MBB: University Athletic Association

[WUPHF]

Illinois leads 70-58 after Washington University goes on a run.

No way he gets away with that elbow in regular season play.  Illinois using size advantage, but also getting the favorable calls.

[WUPHF]

I think we will see a lot of this Kucera and Knupp in the back court, Bregman, Sanders and Schmelter in the front court combination, especially if Hooks shoots like he does today.

10 point game...Washington University playing like they want to win!

[WUPHF]

Final from Champaign Urbana: Illinois over Washington University, 82-75.

Just a few more random thoughts...

Kucera played a great game today, finishing with 20 points on 7-13 shooting to go with 7 assists.  Bregman, Sanders and Knupp also finished in double figures scoring 10, 13 and 12 respectively.  Knupp featured heavily in that second half run.  He did not get the start, but may have earned that role after today.  Hyperbole alert: Knupp is an elite defender.

Washington University finished +2 in rebounds and scored 47 percent from the field despite going 4-14 from three point range. 
20 turnovers by the Illini though 27 by Washington University.  The Bears scored 26 points off turnovers. 

The Bears started the first half with a scoring drought, but played particular well in the first and last 10 minutes of the game.  Very impressive to see them fight back from a 29 point deficit.

Coach Edwards played 13 guys including freshman DeVaughn Rucker.  Kucera played a game high 34 minutes, but Knupp and Galik also played the PG for limited minutes.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Winning the rebound battle against Illinois is impressive.  Glad I put this team in my preseason Top 25.

[WUPHF]

Winning the rebound battle against Illinois is impressive.  Glad I put this team in my preseason Top 25.

The Bears definitely won the first and fourth quarters, but an Illinois fan might suggest that the Illini simply let off the gas down the stretch.  That is certainly true in terms of rebounding. 

At this point, I am not sure if Coach Edwards could have asked for a better way to prepare for the season. 

The SID posted a highlight video that is worth watching: bit.ly/2eK8ni4

I think Washington University is a Top 25 team all season long and the voters clearly recognize the potential even after the Bears finished 15-10 a season ago.  The preseason poll has Emory ranked at No. 15 which may be right, but I think Rochester may be the better of the two travel partners.  The Yellowjackets received votes, but did not make the Top 25.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

How I voted, for comparison:

Had Emory at #10 and Rochester at #25. I was leery of Wash U. 15-10 last year and still seemingly trying to find themselves. Instead of just saying, "well, why not." I decided I want Wash U to prove themselves to me. They very well could be a Top 25 team, but I need to see that instead of assume it.

[WUPHF]

How I voted, for comparison:

Had Emory at #10 and Rochester at #25. I was leery of Wash U. 15-10 last year and still seemingly trying to find themselves. Instead of just saying, "well, why not." I decided I want Wash U to prove themselves to me. They very well could be a Top 25 team, but I need to see that instead of assume it.

I definitely think it is fair to expect Washington University to have to prove themselves after last season.

I do not have to explain this to you, but for any casual observers, I would just remind them that the Bears returned only one starter a season ago and one reserve who averaged more than 6-7 minutes per game.  The sophomore class had a lot of talent, but they had trouble finishing games.

They lost to Chicago, Brandeis, NYU and Rochester (not to mention Augustana) by one possession...then lost by 10 or so to Rochester and Emory before finishing the second half of the conference season with a one possession loss to Emory and then five straight wins, including wins over NYU and Chicago.

Not surprised to see you include Rochester in the Top 25.

[WUPHF]

Watching the Washington University-Illinois exhibition again and just a few thoughts...

A season ago, I posted after many UAA games that no one in the league was stronger than David Schmelter.  I got a reminder of that watching him battle against the 245 and 280 pounds Illinois centers.  Maverick Morgan used an elbow to back him up on at least two possessions, but otherwise...  David Schmelter brings a lot of skill (and patience) to the position as well...I'll save that for the next post.

Honorable mention goes to Sasha Sobolev who may have played limited minutes, but adds significantly to the depth of the team...

DeVaughn Rucker, a freshman guard from Whitfield High School, played a quick six minutes, and though he did not shoot, I am looking forward to seeing more of what Rucker has to offer...

[Greek Tragedy]

They started 10-4 last year. Then they had the brutal stretch where they lost 6 in a row, 4 by one possession. To end the season, they went on a 5-0 run. If they go 3-3 in that stretch, they're probably in the tourney last year.

[WUPHF]

The UAA goes 4-3 for the night!

Washington University barely escapes with the win over Webster, 60-59
Noteworthy that they did get a good 7 minutes from freshman Matt Nester who gave Kevin Kucera a rest, registering two rebounds and an assist.

Rochester gets the overtime win on the road at Ithaca, 104-94
Sam Borst-Smith and Mack Montague shoot for 21 and 20, 10 assists from Jacob Wittig

Brandeis defeats Suffolk, 87-79
Jordan Cooper finishes with 21 points, Robinson Vilmont has to take a lot of shots and free throws to get his 16 points, but grabs 13 boards.

Carnegie Mellon fends off Geneva, 67-66
The Tartans trailed by five with two minutes left, but then Jack Serbin too over...

