MBB: University Athletic Association

[hopefan]

senioritis;  been there, done that ; Kelly and Knepper back too soon;   any are possible

These are serious mind games and phsical situations to overcome  -  no class has ever accomplished what this class has...

my hope is that they are saving the excitement, the ultimate inner motivation,  for the end of the season....

[WUPHF]

My hope is that they are saving the excitement, the ultimate inner motivation,  for the end of the season....

Your hope is mine.  And, hopefully, they will play well against Carnegie Mellon because, on paper, this is the easiest game they have left on the season.

Let's see if Kelly and Knepper can get things going on offense.

With the exception of the Transylvania and Brandeis games, the Bears are doing what they need to do to win the close games.  And, even in the Brandeis game, Aaron Thompson, for example, adjusted to the fact that he could not hit from outside, going inside on a number of very pretty baskets.

[bobcat10]

Here are my two cents:

Wash is simply not as good as they have been in the past. Wallis will still do what he does but as long as AT struggles to hit three after three, Wash will be exposed this year.

Brandeis is going to be up and down all year but they have the talent to be a good team.

Chicago can play and will be similar to the same team as last year.

Emory is still Emory. Not as talented or gifted but they will beat you if youre team isn't upto the challenge (ala NYU last night).

Havent seen CWRU, Rochester or CMU yet.

As to my Violets, all I can say is that last night's game was terrible. Basic basketball fundementals were simply ignored. If your starting backcourt is 6 Foot 5 in., 6 foot 7 in., and 6 foot 9 in. with Richie Polan coming off the bench at 6 foot 7 in. you do not lose to Anthony Fernandez at 6 foot 3 in. and a Freshman who would be the 13th man on your team. Also if your opponent is a shooting team and all they have shown all game is deep range, you do not go into a 2-3 zone. And when you're in a man to man defense you do not have your junior captain who's coming off an ankle injury guard the best shooter on the other team. Why? Because after 3 passes and 3 screens he's going to eventually struggle keeping up which may or may not lead 2 consecutive 3's and a dramatic shift in the lead. Another thing I didn't understand was why the second most active defender on NYU, Lawrence Borsi, was not played more yesterday. It is evident that when/if the team plays defense, the team wins. So when Borsi who usually struggles to stay on the court due to fouls, is playing great defense, is not in foul trouble AND has 10 points at halftime, you probably should ride the hot hand.

@Gratuitous Violets you said that the team is not executing Coach Nesci's gameplan correctly and that's why they are losing... If you have EVER played basketball, coached basketball, are relatively familiar with how the game is played you would see that this problem is way bigger than the team not executing the Princeton Offense. Something is going on with that team, two players went after the refs leading to a technical foul during garbage time last night. That's something that doesn't happen unless 'street' teams are playing. Last time I checked the UAA had ZERO street teams in the league and we aren't watching Ron Artest play out there. Something is not right and it's a damn shame.

On a lighter and happier note, the NYU women's team surprisingly got a Win on Friday night. Hopefully the NYU men can pull it together and we can get a sweep on Sunday.

[Gratuitous Violets]

Here are my two cents:

Wash is simply not as good as they have been in the past. Wallis will still do what he does but as long as AT struggles to hit three after three, Wash will be exposed this year.

Brandeis is going to be up and down all year but they have the talent to be a good team.

Chicago can play and will be similar to the same team as last year.

Emory is still Emory. Not as talented or gifted but they will beat you if youre team isn't upto the challenge (ala NYU last night).

Havent seen CWRU, Rochester or CMU yet.

As to my Violets, all I can say is that last night's game was terrible. Basic basketball fundementals were simply ignored. If your starting backcourt is 6 Foot 5 in., 6 foot 7 in., and 6 foot 9 in. with Richie Polan coming off the bench at 6 foot 7 in. you do not lose to Anthony Fernandez at 6 foot 3 in. and a Freshman who would be the 13th man on your team. Also if your opponent is a shooting team and all they have shown all game is deep range, you do not go into a 2-3 zone. And when you're in a man to man defense you do not have your junior captain who's coming off an ankle injury guard the best shooter on the other team. Why? Because after 3 passes and 3 screens he's going to eventually struggle keeping up which may or may not lead 2 consecutive 3's and a dramatic shift in the lead. Another thing I didn't understand was why the second most active defender on NYU, Lawrence Borsi, was not played more yesterday. It is evident that when/if the team plays defense, the team wins. So when Borsi who usually struggles to stay on the court due to fouls, is playing great defense, is not in foul trouble AND has 10 points at halftime, you probably should ride the hot hand.

@Gratuitous Violets you said that the team is not executing Coach Nesci's gameplan correctly and that's why they are losing... If you have EVER played basketball, coached basketball, are relatively familiar with how the game is played you would see that this problem is way bigger than the team not executing the Princeton Offense. Something is going on with that team, two players went after the refs leading to a technical foul during garbage time last night. That's something that doesn't happen unless 'street' teams are playing. Last time I checked the UAA had ZERO street teams in the league and we aren't watching Ron Artest play out there. Something is not right and it's a damn shame.

On a lighter and happier note, the NYU women's team surprisingly got a Win on Friday night. Hopefully the NYU men can pull it together and we can get a sweep on Sunday.

