MBB: University Athletic Association

[Gregory Sager]

His teammates only missed on six shots in the second half scoring five less points overall.  They missed more in the first than they did the second.

Yeah, but he wasn't driving and kicking in the first half. It definitely seemed to me that he lost faith in his teammates' ability to knock down the corner treys when necessary, or perhaps he's simply used to upping his shot frequency when games are tight down the stretch.

In my opinion, a guy is forcing a shot when he shoots from 25 feet out.  He was taking those in the first half.  He had this incredible fadeaway jumper from 12 feet out.  First half.  He shot the vast majority of those midrange jumpers over Hooks.  Darting and dancing around him...we will have to agree to disagree on that one.

From what I've been told, super-long shots like that are part of Sabin's bag of tricks in almost every game, regardless of competition. He's very much like Wheaton's Aston Francis in that regard. He feels that he's in range from the moment he steps on the floor, and he doesn't regard the shots as being forced. However, those shots do tend to be forced down the stretch in a tough game against a bigger opponent because even a marvel like Sabin can wear down when he feels he has to take on the opposition all by himself. As for the midrange stuff, it all came after he cleared some space between himself and Hooks (who is three inches taller).

No offense to Hooks, who, as I said, played a fantastic game at the offensive end of the floor. I just don't think that he had that much of an impact defensively against Sabin, that's all.

[WUPHF]

I think someone has to do more or less exactly what Clinton Hooks did because, as you said, Ty Sabin is that good.  It becomes a team effort from there.  Maybe Lake Forest or Monmouth had one guy who defended him more vigorously...

I stand by everything else I said, but unlike Clinton Hooks, I have lost the will to defend it...

[WUPHF]

I am going to clear the slate and post this again with a few updates:

Washington University defeats Ripon, 87-72.

Washington University has three guys with 20 or more as Clinton Hooks (25), Andrew Sanders (23) and Matt Highsmith (20) go big in the second half. 

Hooks goes 7-11 from three point range in what is easily the best game of his career (and no other game is close).  He made Ty Sabin work for mostly everything.  The 7-11 was a career high from range, but was one point away from his career high of 26.

Kevin Kucera with the double-double scores 10 and dishes 11 assists.  Knupp had 6 assists.  Both Kucera and Knupp finished without a turnover.

Washington University advances to play Hope College tomorrow at 7:00 EST.
__________

In other UAA games...

Emory defeats Texas Lutheran, 82-69.  Adam Gigax and Jim Gordon again lead the way.  The Eagles will play Hardin Simmons tomorrow at 8:00 EST.
 
Rochester over Albertus Magnus, 89-66. Sam Borst-Smith and Mack Montague finished with 24 and 20.  Rochester had more fouls and turnovers than usual...  Rochester will play Union tomorrow at 7:00 EST.

[iwumichigander]

His teammates only missed on six shots in the second half scoring five less points overall.  They missed more in the first than they did the second.

Yeah, but he wasn't driving and kicking in the first half. It definitely seemed to me that he lost faith in his teammates' ability to knock down the corner treys when necessary, or perhaps he's simply used to upping his shot frequency when games are tight down the stretch.

In my opinion, a guy is forcing a shot when he shoots from 25 feet out.  He was taking those in the first half.  He had this incredible fadeaway jumper from 12 feet out.  First half.  He shot the vast majority of those midrange jumpers over Hooks.  Darting and dancing around him...we will have to agree to disagree on that one.

From what I've been told, super-long shots like that are part of Sabin's bag of tricks in almost every game, regardless of competition. He's very much like Wheaton's Aston Francis in that regard. He feels that he's in range from the moment he steps on the floor, and he doesn't regard the shots as being forced. However, those shots do tend to be forced down the stretch in a tough game against a bigger opponent because even a marvel like Sabin can wear down when he feels he has to take on the opposition all by himself. As for the midrange stuff, it all came after he cleared some space between himself and Hooks (who is three inches taller).

No offense to Hooks, who, as I said, played a fantastic game at the offensive end of the floor. I just don't think that he had that much of an impact defensively against Sabin, that's all.

