MBB: University Athletic Association

[WUPHF]

There are returnees at the guard and small forward, and center positions to help ease the transition from the graduated Melissa Gilkey, Alyssa Johanson, and Maddy Scheppers.  Jordan Thompson, Katybeth Biewen, Ereka Hunt, Natalie Orr, Amanda Martinez, and Paige Naig all are back.  Coach Fahey has not set her roster yet for the upcoming season, and I have not been to a practice.  I hope to watch one in the coming days, to see if there are any newcomers that are promising.

I would say that without any newcomers, the Bears can compete for the UAA crown and get into the dance.  Whether they get farther than that depend on the returnees like Orr and Hunt increasing their scoring with more minutes, and if they can get points collectively from the post, that came singularly from Gilkey last season.

Thanks for this.

[WUPHF]

I know this is off-topic, but hey...

The UAA is very well represented in the Men's and Women's Soccer tournaments along with Women's Volleyball. 

The Washington University Women's Volleyball team is back after poaching the University of Chicago coach a few years ago, but despite the No. 1 ranking, they are headed to California to play in the volleyball version of a group of death: http://www.studlife.com/sports/womens-volleyball/2015/11/12/group-of-death-bodes-tough-ncaa-challenge-for-volleyball/

[WUPHF]

Washington University defeats Blackburn at home, 90-60. 

Andrew Sanders led the way in scoring with 17 points in just 15 minutes.  Matt Highsmith and Luke Silverman-Lloyd both scored 12 points.  Kevin Kucera finished with 8 points and 8 assists in his first ever start.

Tonight was a good opportunity to see a few freshmen in action including Matt Galik and and Blue Springs South product Marcus Meyer. 

[WUPHF]

The UAA finally release the 2015-2016 Coaches Poll and the coaches have ranked the men as follows:

Chicago (6)
NYU (1)
Emory
Washington University
Rochester
CWRU
Brandeis
Carnegie Mellon

Only seven first place votes were cast, so it seems safe to assume that one coach was late in returning his ballot and the conference finally gave up and published the rankings.

The first and last place teams are probably correct, though I would have Emory north of NYU.  Who knows about the other four teams?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

When was the last time WashU was that low in the preseason poll?

[WUPHF]

The 32nd Annual Lopata Classic tips off tonight at Washington University.

Friday
6 pm – DePauw (1-0) vs. Johns Hopkins (0-1)
8 pm – Pomona-Pitzer (0-0) vs. WashU (1-0)

Saturday
6 pm – Third-Place Game
8 pm – Championship Game

Johns Hopkins returns to the Field House for the first time, I believe, since leaving the nerdy nine.  Pomona-Pitzer, on the other hand, seems to play here every other year though I know it is not that often.

For more information:
http://bearsports.wustl.edu/sports/mbkb/2015-16/releases/20151118f6jxcv

[WUPHF]

Emory lost tonight No. 4 St. Thomas 82-70.  Will Trawick finished with 27 points.

[WUPHF]

Washington University easily dispatched of Pomona-Pitzer tonight winning 87-65 in a game that was not that close.  For a team that lost four starters, in the two games so far, the Bears have had no problem scoring. 

Lots of positives with the only negative being rebounds as Pomona-Pitzer was +15.  Jake Knupp led all scorers with 16 points in a quick 18 minutes.  Bregman, Highsmith and Kucera also scored in double figures.  Clinton Hooks only scored 9, but he certainly had his best game to date, doing a little bit of everything tonight.

We will have a UAA reunion tomorrow as Washington University takes on Johns Hopkins in the championship game.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Emory lost tonight No. 4 St. Thomas 82-70.  Will Trawick finished with 27 points.

St. Thomas started out 12-0; Emory had to work back.  Similar thing happened to start the second half.  They're two pretty evenly matched teams.  St. Thomas is better, but if Emory can figure out their new roles this year without Foster, they might be more equal by the end of the season.  What impressed me is that the Tommies seemed very much fully formed already.  It didn't look like a November team out there.

[WUPHF]

Washington University leads Johns Hopkins 37-32 at the half after leading by as many as 13.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Stevenson started the game against Emory with only ten healthy players, but dominated early, up 23-7 at one point and 38-21 until Emory rallied to take the halftime lead 41-38 (yes, a 20-0 run to close out the opener).  Neck and neck here in the second half.  I have a hard time believing Emory won't pull it out - they're bigger, stronger, and deeper.

[WUPHF]

Washington University defeats Johns Hopkins 78-62.  Lopate Classic champions yet again.

[WUPHF]

Washington University played remarkably well against Johns Hopkins tonight. 

The Blue Jays played without Ryan Curran who led the team in scoring last night, but nonetheless, in my opinion, they are a very good team.  Their defense in particular, held the Bears in check for two or three stretches.

This was definitely one of those games that will pay dividends later on for Washington University.  Lots of positives including four guys in double figures and 48 rebounds.  Sanders may have had 10 rebounds in one possession.  That dude gave it all tonight as did Kucera, Schmelter, Hooks along with everyone else.

[7express]

Brandeis has looked pretty good so far.  Granted this RIC team who only has like 3 upper classman on the roster (1 of whom is out injured) is light years away from the Bob Walsh coached RIC teams who were perennial NCAA tourney participants and 20 game winners, but to beat them down as much and as bad as they did today says a lot about them.  They'll be a tough out (especially at home against Wash U, Chicago & Emory the teams that really have to travel to get out to Waltham).

[DagarmanSpartan]

CWRU is off to a decent start. 

However, the conference slate has always proven to be too much for them.