It's no big deal, but for the record my exact quote was: "I don't know enough to say whether that's an issue of coaching or execution." I wouldn't pretend to know what the issue is in the games where the team looks sloppy, as I have never coached or played organized basketball. I just enjoy watching!

[Marty Peretz]

WU cruises to 81-60 win, the final margin actually not doing justice to the lopsidedness of this game. It was all Bears for pretty much the bulk of the contest. Especially encouraging was the play of Dylan Richter. The sophomore is really starting to come into his own. Had 15 points on 7 of 9 shooting. AT still not AT, but he didn't have to be. Went 4-8 for 9 points, but hit just 1 of 4 from long range. Wallis led all scorers with 17 on a very efficient 5-9 from the field. He added 5 boards and 4 assists.

Hopefully the critics are silenced for a few days.

[WUPHF]

WU cruises to 81-60 win, the final margin actually not doing justice to the lopsidedness of this game. It was all Bears for pretty much the bulk of the contest. Especially encouraging was the play of Dylan Richter. The sophomore is really starting to come into his own.

Hopefully the critics are silenced for a few days.

I agree with everything you said, though this was game we needed to win.  And, win big.  The only other relatively easy win we have left on the schedule is, incidentally, Carnegie Mellon on February 21.

This team may not be as talented as in previous years, but this team clearly has the talent to win the UAA.

[WUPHF]

 It looks like Emory knocked off No. 15 Brandeis 77-64 and New York University beat Rochester 78-75.  Anyone care to comment?

[Gratuitous Violets]

It looks like Emory knocked off No. 15 Brandeis 77-64 and New York University beat Rochester 78-75.  Anyone care to comment?

NYU hit threes when they had to, passed well (they racked up plenty of assists), and got the ball inside frequently. They've won most games this season when they've managed to do that, and this was no exception. Keith Jensen sat out the first half because of his technical foul in Friday's loss to Emory.

[Titan Q]

Sean Wallis piece from KSDK in St. Louis...

http://www.ksdk.com/sports/story.aspx?storyid=194819&catid=6

[y_jack_lok]

Sean Wallis piece from KSDK in St. Louis...

http://www.ksdk.com/sports/story.aspx?storyid=194819&catid=6

Thanks for posting that, Q. KSDK is the only station in St. Louis that pays any attention to the D3 schools. Thanks to sports director Rene Knott for keeping all the schools and all the programs on the radar. They don't just cover hoops and they don't just cover Wash U. It might not be night-in, night-out coverage, but they make sure there is exposure from time to time.

[WUPHF]

FRIDAY NIGHT IN THE UAA

Washington University with the win over Rochester, 82-78 on the road, New York edges Carnegie Mellon 59-57, Brandeis blows out Case Western 70-52, and the University of Chicago, who I referred to as one of the best teams to play the Bears this season continues to prove me wrong with a 71-44 loss at Emory.  Washington University will play Emory in Atlanta for first place in the UAA on Sunday.

_____

The Bears won behind a career-high 27 points from superstar Sean Wallis.  And, Dylan Richter is really starting to come alive offensively, and at the right time.  We knew he had it in him.  Aaron Thompson had adjusted his game, going 1-4 from three point range.  The usual solid play from Cameron Smith, Spencer Gay, Alex Toth, and Zach Kelley. 

Unfortunately, Caleb Knepper again played a limited role tonight, scoring two points in 13 minutes of play.  Not to mention the fact that the women fell to Rochester 63-51.

[BUBeaverFan]

The Bears seem to be mixing and matching just enough to keep winning.  A high noon showdown on Sunday in Atlanta looks to be a great game.  Dylan, Spencer and Sean were great.  Go Bears! 

[r-buddy]

To this WU fan it appears that opponents are gearing their defenses to stop AT and the Bears have not yet figured out how to cope, though making some progress.  In addition, some aspects of the Bears' play are just not crisp--too many turnovers, sloppy screens, passes that arrive just a fraction late so that the shot is not quite open. When pure athletic skills are fairly well matched it is often the subtle little things that make a difference.

[Gratuitous Violets]

It was nice to see NYU escape with the win on Friday night. Another UAA question, though--is there anyone who has seen Emory play week in and week out? How have they managed such a turnaround this season, and did anyone see it coming?

[Marty Peretz]

Re: WU and their lack of crispness. Two things I'd point to: Tyler Nading's graduation and the departure of assistant coach Tim Whittle. The former had an unbelievable FG percentage and could score from almost anywhere on the floor, making it very difficult for teams to clog the lane on the one hand or overplay the perimeter on the other. The latter, now the head coach at Macalaster, was incredibly good at making sure the Bears executed offensive schemes in a highly precise, almost academic manner. Finally, if the pre-season POY doesn't do what he's expected to do on a regular basis, things will simply not go as well as anticipated. But I'm quite pleased with 15-2 and think the Bears are starting to play quality basketball at the right time. AT will find his stroke, I really believe that. No doubt it's an unusual stretch of play for him, but he'll come around; he's too good not to. Also, with Richter and Gay playing as well as they are and the parity we have around the nation, I think a 3peat is still very much possible. Experience will be a huge help as the season winds down.