MBB: University Athletic Association

jaybird44 · November 10, 2019, 09:35:05 PM

A good result for WashU this afternoon. Some folks who watched the game in person believe that Illinois College could win 20 games this season. Some good size and a transfer or two have buoyed the Blueboys.

Nice to have Hank Hunter back from off-season surgery. Missed the Missouri State exhibition, but today he had 9 points and 7 rebounds.

And, Jonathan Arenas may end up being one of the top rebounding guards in D3. He had 7 rebounds today, after leading both teams in rebounds with 11 at Missouri State.

y_jack_lok · November 10, 2019, 09:45:53 PM

Quote from: WUPHF on November 10, 2019, 07:19:05 PM
Washington University over Illinois College, 85-76.

Hardy and Nolan each shot for 23 points. Nester finished with 17. The Blueboys made it a game thanks in part to hot perimeter shooting.

I caught the last six minutes of this game. When I tuned in it was 74-59 Bears, so IC cut into that lead in the time I watched. Seemed like Wash U was playing its regular guys in that time. At least they were mostly names I recognized -- Hardy, Nester, Nolan, Arenas, Hunter. Did you watch the entire game and if so what are your main takeaways?

WUPHF · November 11, 2019, 01:20:01 AM

I did watch the entire game before turning on the Chicago-Millikin game and turning my focus to the Maroons. I am not sure that I have anything interesting to say, but a few thoughts...

Matt Nester averaged 5 three-point shots a game last season, but went 4-8 today (5-10 overall). Nester is leading a more experienced team with multiple teammates who can handle the ball. 8-10 three-point shots per game is a reasonable target.

I think Jay Murry and I will be regularly referencing Jonathan Arenas this season. He can rebound and he can also drive and dish and defend.

Hardy looked so good against Missouri State and played great today.

Hunter was back but Rucker was on the bench in street clothes...

I do think this was a good game against a good team. Illinois College is not going to get to 20 wins, but they will certainly exceed expectations. This Wisconsin road trip is going to give us a much better look though.

ScottieSuit · November 11, 2019, 11:10:30 PM

Basketball facilities for the Tartans will be getting an upgrade/expansion. No word if they are going to incorporate the banging of the radiator pipes from Skibo into the new building.

https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2019/november/highmark-grant-supports-student-well-being.html

WUPHF · November 12, 2019, 07:27:25 PM

Just 10 minutes and Emory is locked in a barn burner with Berry. The Vikings lead 26-23. Definitely a game if someone is looking for one.

WUPHF · November 12, 2019, 07:31:36 PM

Edited post due to lack of clarity.

WUPHF · November 12, 2019, 10:11:38 PM

Emory defeats Berry, 99-85 on the road.

The Eagles played very well tonight with 6 guys finishing in double figures. Romin Williams led the way with 27 points though Matt Schner may have had the best overall games with 21 points (5-9, 4-4), 7 rebounds and 6 assists. The Eagles shot 53% from three-point range and dished out 18 assists.

I am beginning to think that Emory is the best team in the nation, but I'll wait until late December before I try to make that claim.

__________

In other games, Rochester defeated Geneseo while Carnegie Mellon lost a tight game to Allegheny.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · November 13, 2019, 04:07:56 PM

Emory might be pretty good ... and Berry may be underrated ... but I don't think the result last night means Emory is "the best team in the nation" when they had a battle with Berry. It may prove Berry is a better team than many expected, but is Berry on the same level as NCC or UWO? Probably not and thus a grind it out win over Berry is good, but I don't think that proves Emory is the best in the nation.

Just some insight in how I think when I'm voting as well HAHA

WUPHF · November 13, 2019, 05:08:06 PM

I think that is fair. As mentioned, I'll wait until December when Oshkosh and Guilford visit Atlanta.

You must think they are the second or third best team in the nation though based on the way you voted. And that was before the 22-point road win over Guilford so it hard to imagine that you move them in the next poll.

The Eagles had a double digit lead for extended periods in the second and finished with a 14 point margin of victory, so it was a battle, but the Eagles played 40 minutes of good basketball and eventually, I would say, wore Berry down

y_jack_lok · November 13, 2019, 06:39:52 PM

Hard to know what to make of Emory's win over Guilford last weekend. Guilford was picked to win the ODAC and ranked 19th in the preseason top 25. But, as the very knowledgeable Guilford poster on the ODAC board says, Guilford often starts out slow. That was certainly true last season, yet they only lost by three to UW-Oshkosh in the Elite Eight last March. A win for Guilford in that game and there is a different defending national champ this season. All this is to say that teams at the end of a season are often not the same as at the beginning. So, come December, you might think Emory is the best team in the nation. But come March you might think differently. Anyway, this is fun stuff to ponder and discuss.

WUPHF · November 13, 2019, 08:19:25 PM

I have already referred to Emory as a Final Four team and I doubt that is going to change. But as far as the notion that they are the best team in the nation, well, I am counting on that changing over the course of two weekends in early February, if you know what I mean...

Points well taken on Guilford though...

WUPHF · November 13, 2019, 10:08:25 PM

It was a rough night for the UAA.

Case Western Reserve falls to Otterbein, 73-67.

The Cardinals were picked last in the OAC preseason rankings.

NYU loses a heartbreaker to Hobart, 80-76.

Lake Forest shoot the lights out of the Ratner Center and defeats Chicago, 102-89.

Brandeis did destroy whomever it was they played though, so one win.

WUPHF · November 15, 2019, 11:31:32 PM

Washington University over UW-Whitewater, 90-86.

The Bears come roaring back from a 15 point first-half deficit to eventually take a 13 point lead thanks in part to a 13-0 run. The Bears eventually decided to slow the game down but the Warhawks had other ideas and came roaring back to get within two.

Hardy had 25 points and 9 rebounds while Nolan finished with 24 points and three steals. Freshmen Spencer Boehm had a quality game scoring 10 points in 17 minutes. The team shot 47% from the perimeter. 70% from the line and made them when they mattered most.

Coach Miller did not stop complaining about the officiating but he is delusional if he thinks his team got the worst of the calls. His technical cost the team two points, but Washington University had a three-pointer waved off due to a failure to reset the shot clock by the officials so...

WUPHF · November 16, 2019, 10:36:48 PM

UW-Platteville defeats Washington University for the second straight year.

The Pioneers built an early 9-11 point lead and held that lead for the game. The Bears struggled to contain Quentin Shields last season and struggled again tonight. Shields led the way with 29 points. The Bears had 4-5 or more players assigned to him and no one had an answer. Not the best night on either end.

Washington University goes 1-1 against the WIAC with Eau Claire coming to town next weekend.
__________

In other games tonight, Rochester defeated Heidelberg to move to 3-0 on the season and NYU defeated Mitchell to move to 1-2.

WUPHF · November 18, 2019, 09:11:32 PM

Just a quick UAA update...

NYU lost to the University of New England last night.

They are surely happy to get Feldman back, but have been without Dom Cristiano. They do have an intriguing freshman guard in Miles Somerville, but will probably need Cristiano to avoid finishing at the bottom of the conference yet again.

Brandeis defeated Emerson 76-74 after a final 20 seconds or so that included a controversial Emerson charging foul and an Emerson kicked ball. Those calls were probably right, but they were close. Brandeis shot 12-25 from the perimeter.