MBB: University Athletic Association

[Marty Peretz]

Case and Rochester will both be quite good. Summers and Andersen form a real nice nucleus at Case and it might finally be their year to compete at the highest level in the UAA. The tides are really going to change next year in conference. The overwhelming favorite on paper right now is U of R which essentially everyone from this year's 15-10 team. If Vegas were to set odds now for UAA final standings, it'd look like this.

1) U of R
2) Case
3) Wash.U
4) NYU
5) Deis
6) U of C
7) Emory
8) Carnegie

That said, 2-7 could be separated by 2-3 games total. I think U of R runs away with it, but everyone else is in the hunt. Lots of parity. If Wash.U doesn't find a serviceable point guard by mid season, they would fall as far as 6th or 7th. If they find one they could make a run at second.

[Ethelred the Unready]

Case and Rochester will both be quite good. Summers and Andersen form a real nice nucleus at Case and it might finally be their year to compete at the highest level in the UAA. The tides are really going to change next year in conference. The overwhelming favorite on paper right now is U of R which essentially everyone from this year's 15-10 team. If Vegas were to set odds now for UAA final standings, it'd look like this.

1) U of R
2) Case
3) Wash.U
4) NYU
5) Deis
6) U of C
7) Emory
8) Carnegie

That said, 2-7 could be separated by 2-3 games total. I think U of R runs away with it, but everyone else is in the hunt. Lots of parity. If Wash.U doesn't find a serviceable point guard by mid season, they would fall as far as 6th or 7th. If they find one they could make a run at second.

Not sure that UofR will return a lot of guys.  Core should be strong with last 2 UAA ROY's, but Searle and Moncrief have transferred out and several others are done as well.  That's on top of the 4 who left during the season and 2 seniors leaving. 

[Marty Peretz]

Wow. Did not realize about the loss of those two players due to transfer. They are key ingredients and I will have to amend my conference projections accordingly.

[deiscanton]

I could not have been more wrong about my prediction of Brandeis's success this season.  The Brandeis men's team has made me a goat-- but I am a very proud goat as to where Brandeis has come from and where Brandeis is going.   Here is what I said going into the season:

My initial impression of this year's Brandeis men's roster does not make me very optimistic of overall long term success this season (defined as a deep NCAA run based on previous seasons in addition to a high finish in the UAA)-- I never like going into a UAA season with only 10 players on the team,  no matter how talented the core players are.

I am very glad that my initial impression has been proven wrong.

If success is not a Sweet 16 appearance with a realistic chance of going into the Elite Eight on Friday (and maybe going even further than that....) and a second place finish in the UAA, then I don't know what success is.   Well done, Judges-- well done.

(Note:  reference to goat is a figure of speech-- not literal reference)

By the way, this article has not yet been put up on the What We're reading section-- so here is the Waltham Daily News Tribune article (from the February 9, 2010 edition) as it relates to Brandeis going into the weekend:

http://www.dailynewstribune.com/sports/x2096605543/Brandeis-mens-basketball-team-eyes-benchmark-success

(Updated-- modified to reflect date of article)

[howardjp]

Anybody getting a video feed of the Brandeis-URI game?  I keep getting an "unavailable" message ...

Oh well, there's always 'BRS radio

[nescac1]

I am getting unavailable too ... sheesh.  If someone could let the powers that be know if they are there, that would be great!

[howardjp]

I sent a message to CBS College Sports via their "help" page, so we'll see ....nothing yet.

I am getting unavailable too ... sheesh.  If someone could let the powers that be know if they are there, that would be great!

[nescac1]

I called ... they are aware of tech difficulties from that location, and are working on it. 

[howardjp]

Thanks, it was a good first half, and hopefully we can get some video for a barnburner down the stretch ...

I called ... they are aware of tech difficulties from that location, and are working on it. 

[howardjp]

We have service!

[howardjp]

Brandeis 76, RIC 65, now it's up to Williams ... let's have an all-Massachusetts sectional final!

[deiscanton]

On to the Elite Eight for the Judges!

I gave up waiting for the video problems to be fixed-- I listened to the WBRS audio call of the game.   At least I should be able to watch the Williams v SUNYIT game coming up.

I hope that there will be no video problems tomorrow-- yeah, this is the 3rd Brandeis game in a row that we have had video problems-- first with St John Fisher last weekend, now with the NCAA tonight....This is getting frustrating.

Nevertheless, Brandeis wins an emotional game-- tomorrow's game always seems to be the toughest one of the tournament to win, in my opinion--because it is for a berth in the Final Four-- and it usually is off a tough game in the Sweet 16 the day before.  Brandeis needs to be up for this one tomorrow-- whether it is SUNYIT or Williams.

[Pat Coleman]

There was also D3hoops.com audio on the front page as a backup the whole time.

[deiscanton]

There was also D3hoops.com audio on the front page as a backup the whole time.

Thanks.  I knew that as well, but unfortunately I didn't mention it.

[howardjp]

Dear Coach Meehan --

Please send Tyrone Hughes home early, terrible!

And please figure out a way to get the ball to Kriskus and Small, before it's too late.

H

PS - another Hughes brick, hurry!!!!!