MBB: University Athletic Association

[deiscanton]

More honors for Brandeis announced today --

Brandeis is the NABC DIII Men's Basketball Team of the Week-- first time in program history for getting this honor.

Jean Bain-- Hoopdirt.com DIII Men's Basketball Coach of the Week

[jaybird44]

Hello WUPHF!

I certainly don't think that I have a better eye for basketball than you do.  Quite the contrary.  I am certain that you see more games with more of the UAA teams outside of WashU than I do.  So I would defer to you with regards to assessing the roots of the emergence of Brandeis as a bonafide UAA contender.

I based my statement mainly on an intuitive feel...maybe a myopic one as well, since I was thinking of the 3 games that have been close between WashU and Brandeis, out of their last 8 meetings.  My feeling was that Brandeis was seemingly a player or two away from being a factor in the UAA races...and the Judges just were unable to add layers of underclassmen that could have really deepened and broadened the talent there. 

In retrospect, perhaps the previous regime was too corrosive, and thus self-destructive in its attempts to build a consistent contending program...the player defection you referenced appears now to have been the visible tip of an otherwise hidden iceberg.  Jean Bain looks like he is the direct antithesis of that, and thus the perfect tonic for the Brandeis men's basketball program.

This weekend may not be one of the earliest important ones in the UAA race, upon further review.  But I do think that it does have a significant degree of anxiety.  Emory has suffered two losses in close proximity to each other.  Brandeis is riding high on a wave of emergence and confidence.  WashU continues to successfully walk a competitive tightrope made more dangerous by missing three starters (might have to temporarily change the team's nickname to the Flying Wallendas).  Rochester may feel like it is hanging on to one of the last knots on this season's competitive rope of the UAA, after a 1-2 conference start.

It's a weekend in which Alfred Hitchcock would enjoy, if he was around and a basketball fan...

[WUPHF]

I have to say, the references to the Flying Wallendas and Alfred Hitchcock are easily two of my favorite Jay Murry-isms.  And both are so true.

At the beginning of the season, I was confident that both Washington University and Emory would be 3-0 after the second weekend and 5-0 heading in to the fourth weekend, setting up the game of the season.  But here we are...

The schedule sure worked out perfectly with the Bears getting both Brandeis and Emory at home for the first match-ups.

I feel good about this game as the Bears have been playing such good defense lately, but this one definitely comes with the anxiety.

Let's hope we get a big student crowd with this being the first Friday conference game and all the students back on-campus.

[WUPHF]

As we get ready for the third weekend in league play, here are the match-ups for our next Friday in the UAA.

Brandeis at Washington University
Bears over the Judges, 71-66

I think the Bears are favored at home, depending who plays, but close nonetheless.

NYU at Chicago
Maroons over the Violets, 78-67

NYU may finally get a conference win but I doubt it.

Carnegie Mellon at Emory
Eagles over the Tartans, 94-78

The Tartans may make it interesting, but the Eagles get the win with a 15-20 point margin.

Case Western Reserve at Rochester
Yellowjackets over the Spartans, 70-58

This is a must win for Rochester and they will get the win.

[deiscanton]

Washington University is to 2-0 in the league with a 88-66 win over Case Western Reserve.

That is a very good result for the Bears considering that Nolan finished with just 13 points and both Hardy and Nester were on the bench.

The Bears shot 50% from the field and 50% or so from three-point range.  Payden Webb had a career night, scoring 21 points including 7-8 from downtown.  Very good games by a host of players including DeVaughn Rucker who finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds for the double-double.

43-26 advantage in rebounding too.
__________

Carnegie Mellon defeats Chicago, 71-62
Emory defeats NYU, 83-69

CWRU has uploaded the men's games from 1/17 and 1/19/2020 vs Wash U and Chicago on the Case Western Reserve University Youtube channel for viewing pleasure as of January 24, 2020.

[ScottieSuit]

CMU up 51-50 over Emory at the half. Pace of play picked up as the half went on, which likely favors the Eagles.

[WUPHF]

Washington University leads Brandeis at the half, 36-30.

The Bears are down three starters and a key reserve. The hits keep coming.

[deiscanton]

Great broadcast from Jay Murry tonight--

Congrats to the Wash U Bears on the 70-60 win over Brandeis.  I will see the rematch at Auerbach Arena on Feb. 21, and I hope that there will be a Brandeis win in the rematch.

