MBB: University Athletic Association

[howardjp]

Brandeis goes down 56-47, despite scoring the last 12 points of the game on 3 Jay Freeman 3's and one by Youri Dascy (!). Just no offense with the aforementioned players out.  Kalilou also got banged up during the game (stitches?)

Back home next week for Chicago and Wash U, next Sunday's game may decide 2nd place.

[WUPHF]

Hyperbole alert!

Washington University destroys Rochester, 72-53, capitalizing on a couple of runs to establish a 19-20 point lead that they held for most of the second half.  Easily the best game the team has played all year and maybe the best team effort in years, especially on defense.  Not to mention, another big rebounding margin (+14).

Cooney along with Aboona and Hoener had DiBartolomeo all tied up for much of the game, holding him to 5-19 shooting and two three-pointers for the game.  Rochester had 17 three-point attempts in the second half, most off passes from a double-teamed DiBartolomeo, but no could seem to knock them down as the Yellowjackets shot 23 percent for the game.
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A quick note on the officials: I have probably lost more karma over my comments about the officials than I will ever earn, but I think the last four games at home have been among the best officiated games I have seen in the Field House. 

I did not get to see the women play today, but the box score has 19 fouls on Washington University and 27 on Rochester with three players fouling out.  Jay Murry: what the hell happened?
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In other action, Carnegie Mellon got their second win of the season with a 56-55 win over NYU at home.

[hopefan]

Per WUH's statement about the officiating

Officials: Bill Westbrooks, Al Green, Scott Wilkerson.    the crew who worked today's Wash U game, and MANY SLIAC games

In my opinion far and away the best officiating crew in St Louis area D3 hoops.... 

Even Coach Edwards found little to hollar about today, and I saw the Rochester coach question only one or two calls all day....

[jaybird44]

The three officials that hopefan referenced did NOT work the women's game.  The crew for the women's game was very poor.  Obvious bumps, elbows, handchecks, free-arms leveraged by dribbling guards were overlooked by officials three feet away from the plays...while very slight phantom touches were whistled by a ref 20-30 feet away and behind the play, out of position.

There were also a handful of occurrances when two officials ruled correctly for one team, and the third (farthest from the play) gave the incorrect call...and the incorrect call stood.  Very inconsistent and incompetent.  There were 12 total fouls called in the first half, due to the crew's overlooking rather obvious contact made by players of both teams.  Then, the phantom fouls were called, to the tune of 34 fouls in the 2nd half.

I am usually very complimentary of officials, knowing that their job is a tough and thankless one.  I give them the benefit of the doubt, since they have a better look than I do from my vantage point on the mezzanine.  At each home game this season, I felt the officiating was satisfactory to very good from game to game.  And, as hopefan mentioned, the trio of officials that worked the men's game was excellent.  But this crew for the women's game was IMHO so poor, that they could've replaced by a Rochester fan, a Wash-U fan, and an impartial observer sitting in the bleachers and the game would've benefited greatly by the change.

With that said, Rochester deserved to win today.  They played well with a swagger from the opening tip and didn't falter.  Shot the lights out from 3-point range at a 55% clip, after entering the game with a season performance average of 29%.  The Bears seemed tentative and didn't adjust well mentally to the whims of the officials.  It's a learning experience--sometimes we forget that most of the Wash-U ladies are freshmen and sophomores, and are prone to have a tough game now and then. 

But, there is no more margin for error.  Wash-U needs to win the 3 remaining games to have a shot at the UAA crown, and to build a strong resume for a Pool C bid if the crown eludes its grasp.

[hopefan]

One of the things that I noticed in watching Wash U's win over Rochester is that only 2 seniors, Rob Burnett  and Ben Hoener saw significant time... With 6th man Nick Burt returning (he would be a starter on many teams), a starting lineup of 2 guards (Aboona, Cooney) and 3 athletic forwards (Klimek, Burt, Paluki) seems logical for next season... and very good....  with Guard Kevin bischoff coming off the bench to fill Hoerner's role, Coach Mark Edwards just needs to find the right guy off his bench to man the middle and give the 3 forwards a break when they need it...   Wash U is certainly a viable top 10 candidate for next year....

[howardjp]

Good evening!

Brandeis brings it home over Chicago, 75-56, after running away to a 44-19 lead at the half. Alex Stoyle's return was huge as he tallied 28 pts on 80% (!) shooting.  Jay Freeman was 5-5 in 3's, continuing his hot shooting.

So 'Deis does their job going into the big game on Sunday, Emory is also winning big, watching to see what happens w/Rochester and Wash U ....who are in close games as of now.

[Hugenerd]

NYU holds on against WashU.

[howardjp]

NYU holds on against WashU.

and so we have a three way tie for 2nd ...

[WUPHF]

NYU holds on against WashU.

Another longtime UAA poster returns after an extended absence.  Welcome back--even if it was to make the announcement that my team lost.  The 4-8 NYU Violets break a three game losing streak (going back to their upset win over then No. 1 Rochester) to get the 86-82 win over Washington University.

NYU opened up an 8-0 run to start a game that would go back and forth and back and forth some more in a game the Violets led beginning to end.  A tough road loss for a Washington University squad that is ranked No. 2 in the latest regional rankings.

In other games, Rochester gets a four point win over Carnegie Mellon 81-77 and Emory over Case Western Reserve.  Rochester will probably clinch the title on Sunday at Case Western Reserve.

[Hugenerd]

Yeah, its been a while.  Although I played in the UAA, it has been 8 years since I graduated and after going to grad school at a NEWMAC school and being a grad assistant there, my primary allegiance has changed somewhat.  In any case, my alma mater has been terrible the last 4 years and hasn't given me much to cheer about, but they did almost get a big upset tonight.

[howardjp]

Yikes, Brandeis down at half 34-23, Stoyle and Freeman, who were red hot vs Chicago, can't hit a shot so far.  Coach Meehan went deep into the bench for Williams, who committed two consecutive turnovers for 4 pts.

Gut check team, don't worry about who's not playing, worry about the effort of who is. Team needs scoring right now, and can't afford to play the non-shooters.

Good luck!

[WUPHF]

This officiating crew is not very good.

[howardjp]

that we can agree on! congrats on the win, turned it off before the end, Judges needed to fire on all cylendars today and couldn't find the will or the way. Team will have one more go at it with the seniors next year, then will really need to start over after that.

Anyway, give it the best shot at NYU, and cross fingers.

This officiating crew is not very good.

[Hugenerd]

Case Western is up 8 on Rochester with 6 minutes to play.

http://www.sidearmstats.com/rochester/mbball/scoreboard.aspx

[WUPHF]

Case Western is up 8 on Rochester with 6 minutes to play.

http://www.sidearmstats.com/rochester/mbball/scoreboard.aspx

I have been following that game as well.  Case Western Reserve with the four point lead with less than two to go.  DiBartomoleo with 10 points on 3-15 shooting.