MBB: University Athletic Association

[Gregory Sager]

Hate to say it, but I think WU may lose to IWU at home on Saturday. With only 3 teams in the Lopata Classic this year, WU somehow got screwed into playing an 8 PM Friday game and then having to turn around and play  a 3 PM Saturday game vs a rested IWU team. Tough circumstances, es[ecially considering that WU draws literally 3 times more fans for a Friday night game and IWU travels well. Saturday's contest could go down as the lone non-conference L of the 2008-2009 Wash.U. campaign, even as I hope I'm wrong.

"Screwed"? For crying out loud, Wash U hosts this tournament! Please explain to me how or why Mark Edwards would try to put his own team over the barrel.

Here's a more sane explanation: The Lopata Classic is normally a Friday/Saturday tournament. That's what Coach Edwards planned upon for this year, and that's how he set it up with regard to the Wash U schedule before whichever team was supposed to be the fourth member of the Lopata backed out late. Hamilton's itinerary and school calendar allows the Conts to stick around and play on Sunday before returning home to the Mohawk Valley. In other words, whatever airline that they're using to fly from Utica to St. Louis (or from Syracuse to St. Louis if it's easier to bus to Syracuse and fly out of Hancock Airport) is allowing them to use their tickets on Sunday instead of Saturday and they're therefore staying in the Gateway City an extra night. Illinois Wesleyan's itinerary and school schedule also allows for such flexibility, which is no surprise since IWU is a relatively easy three-hour busride from the Wash U campus. Therefore, both the Conts and the Titans are able to stick around St. Louis and play on Sunday, which means that the Bears can stay on the original Friday/Saturday schedule planned for the Lopata. As the host coach, Mark Edwards has clearly elected to do that.

As for Saturday's tipoff time, lots and lots of tournaments take place on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. The CCIW/MIAA Classic this weekend is on that schedule. The upcoming Bluejay Classic in Elmhurst in which the Bears will participate is on the same Friday evening / Saturday afternoon schedule. Heck, if you'll hearken back to last March, the Final Four in Salem is on that sked as well. It's not considered to be an undue hardship for the participants.

Nevertheless, Marty, that was a mighty fine job of sandbagging. Lou Holtz would be proud.

[mark_reichert]

Hate to say it, but I think WU may lose to IWU at home on Saturday. With only 3 teams in the Lopata Classic this year, WU somehow got screwed into playing an 8 PM Friday game and then having to turn around and play  a 3 PM Saturday game vs a rested IWU team. Tough circumstances, es[ecially considering that WU draws literally 3 times more fans for a Friday night game and IWU travels well. Saturday's contest could go down as the lone non-conference L of the 2008-2009 Wash.U. campaign, even as I hope I'm wrong.

"Screwed"? For crying out loud, Wash U hosts this tournament! Please explain to me how or why Mark Edwards would try to put his own team over the barrel.

Here's a more sane explanation: The Lopata Classic is normally a Friday/Saturday tournament. That's what Coach Edwards planned upon for this year, and that's how he set it up with regard to the Wash U schedule before whichever team was supposed to be the fourth member of the Lopata backed out late.

Thanks for the explanation.  I had wondered about the unusual arrangement.

[Marty Peretz]

Live video of WUSTL Hamilton...good video...webcast on student radio has a few freshman doing the job...one good...two AWFUL. Laughably terrible and with no knowledge of wu hoops lore.  frustrating to be honest. But if you want to hear it, you may be listening to the next boom goes the dynamite (see youtube).

[Hugenerd]

I am having trouble with the webcast, it is really choppy.  Might be my connection because I am on a wireless network.  I guess Ill watch the Celtics crush the Trail Blazers and keep track of WashU on livestats.

[pabegg]

I meant to get this comment up before play started Friday night, but anyway.

Looking at the numbers, the UAA has recovered quite a bit from its weak start and by my calculation, is now 4th in the country (behind the CCIW, NEWMAC, and Centennial) in average rating. So things aren't as dire as they looked recently (unless you're Case or Chicago).

[y_jack_lok]

As for the actual Wash U - Hamilton game, the Bears were simply too much and too deep for a hard playing, determined Hamilton team. It was clear that Hamilton had done its homework and they successuflly dogged Aaron Thompson to hold him to only 6 points in a team high 25 minutes on the floor. They also worked hard to keep Sean Wallis out of his game with some limited success. But Ross Kelley, who did such a great job last season replacing Wallis, had a team high seven assists. Freshmen Alex Toth and Dylan Richter looked good in spite of Richter's four turnovers.

