MBB: University Athletic Association

[Smitty Oom]

Damn you Josh Whitman: http://www.news-gazette.com/sports/illini-sports/mens-basketball/2017-03-22/whitman-set-make-another-hire.html

Too bad for the WashU girls but that is quite the step up for her and as a fan of D3 basketball as a whole, I really like to see this move.

[WUPHF]

It will be very cool to see what Nancy Fahey can do at the Division I level.  It is a great opportunity to take on a new challenge.  Looking forward to the day that she matches up with Geno...

Fahey is leaving behind what will be one of the most coveted jobs in Division III basketball.  The University is hiring a new Athletic Director, but soon enough, it will be time to go poach the University of Chicago as we did with volleyball or DePauw.

[WUPHF]

The University press release announcing the news on Nancy Fahey had quotes from the Chancellor and Dean of Student Affairs.  Not a lot departures would garner that much attention.  Mark Edwards is also quoted, but he had more to say to the student newspaper who also talked to senior Jenn Dynis.

Worth the read for anyone who cares about the program.

Fahey heads north to Illinois
http://www.studlife.com/sports/womens-basketball/2017/03/23/fahey-heads-north-to-illinois/

[Pat Coleman]

The University press release announcing the news on Nancy Fahey had quotes from the Chancellor and Dean of Student Affairs.  Not a lot departures would garner that much attention.  Mark Edwards is also quoted, but he had more to say to the student newspaper who also talked to senior Jenn Dynis.

Worth the read for anyone who cares about the program.

Fahey heads north to Illinois
http://www.studlife.com/sports/womens-basketball/2017/03/23/fahey-heads-north-to-illinois/

Well written story. Kudos!

[WUPHF]

Thanks Pat for the note...that may prompt others to read it.

Washington University has long had a great student newspaper with talented sports writers.

[WUPHF]

As an aside, Washington University remains No. 1 in the Learfield Director's Cup in the latest rankings with a 167 point lead over Williams which jumped from No. 10 to No. 2 thanks to skiing and wrestling and others sports that the Bears do not have. 

Washington University does field competitive varsity teams in all the sports still in competition, I believe.

Chicago, Emory, Carnegie Mellon and Brandeis are all currently Top 50 programs...

Winter Standings
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/nacda/sports/directorscup/auto_pdf/2016-17/misc_non_event/March16DIIIOverall.pdf

[iwumichigander]

Very well written and researched article.  It has a polish one does not often see in a student written article (and take that from one who attempted to write sports for a student newspaper).

I think Fahey will do well at Illinois.  I do suspect this migration to Illinois not yet over for WashU unfortunately.

[WUPHF]

Thinking a little about how the Washington University roster will look and how roles may change next season after the departure of Clinton Hooks and Michael Bregman.

If we consider players that played 5 minutes or more per game, I think it looks something like this:

Point Guard: Kevin Kucera, Matt Nester
Shooting Guard: Jake Knupp
Small Forward: Matt Highsmith, DeVaughn Rucker
Power Forward: Andrew Sanders
Center: David Schmelter, Marcus Meyer

Jake Knupp played the shooting guard role this season, but did not take a lot of shots from three point range (4th on the team overall in attempts) despite shooting 42% in conference play.  My prediction is that he will be asked to shoot more often.

Matt Highsmith may move to the small forward role though he may also back up Andrew Sanders at times.  My prediction is that Highsmith will look to add the three point shot to his game for next season.  Highsmith started shooting from three in conference play and shot 33% on 15 attempts.  He is one of the best shooters in the league and was probably a 43-45% shooter from the 15-17 foot range. 

Matt Nester had 32 assists and 11 turnovers in 7 minutes per game and quickly established himself as the go-to back-up point guard.  Nester shot 39% from three as well.  Nester may play the shooting guard at times.

DeVaughn Rucker has the potential to play just about every position, but will probably be out on the wing.  My prediction is that Rucker is going to be an all UAA conference player in 2018-2019.  Rucker got Division I looks and Division II offers in high school.  The fans had a glimpse as to why this year.  Definitely looking forward to next year.

Other questions include Sasha Sobolev and Jack Wiernicki along with the underclassmen.  Might Sobolev establish himself as the 6th reason to see the class of 2018 as the best since 2009 or 2010?

[WUPHF]

Aaron Brezel and Student Life delivered on yet another worthwhile read on Nancy Fahey and Mark Edwards.

82 steps: How the Fahey-Edwards friendship defined Wash. U. basketball
http://www.studlife.com/sports/2017/03/30/82-steps-how-the-fahey-edwards-friendship-defined-wash-u-basketball/

[Gregory Sager]

Your Bears have a pretty amazing road trip ahead of them next season, WUH:

http://bearsports.wustl.edu/sports/mbkb/2017-18/schedule

On Sunday, December 8, they'll play at Alma. That's a one-way busride of eight hours, and then some. Or will they be flying into Saginaw or Detroit and then busing it from there?

[magicman]

Your Bears have a pretty amazing road trip ahead of them next season, WUH:

http://bearsports.wustl.edu/sports/mbkb/2017-18/schedule

On Sunday, December 8, they'll play at Alma. That's a one-way busride of eight hours, and then some. Or will they be flying into Saginaw or Detroit and then busing it from there?

I think you may have misread the date, Greg. Wash U plays Alma on a Sunday,  but it's December 3rd. Still a long road trip. I'm guessing they fly to that one! 

[WUPHF]

The Washington University vs. Alma game already has the live stats active.

I'll probably have this window open on my desktop counting down for the next 242 days.



I was surprised to see Alma on the schedule.  According to the series records, the teams have never played before.  The Bears have not matched up against the MIAA very often and lately it has been in the tourney.

0-2 record against Calvin
0-1 record against Albion
2-1 record against Hope
1-0 record against Kalamazoo
1-0 record against Adrian

Possibly a few games against St. Mary's, but it is hard to know when there is more than one.

[WUPHF]

Wait a minute, St. Mary's is a women's liberal arts college next door to Notre Dame, right?

I know so little about the MIAA...

[Pat Coleman]

Wait a minute, St. Mary's is a women's liberal arts college next door to Notre Dame, right?

That's correct.

[WUPHF]

Thanks Pat! Let's assume then that those three games against St. Mary's should not be counted towards the Washington University vs. MIAA record of 4-4.