MBB: University Athletic Association

[WUPHF]

I thought David Schmelter might have given Andrew Sanders a run for league POY, both had great seasons.

I know what you mean and I am not disagreeing, but I did the math and Andrew Sanders has an ever so slight advantage over the course of the conference season.

Sanders probably also gets rewarded for being so uniquely talented as compared to other forwards in the league.

On a personal note, I have been referring to Jake Knupp as an elite defender for the better part of three years now, so I am glad to know I am not completely off the mark on the things I say.

[WUPHF]

I was just looking at the Washington University game preview and noticed a bit of trivia that I had never heard before:

ONE LAST NOTE
WashU was involved in the only forfeit in the history of the NCAA Tournament – Division I, II or III. The Bears posted a 2-0 win over Rust College on March 3, 1989, in the first round in Danville, Ky.

[Pat Coleman]

I was just looking at the Washington University game preview and noticed a bit of trivia that I had never heard before:

ONE LAST NOTE
WashU was involved in the only forfeit in the history of the NCAA Tournament – Division I, II or III. The Bears posted a 2-0 win over Rust College on March 3, 1989, in the first round in Danville, Ky.

http://www.d3hoops.com/archives/men/1989

We believe that was at Rose-Hulman, but slightly more detail on our 1989 tournament page.

[WUPHF]

Thanks!  I did not realize that the tournament used to include regional third place games, but I love that idea.  It would be interesting to know just how much they saved by doing away with those.  Is that why those games went away?

Incidentally, one of my best friends was on that Monmouth team that got destroyed by UW-Whitewater in second round that season, but finished the season with a regional third place win.

[WUPHF]

The boards are little quiet, so I thought I would post this.

The student newspaper published a story detailing the grim history of the Washington University post-season records: http://www.studlife.com/sports/2018/03/01/ghosts-of-march-past-mens-basketball-eyes-ncaa-playoff-run/

Here is a look at the postseason records since the national title runs.

2010 St. Louis
79-71 win over Westminster, 75-70 loss to Illinois Wesleyan

2011 DNQ

2012 St. Louis
71-59 win over Buena Vista, 72-68 loss to North Central

2013 St. Louis
70-61 win over Spalding, 71-67 loss to Illinois Wesleyan

2014 St. Louis
100-69 over Wilmington, 83-75 defeat to Calvin

2015 St. Louis
83-73 loss to DePauw

2016 N/A

2017 Holland, Michigan
87-72 win over Ripon, 94-80 loss to Hope

[Mr. Mo]

The sheer unbridled positivity of that article is inspiring.   

[Mr. Mo]

A couple of Churchill speeches like that to send the boys off to war and they would be speaking German right now in Piccadilly.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Thanks!  I did not realize that the tournament used to include regional third place games, but I love that idea.  It would be interesting to know just how much they saved by doing away with those.  Is that why those games went away?

Incidentally, one of my best friends was on that Monmouth team that got destroyed by UW-Whitewater in second round that season, but finished the season with a regional third place win.

Well you save on an extra night of hotel rooms and per diem...

You also get rid of absolutely boring games. I used to be a fan of the consolation game at the final four... I then started to see how some teams just didn't care. Good riddance.

[WUPHF]

Aurora walked away with the buzzer-beater upset of Washington University, 82-80.

What can I say about the game?  Washington University tied the game with a three-pointer from the corner, but they were slow to cover the inbounds pass and with 1.6 seconds left, Aurora knocked down the buzzer beater.  The better team won tonight. 

Aurora had a game plan...

Let Marcus Myers and Matt Dunn drive and shoot and drive and shoot.  This worked perfectly in the first half.  In the second half, Washington University made adjustments on the defensive end and the strategy became drive and kick and drive and kick.

Aurora shot 50% from three point range compared to 29% by Washington University.  Aurora did whatever they could to clog up the low post and dared Washington University to win the game from the perimeter.  That strategy worked.

Aurora out rebounded Washington University 38-32. 

Easily the most depressing stat of the game is the free-throw shooting.  Aurora shot 83%.  Washington University went 2-8 (25%) including a trip to the line with just over a minute left in which the Bears went 0-2.

Hmmmm...

[WUPHF]

I was thinking some more about the game night...

It would be cliche to say that Aurora could have beat anyone in the nation last night, but Washington University can look back at a few of these postseason losses and wonder why they managed to bring out the best in the other opponent.  DePauw, Hope and Aurora to name a few.

Marcus Myers and Matt Dunn were easily the two toughest guards the Bears had the pleasure to play this season.

Dunn was a man on a mission in the first half.  Everything he tossed up seemed to fall.  Dunn was held to 4 second half points by some great defense, but he worked the point masterfully, holding the ball and lulling the defense to sleep before hitting the ignition.  Ty Carlson truly came alive in the second half, scoring 15 of his 18 points.

Dunn played the full 40 minutes.  Myers played 38 minutes, coming out briefly with what appeared to be a cramp before returning again.  I'll be surprised if they can do that again tonight, but I wish them luck.

[Ralph Turner]

Congratulations  Emory, 83-82 winners over LeTourneau at the Woodruff.

[deiscanton]

Congrats to Emory on advancing to the sweet 16.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

With so much parity, especially in men's basketball, unexpected outcomes where to be ... expected. However, that doesn't prepare anyone for the number of upsets, who was upset, and how.

Sunday night on Hoopsville, Dave tries to breakdown the opening weekend not only looking back at some of the crazier finishes, but also talking to programs who escaped the wrath. Programs who are dancing on to the second weekend and hoping to punch their ticket to a championship weekend.

Hoopsville is presented by D3hoops.com and airs from the WBCANABC Studio. You can watch Sunday episode LIVE starting at 7:00 p.m. ET here: http://bit.ly/2FbY54R.

If you have questions, be sure to email them to hoopsville@d3hoops.com or interact with the show via the social media avenues.

Guests in order of appearance (subject to change):
- Chuck McBreen, Ramapo men's coach
- Jason Zimmerman, No. 6 Emory men's coach
- Larry Anderson, MIT men's coach
- Bill Broderick, No. 18 Christopher Newport women's coach
- Laurie Kelly, Gustavus Adolphus women's coach
- Carla Berube, No. 8 Tufts women's coach

If you enjoy the show via the podcasts instead, you can get access to them or subscribe one of the three following ways (click on the images when necessary):
SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/hoopsville



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]

Joe Nesci is retiring after 30 years at NYU.

Congratulations to Coach Nesci on a great career and best of luck in retirement.

http://gonyuathletics.com/news/2018/3/6/joe-nesci-retires-as-nyu-mens-basketball-coach.aspx

[deiscanton]

Joe Nesci is retiring after 30 years at NYU.

Congratulations to Coach Nesci on a great career and best of luck in retirement.

http://gonyuathletics.com/news/2018/3/6/joe-nesci-retires-as-nyu-mens-basketball-coach.aspx

Coach Nesci did not coach at Brandeis a few weeks ago due to illness.  I am not sure that the illness is related to his sudden retirement, but I do wish him the best.