[Titan Q]

Hate to say it, but I think WU may lose to IWU at home on Saturday. With only 3 teams in the Lopata Classic this year, WU somehow got screwed into playing an 8 PM Friday game and then having to turn around and play  a 3 PM Saturday game vs a rested IWU team.

"When we had the lead, we kept our focus," said Washington University head coach Mark Edwards, who picked up his 483rd career victory. "We have a big regional game tomorrow and it was really important to rest the starters tonight."

http://bearsports.wustl.edu/releases/mbk12-5-08.html

[Hugenerd]

Hate to say it, but I think WU may lose to IWU at home on Saturday. With only 3 teams in the Lopata Classic this year, WU somehow got screwed into playing an 8 PM Friday game and then having to turn around and play  a 3 PM Saturday game vs a rested IWU team.

"When we had the lead, we kept our focus," said Washington University head coach Mark Edwards, who picked up his 483rd career victory. "We have a big regional game tomorrow and it was really important to rest the starters tonight."

http://bearsports.wustl.edu/releases/mbk12-5-08.html

Nice find on the quote there.  With the starters only playing an average of 22 minutes, they are probably better rested than if they would have had a full practice last night.  I dont think last nights game should have much bearing on WashUs performance this afternoon.

[Gregory Sager]

Chicago lost today, 71-70, to a Kalamazoo team that has had a real tough time beating D3 comp the past few seasons. I hate to say this, but at 0-7 it looks like the wheels have come off for the Maroons. Chicago's upcoming four road games before the UAA opener against Wash U includes trips to St. John's (3-3), Carleton (3-1, with one of the wins being a victory over D2 Chaminade in Honolulu), Illinois Wesleyan (3-2), and MSOE (5-0). Chicago has to be seen as the underdog in all four of those games. It might get worse before it gets better for the Maroons. I hope not, but at 0-7 it's hard to paint a rosy picture.

On a positive note, Case picked up its first win today with a 77-73 victory over homestanding Trine in the consolation game of the Ramada Inn Shootout in Angola, IN.

[Hugenerd]

Huge win for CMU today in this season's UAA opener.  CMU earned its first lead with 2:52 left in the game and was able to hold on from there.  CMU now improves to 7-0.

WashU also improves to 7-0 with a big win over IWU.

NYU also remains undefeated at 6-0 with a win over Stevens.

Brandeis destroyed a highly tauted Emrson team 97-70.  Brandeis has rebounded with 4 solid wins in a row after their rough 0-3 start.  Brandeis held Emerson's best player, Shannon, to 15 points on 5-14 shooting and forced him to commit 7 turnovers.

[jagluski]

Hate to say it, but I think WU may lose to IWU at home on Saturday. With only 3 teams in the Lopata Classic this year, WU somehow got screwed into playing an 8 PM Friday game and then having to turn around and play  a 3 PM Saturday game vs a rested IWU team. Tough circumstances, es[ecially considering that WU draws literally 3 times more fans for a Friday night game and IWU travels well. Saturday's contest could go down as the lone non-conference L of the 2008-2009 Wash.U. campaign, even as I hope I'm wrong.

"Screwed"? For crying out loud, Wash U hosts this tournament! Please explain to me how or why Mark Edwards would try to put his own team over the barrel.

Here's a more sane explanation: The Lopata Classic is normally a Friday/Saturday tournament. That's what Coach Edwards planned upon for this year, and that's how he set it up with regard to the Wash U schedule before whichever team was supposed to be the fourth member of the Lopata backed out late.

Thanks for the explanation.  I had wondered about the unusual arrangement.

I think Wash U may have changed the format of the Lopata Classic starting with this year.  If you read the notes for the Lopata Classic on Wash U's website, you'll notice that there's only 3 teams and a similar schedule for the 2009 Lopata Classic.

