MBB: University Athletic Association

[WUPHF]

A quick update with the Massey Rankings (through Saturday) and the records through today.  The UAA ranks 2nd in Division III though obviously [insert disclaimers here].

No. 20 Washington U. 6-2 
No. 36 Emory 6-3   
No. 64 Carnegie Mellon 5-1
No. 76 New York University 6-1
No. 88 Brandeis 6-3
No. 109 Chicago 5-4
No. 127 Case Western Reserve 5-1
No. 144 Rochester 5-5

[jaybird44]

Wash-U won last night at Fontbonne 87-50.  Bears shot the lights out from 3-point range, making 15 of 28 attempts (10-16 in the 1st half).  Alan Aboona made his first 7 attempts from beyond the arc, and finished with 24 points on 7-8 shooting from 3-point range.  Matt Palucki had 12 points on 4 treys as the only other Wash-U player in double figures.

The defense was good, too...forcing 19 Fontbonne turnovers and getting 11 steals (Tim Cooney with 4 of them), while holding the Griffins to 1-10 shooting from 3-point land.

Wash-U appears to have its confidence and mojo back, after splitting the last 4 games prior to last night and looking out of sync at home vs. Coe December 14th.  The true litmus test on that will be Thursday night's game at home vs. Wheaton.

[toooldtohoop]

Congrats to the Bears tonight and tough loss for my Thunder.

Also, good job on the call Jay.

[jaybird44]

Thank you!

It was a fun game to call, because both teams played well enough to win.  Wash-U had only 10 turnovers and Wheaton 12, and both teams had 23 assists.  Very little sloppy play by either team.

[y_jack_lok]

Thank you!

It was a fun game to call, because both teams played well enough to win.  Wash-U had only 10 turnovers and Wheaton 12, and both teams had 23 assists.  Very little sloppy play by either team.

Your partner last night, Lucy Montgomery, did a nice job also. Excellent observations about game strategy, plays unfolding on the court, etc. Kudos to her. I don't know if she is interested in a future in broadcasting, but it might be something she should consider.

[Titan Q]

Your partner last night, Lucy Montgomery, did a nice job also. Excellent observations about game strategy, plays unfolding on the court, etc. Kudos to her. I don't know if she is interested in a future in broadcasting, but it might be something she should consider.

I agree.  I had the IWU/Franklin audio turned down and Wash U/Wheaton up late in the game.  The color commentator made a great call on what Mark Edwards was going to do coming out of a timeout late - said the Bears would try to get it to Klimek on that slip play.  Sure enough, it's exactly what they did and led to a huge basket.

[DagarmanSpartan]

Nice win for Case last night over Johns Hopkins in a matchup of med school powerhouses.

I was unaware of this, but if Case can win again, they'll match their best 10 game start in school history at 8-2.

Unfortunately, the menacing UAA conference slate is still ahead!

[jaybird44]

Wash-U ended non-conference play yesterday with an 85-68 victory over Webster, in a game that wasn't that close until the Bears started emptying the bench.  Matt Palucki poured in a career-high 32 points on 12-18 shooting from the floor and 5-8 shooting from 3-point range.  He scored the first 12 points for Wash-U and had 22 points at halftime.  Matt is really brimming with confidence from 3-point range, and Wash-U as a whole has amassed a good arsenal of 3-point shooters.

Opponents can't just focus on stopping Alan Aboona now...Palucki and Luke Silverman-Lloyd have emerged as bonafide threats as well.  Luke had a career high 14 points on 4-8 shooting beyond the arc.  They combined to help Wash-U shoot 12-25 from 3-point country...a welcome sight heading into the UAA, where many teams launch 3s early and often.  More than once the Bears were relegated to trading 2 points for 3 in conference play in the last 4 or 5 years, especially on the road.  Hopefully, that won't be the case this season.

Can't wait 'til Saturday, when the UAA slate of games begins!

[WUPHF]

I have barely had enough time to follow Washington University so this is the first time I am looking at UAA in a long time.  A quick look at Massey and the records:

No. 16 Washington U. 9-2
No. 43 Emory 7-3
No. 48 New York 9-1
No. 64 Chicago 7-4
No. 100 Brandeis 7-3
No. 103 Case Western Reserve 7-3
No. 111 Carnegie Mellon 6-4
No. 130 Rochester 5-5

My brain may be frozen, but I feel like this may be the lowest the top four teams have ranked and the highest the bottom four teams have ranked midseason in a long time.