Emory loses on the road to Covenant, 74-70
Emory had two players handling the bulk of the scoring with Adam Gigax shooting for 26 including a 6-7 performance from three point range.  Senior Jim Gordon scored 25 points, had 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals...Jim Gordon?  Both teams combined for 41 turnovers...did I read that right?

Chicago loses...no need to repeat the details here...

Case Western falls at home to Baldwin Wallace, 90-76
_____________________________

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The opening day of the 2015-16 basketball season started with a bang. The NCAA announcing major violations by Thomas More which resulted in vacating the entire 2014-15 season including the national championship - the first time in the history of Division III basketball, men or women. Tonight on Hoopsville, continuing coverage of the fallout of that decision including an exclusive one-on-one interview with Coach Jeff Hans of Thomas More.

Plus we take a look at the start of the season and talk with Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's basketball who is no longer flying under the radar. We also talk to the Trine women who want to take control of the MIAA. Plus we hear from two men's coaches starting anew at Case Western Reserve and SUNY-Canton.

Hoopsville airs live starting at 7:00 PM ET. You can watch the show here: http://www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2016-17/nov17

Guests include:
- Adam Turer, Editor and Contributor for D3hoops.com
- Jeff Hans, No. 4 Thomas More women's head coach (exclusive interview)
- Kristen Dowling, No. 24 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's head coach
- Ryan Gould, Trine women's head coach
- Ben Thompson, SUNY Canton men's head coach
- Todd McGuinness, Case Western Reserve men's head coach
- Jeff Burns, Randolph-Macon athletics director (former men's basketball committee chair)

You can also tune into the podcast(s) after the show has aired:
SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/hoopsville
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hoopsville/id1059517087

Don't forget you can always interact with us:
Website: www.d3hoopsville.com
Twitter: @d3hoopsville or #Hoopsville
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Hoopsville
Email: hoopsville@d3hoops.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/d3hoopsville

[WUPHF]

Washington University defeats DePauw in Greencastle, 84-77.

It looked like DePauw three point shooting would be the story yet again but the Bears closed it out behind a career game by Kevin Kucera who scored 27 points (12-14 from the line) along with 6 rebounds and 4 assists.  Kucera is the man!

Jake Knupp and Andrew Sanders both scored 13.  Glad to see Knupp back in the game.  Matt Highsmith finished with 12 along with 9 rebounds.

[Gregory Sager]

Chicago got a nice bounce-back win up on the North Shore over homestanding Lake Forest today, 78-68. Collin Barthel led the way with 20 points, while Tyler Howard had 15 and a great floor game (5 assists, no turnovers). Noah Karras and Waller Perez chipped in 13 points apiece for the Maroons, while Blaine Crawford pulled down ten rebounds.

[WUPHF]

Prediction: Washington University, Brandeis, and the University of Chicago are all headed to Salem for the Final Four...

OK, OK, I am talking about Women's Soccer in a Basketball thread but the joke was so obvious...

AWESOME to see three UAA teams in the soccer Final Four.  Washington University plays Brandeis, a team they beat 2-0 during the regular season.  Chicago plays Messiah, the school with 8 final fours, 5 national championships and possibly a few angels down on them. 

Salem is hosting after the NCAA decided earlier this Fall not to host championships in North Carolina.
__________

In other UAA basketball games not previously mentioned:

Case Western Reserve is 1-2 after a 72-71 win over Trinity and a 90-78 loss to Brockport.

Rochester is 3-0 after a 71-62 win over Alfred and a 77-50 win over Washington and Lee.

NYU is 2-0 after a 78-71 win over Marywood and a 87-78 win over Drew.

Emory is 2-1 after a 100-80 win over William Peace and a 69-66 win over Guildford, 69-66.

Carnegie Mellon is 1-1 after the 66-61 loss to La Roche.

The Coaches Poll should be out this week...

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Prediction: Washington University, Brandeis, and the University of Chicago are all headed to Salem for the Final Four...

OK, OK, I am talking about Women's Soccer in a Basketball thread but the joke was so obvious...

AWESOME to see three UAA teams in the soccer Final Four.  Washington University plays Brandeis, a team they beat 2-0 during the regular season.  Chicago plays Messiah, the school with 8 final fours, 5 national championships and possibly a few angels down on them. 

Salem is hosting after the NCAA decided earlier this Fall not to host championships in North Carolina.
__________

In other UAA basketball games not previously mentioned:

Case Western Reserve is 1-2 after a 72-71 win over Trinity and a 90-78 loss to Brockport.

Rochester is 3-0 after a 71-62 win over Alfred and a 77-50 win over Washington and Lee.

NYU is 2-0 after a 78-71 win over Marywood and a 87-78 win over Drew.

Emory is 2-1 after a 100-80 win over William Peace and a 69-66 win over Guildford, 69-66.

Carnegie Mellon is 1-1 after the 66-61 loss to La Roche.

The Coaches Poll should be out this week...

Per the first part, I will be on hand to call the soccer championships for NCAA.com - though, it is a little confusing if I am calling just the men's side or both sides (three games or six games). I should find out soon enough.

Per the second part, the coaches poll is in reference to what exactly? The conference coaches' poll? Interesting if it comes out after the season has begun.