[Titan Q]

Hate to say it, but I think WU may lose to IWU at home on Saturday. With only 3 teams in the Lopata Classic this year, WU somehow got screwed into playing an 8 PM Friday game and then having to turn around and play  a 3 PM Saturday game vs a rested IWU team. Tough circumstances, es[ecially considering that WU draws literally 3 times more fans for a Friday night game and IWU travels well. Saturday's contest could go down as the lone non-conference L of the 2008-2009 Wash.U. campaign, even as I hope I'm wrong.

"Screwed"? For crying out loud, Wash U hosts this tournament! Please explain to me how or why Mark Edwards would try to put his own team over the barrel.

Here's a more sane explanation: The Lopata Classic is normally a Friday/Saturday tournament. That's what Coach Edwards planned upon for this year, and that's how he set it up with regard to the Wash U schedule before whichever team was supposed to be the fourth member of the Lopata backed out late.

Thanks for the explanation.  I had wondered about the unusual arrangement.

I think Wash U may have changed the format of the Lopata Classic starting with this year.  If you read the notes for the Lopata Classic on Wash U's website, you'll notice that there's only 3 teams and a similar schedule for the 2009 Lopata Classic.

The Lopata Classic was supposed to be a 4-team tournament as it has always been.  Some team (can't remember which) backed out in about April of 2008, leaving Wash U scrambling to find a replacement.  They couldn't find a single team - D3, NAIA, etc.

I'm positive the intent is to have a 4-team tournament next year.

[theBroadcaster]

Brandeis destroyed a highly tauted Emrson team 97-70.  Brandeis has rebounded with 4 solid wins in a row after their rough 0-3 start.  Brandeis held Emerson's best player, Shannon, to 15 points on 5-14 shooting and forced him to commit 7 turnovers.

Hindsight is always 20/20, but you really have to look at the decision to not start Terrell Hollins at the beginning of the year as a big reason for the Judges slow start.  Hollins came off the bench for Brandeis' first two games, both losses, and had a combined total of 9pts and 11 rebounds in the two losses.

Coach Meehan inserted Hollins into the starting lineup for the Judges third game, and while the result was another loss, Hollins had 8pts and 11 rebounds alone against Mass Dartmouth and the Judges looked like they were starting to come together by the end of that game.

Since then Brandeis has won 4 straight, and look at Hollins' line:
19pts 10 rebounds vs Tufts
20pts 10 rebounds vs Babson
18pts 16 rebounds 7 assists vs RIC
27pts 14 rebounds vs Emerson


Clearly as he goes so do the Judges, though if Brandeis is to come close to last yrs success Hollins is going to have to keep it up in conference, as he has struggled some in the past against the more talented forwards in the uaa that can match his size

[Titan Q]

Hate to say it, but I think WU may lose to IWU at home on Saturday. With only 3 teams in the Lopata Classic this year, WU somehow got screwed into playing an 8 PM Friday game and then having to turn around and play  a 3 PM Saturday game vs a rested IWU team. Tough circumstances, es[ecially considering that WU draws literally 3 times more fans for a Friday night game and IWU travels well. Saturday's contest could go down as the lone non-conference L of the 2008-2009 Wash.U. campaign, even as I hope I'm wrong.

"Screwed"? For crying out loud, Wash U hosts this tournament! Please explain to me how or why Mark Edwards would try to put his own team over the barrel.

Here's a more sane explanation: The Lopata Classic is normally a Friday/Saturday tournament. That's what Coach Edwards planned upon for this year, and that's how he set it up with regard to the Wash U schedule before whichever team was supposed to be the fourth member of the Lopata backed out late.

Thanks for the explanation.  I had wondered about the unusual arrangement.

I think Wash U may have changed the format of the Lopata Classic starting with this year.  If you read the notes for the Lopata Classic on Wash U's website, you'll notice that there's only 3 teams and a similar schedule for the 2009 Lopata Classic.

The Lopata Classic was supposed to be a 4-team tournament as it has always been.  Some team (can't remember which) backed out in about April of 2008, leaving Wash U scrambling to find a replacement.  They couldn't find a single team - D3, NAIA, etc.

I'm positive the intent is to have a 4-team tournament next year.

Middlebury is the team that backed out this year.

[bamm]

Quick tidbit:  Mike Neer was quoted in Sports Illustrated this week, in article about former Neer underling Jay Wright.

"Jay can sell sand to an Arab or red, white and blue to Bin Laden," said Rochester's Mike Neer, the first coach to hire Wright. "You can't say no."