[hopefan]

I have barely had enough time to follow Washington University so this is the first time I am looking at UAA in a long time. 

Your absense from Wash U - Webster U game was noted!!

[WUPHF]

Your absence from Wash U - Webster U game was noted!!

Thanks! I am sure glad I went to Chicago on the road and all those SLIAC games while I had the time and energy. If I do not see you in the Field House, I'll definitely see you at Webster-Fontbonne on 2/25.

[WUPHF]

Unfortunately, the menacing UAA conference slate is still ahead!

You gotta be excited about the big win over Carnegie Mellon! The Spartans were the only team to win on the road in Weekend 1 of conference play.

From the press release:

CLEVELAND – An inspired 13-1 run in the final minutes led the Case Western Reserve University men's basketball team to an 84-81 victory versus rival Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.) in the 2014 University Athletic Association opener on Saturday evening at Horsburgh Gymnasium.

The Spartans improve to 9-3 for the first time since the 2005-06 campaign. The Tartans drop to 7-5.

All five Spartan starters scored in double-figures led by senior center David Thompson (Plano, Texas/Plano Senior) with 18 points and nine rebounds, just missing a ninth-straight double-double. Junior guard Julien Person (Houston, Texas/Second Baptist) scored 17, and junior forward Dane McLoughlin (Westerville, Ohio/St. Charles Preparatory) added his third career double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

The Spartans trailed by as many as 16 in the second half and were down 79-70 with 3:27 left to play. Refusing to call it a day, Case scored 13 of the next 14 over the following 3:08 to lead 83-80 with 19 seconds on the clock. Thompson brought the score to 80-78 with a layup at 1:35, and Person tied the game with a layup at 1:26.

http://athletics.case.edu/sports/mbkb/2013-14/releases/20140111n0yiy7

[WUPHF]

Otherwise, Washington University, NYU and Emory all protected the home court in wins over their travel partners.  The UAA race could be as tight as ever though we may start to see signs of a favorite next Sunday when Washington University hosts NYU.

[WUPHF]

The big news out of the UAA today is that longtime Washington University Athletic Director John Schael is retiring.  The quick summary of his accomplishments from Student Life since arriving on campus 36 years ago:

Following his 36th year at the helm of the Washington University athletic department, Athletic Director John Schael will retire, the University announced Tuesday morning.

Schael came to the University in 1978 following 11 years at the University of Chicago, which included five years as the associate director of physical education and athletics. Since his arrival, the Bears have won 19 national championships, 162 University Athletic Association titles and 5,582 total games, good for a 70.4 percent winning percentage.

http://www.studlife.com/sports/2014/01/14/breaking-athletic-director-john-schael-to-step-down/

[ADL70]

Unfortunately, the menacing UAA conference slate is still ahead!

You gotta be excited about the big win over Carnegie Mellon! The Spartans were the only team to win on the road in Weekend 1 of conference play.

From the press release:

CLEVELAND – An inspired 13-1 run in the final minutes led the Case Western Reserve University men's basketball team to an 84-81 victory versus rival Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.) in the 2014 University Athletic Association opener on Saturday evening at Horsburgh Gymnasium.

The Spartans improve to 9-3 for the first time since the 2005-06 campaign. The Tartans drop to 7-5.

All five Spartan starters scored in double-figures led by senior center David Thompson (Plano, Texas/Plano Senior) with 18 points and nine rebounds, just missing a ninth-straight double-double. Junior guard Julien Person (Houston, Texas/Second Baptist) scored 17, and junior forward Dane McLoughlin (Westerville, Ohio/St. Charles Preparatory) added his third career double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

The Spartans trailed by as many as 16 in the second half and were down 79-70 with 3:27 left to play. Refusing to call it a day, Case scored 13 of the next 14 over the following 3:08 to lead 83-80 with 19 seconds on the clock. Thompson brought the score to 80-78 with a layup at 1:35, and Person tied the game with a layup at 1:26.

http://athletics.case.edu/sports/mbkb/2013-14/releases/20140111n0yiy7

CWRU was up as much as 10 in first half only to go down by 16 in second before unreal finish.

But it was home game for the Spartans