If they still have the "all-star" game at Salem could you imagine Sabin and Francis on the same team?  Nobody else would get the ball to shoot.  Two guys bombing away with three to rebound so they can shoot it again!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

They do still have the All-Star game... has been a big hit since it was introduced. Remember 2 members from each region selected plus two additional from the D3hoops.com Fan Vote.

[Smitty Oom]

They do still have the All-Star game... has been a big hit since it was introduced. Remember 2 members from each region selected plus two additional from the D3hoops.com Fan Vote.

Unfortunately Francis will not be eligible for two years as he is only a Sophomore. Sabin on the other hand, will be there if he chooses so, as Dave hinted yesterday he will be there one way or another (with Ripon or NABC All-Star Game). I wonder who the second will be out of the Central... Juwan Henry possibly? Probably also depends which WIAC school and if WashU are still playing.

[Gregory Sager]

Well, of course I'm biased, but I certainly hope that Juwan Henry will be the second Central Region player in the All-Star game alongside Sabin. After all, like Sabin, Henry is a 2,000-point scorer and a d3hoops.com All-American.

[WUPHF]

Hope with a huge first half holds a 53-37 lead over Washington University.

Again, the Bears go in to the locker room trailing by 15.

The front court is definitely not used to defending the perimeter, but they have to find a way as Cody Stuive is 4-5 from three point range and is 5-8 from the field.  Coach Edwards has used both Kevin Kucera and Jake Knupp on Dante Hawkins, but he is unstoppable.

The Bears always play better when the game is called tight...anyone who has ever followed my posts would probably guess that I do not like the way this game is being called.  Nothing will change my mind on that.

[Gregory Sager]

Rochester leads Union at the half, 34-22, at the Palestra.

Wash U trails Hope at DeVos at intermission, 52-37. Wash U's cut-and-pass game led to the Bears getting to the rim a lot early, but they missed several layups. Meanwhile, the Dutch began raining threes and never stopped throughout the half, going 9-17 (53%), while the Hope defense tightened up considerably. Kevin Kucera's 4-5 performance from downtown (16 pts overall) is what kept the Bears from getting blown off the floor in the first half.

The interesting thing to me is that Kucera was only a 29% shooter from deep this season coming into tonight.

[WUPHF]

Echo, echo, echo...

[Gregory Sager]

Hope beats Wash U, 94-80. Cody Stuive (37 points) and Dante Hawkins (26 points) went a combined 14-17 from downtown.

Wash U managed to hang around, but never really made it within striking distance. Kevin Kucera (25 pts, 5-8 from deep) had a really solid game for the Bears.

Rochester easily defeated Union, 82-60, to move on to the Sweet Sixteen. Emory trails Hardin-Simmons by nine early in the second half.

[WUPHF]

WTF Sager?

[Gregory Sager]

What do you mean?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Hope is in the zone.  Their women's team just gave Thomas More their first loss since 2014!

[WUPHF]

Hope College defeats Washington University, 94-80.

As far as big games go and the talk about Ty Sabin last night, the performance of the weekend was by Cody Stuive tonight who shot 10-11 from three and 12-17 overall en route to 37 points.  But, Hope was the better team tonight...Dante Hawkins was clutch, scoring 26 on 7-13 shooting.  Harrison Blackledge had 15.

Washington University struggled to solve the Hope pick and roll in the first half.  The second half adjustments helped.  And, Washington University outscored Hope 43-42 in the second half, but the damage was done. 

Kevin Kucera finished with 25 including a 5-8 performance from three point range.  His ability to knock down the three was not a surprise to those who follow the team.  David Schmelter finished with 17 including four dunks.  Clinton Hooks and Andrew Sanders both finished with 13 on 5-14 shooting, but looked out of sorts early.

The Bears did win the battle of the boards 44-36 but had a few more turnovers.

Washington University exits the tournament in the second round yet again.  Three pointers were the story line yet again.  The Bears finish the season 21-6 with just the second road loss on the season.