That being said, I was glad to watch the doubleheader tonight, even though Brandeis did not sweep.

[WUPHF]

A few quick thoughts on the Washington University win over Brandeis...

I had complained early on about the Bears defensive, but this may have been their best defensive effort of the Coach Juckem era. As part of that defense, the Bears registered 10 steals and 6 blocks.

I hesitate to single out a player because everyone played so well tonight, but DeVaughn Rucker and Jonathan Arenas were great tonight. Rucker finished with 15 points (6-6 from the free throw line) and Arenas finished with 15 rebounds and 8 assists, but both  were so good on the defensive end.

I am not ready to draft an all-Association team yet, but I'll have either Rucker or Arenas as my pick for defensive player of the year and the coaches will probably do the same.

Washington University has to get ready for the one and only trap game they have this season against NYU on Sunday.
__________

In other games...

Chicago over NYU, 79-74
Emory over Carnegie Mellon, 91-72
Rochester over Case Western Reserve in OT, 88-86

[y_jack_lok]

Enjoyed watching the game with you. Rucker and Arenas are the two guys for Wash U whose play stood out to me as well. It certainly was a gritty defensive effort by the Bears. More impressive doing it with Hardy, Hunter & Company unable to play. Charlie Jacob and Kameron Mack both had some shining moments, as did Jack Nolan. Actually, every Bear did something to contribute to the win. Definitely a team effort.

[jaybird44]

Thank you 'deis for the compliment!  It was a fun game to broadcast, and if Chandler Jones hadn't found himself in early foul trouble and a subsequent long stint on the bench, the outcome might have been different.

As of late, it has been enjoyable to see the Bears adhere to the Dirty Harry Callahan credo, "A man's got to know his limitations."  Especially so with two and three starters who have been out for each of the last six games.  Push your envelope, yes.  But don't try to be something you're not.  Head Coach Pat Juckem and his staff also deserve lots of credit for getting some players redirected toward their strengths.  As a result, there has been a noted reduction in ill-advised 3-point shots and an improvement in shot selection and playing under control.

Jonathan Arenas continues to amaze.  A guard grabbing 15 rebounds, to add to his average of 6.8 rpg.  That's not even his career best...Jonathan's career high is 17 rebounds.  He's second on the TEAM in rebounds per game.  His five offensive rebounds helped extend possessions, so he's not a poacher of easy defensive rebounds.  I firmly believe Arenas is among the best rebounding guards in the country...I would need to do some exhaustive research on that to bolster my claim, but I'm willing to bet a root beer float that he is in that exclusive company.

Meanwhile...the Bears have to take care of business in a Sleepy Sunday contest vs. NYU.  The win over nationally-ranked Brandeis helps alleviate (a little bit) the lingering heartburn from the loss to Millikin.  But, a loss to the Violets will prompt WashU fans to grab a big handful of Tums to close their weekend...

[jaybird44]

To further illuminate the impact that Jonathan Arenas had on last night's WashU 70-60 win over Brandeis...

Through an assist, steal, and/or rebound...Arenas had a hand in 12 scoring possessions for WashU, generating 26 points.  Six possessions and 13 points in each half.

Arenas was involved in each of the first 3 baskets of the game, as WashU raced to a 6-0 lead...then, in the second half, he had a hand in 7 straight WashU points; fronm 43-37 to 50-39.

A great example that you don't have to score points, to generate points and affect the outcome of a game.

[WUPHF]

The UAA has two elite-level rebounding guards.

Matthew Schner was leading the league in rebounds by a guard until last weekend.

The per 40 statistics favor Jonathan Arenas but consider:
-Arenas typically played more minutes during his best rebounding performances
-Schner has a broader role; the third leading scorer in the UAA is going to have fewer opportunities to rebound.

[WUPHF]

Sunday in the UAA with predictions by Ken Massey

Brandeis at Chicago
Maroons over the Judges, 70-69

Case Western Reserve at Emory
Eagles over the Spartans, 90-73

Carnegie Mellon at Rochester
Yellowjackets over the Tartans, 76-66

NYU at Washington University
Bears over the Violets, 79-62

[deiscanton]

Halftime scores from the early games--

Emory 47, CWRU 30

Rochester 32, Carnegie Mellon 30