know?

[hugenerd]

NYU only plays cupcakes out of conference as of late.  If you look at their schedule from this year and the past couple you will see what I am talking about.  Their out of conference record for the regular season the last 4 years has been 11-0, 10-1, 11-0 and 9-2.  They do not schedule difficult opponents very often (you will see that their out of conference record is extremely high compared to in conference every year, in the same seasons they have had in conference records of 6-3, 6-8, 8-6, and 3-11).  It may also be an issue with travel but I think they have been hesitant to step up to the plate by scheduling formidable opponents.

[hugenerd]

In region Ranking are now up.  I believe there are 4 UAA teams ranked.

CMU is 3rd in the Great Lakes
NYU is 3rd in the East
Rochester is 5th in the East
WashU is 8th in the Midwest

[TheFence]

Looks like the NESCAC is the only conference with 5.  At fisrt glance it looks like the UAA was the only one with 4. 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

No one outside the multi-region UAA and the ten-ranked NE would even have a shot at five.  Four is quite impressive though, I think only the WIAC and CCIW have done that in recent memory.

[username1111]

Hmm. Hopefully they will reconsider that scheduling strategy in the future; non-conference games are very poorly attended. I don't think the whole point of a schedule should be to rack up points to reach the tournament, and I'm sure that if there were a non-conference game in November or December where NYU played a "marquee" opponent, they'd get some sorely needed fan support.

That said, thank you for the solid answers!

[cmubobcat]

WRCT Radio presents Carnegie Mellon basketball live over the Internet this weekend.  All broadcasts will be online only and can be heard by clicking on the "Sports Stream" links at the top of the WRCT home page (www.wrct.org).  These broadcasts will not be heard on terrestrial radio.

Friday:  Tartans vs. NYU
6:00 Women
8:00 Men

Sunday:  Tartans vs. Brandeis
1:00 Men
3:00 Women

Again, this weekend's games can only be heard at www.wrct.org.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Big weekend for Mellon, both NYU and Brandeis are playing very well right now, should be a couple of good games.

[hugenerd]

WashU and Chicago came into last weekend playing well also and CMU was able to get it done then.  If they sweep this weekend they have all but locked up their first ever UAA crown.