MBB: University Athletic Association

[mark_reichert]

It hasn't been mentioned here but the Washington University Men will be hosting Fontbonne, Whitworth, and DePauw.

http://bearsports.wustl.edu/releases/mbk2-27-07.html

Not mentioned, but perhaps understood by most D3hoops regulars is that Fontbonne will be walking a block and a half down Big Bend to play WashU.

Also, while the DePauw and WashU women share hosting responsibilities with Illinois Wesleyan in an annual tournament, I don't remember the last time the men played DePauw.

[Bba11man]

tourney picks?
washu/fontbonne-wash
chicago/hope-chicago
brandeis/trinity-brandeis
rochester/plattsburgh st-rochester

what does everyone else think. i'm sticking with the UAA for at least the first round. anyone know anything about the opponents and what they think about the matchups within the games? what about the outlook for the entire tournament? how will all the UAA teams fair?

[pabegg]

Also, while the DePauw and WashU women share hosting responsibilities with Illinois Wesleyan in an annual tournament, I don't remember the last time the men played DePauw.

If you're a Bears fan, there's a good reason to forget the last time WashU played DePauw. It was the season-ending NCAA loss to finish the record-breaking 2001-2002 season.

DePauw can probably be described as Mark Edwards' nemesis, since the Bears are only 6-15 in the Edwards era against them, 5-7 from the 86-87 season on.

Those of us whose WashU years dated from the revival of the program remember DePauw as the powerhouse on the schedule, and beating them in 84-85 was the first big milestone for the program (hard to imagine, but that was the first of now 23 straight winning seasons on the Hilltop/Danforth campus).

Congrats to the Bears and good luck this weekend.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Just in case any Chicago fans are interested, I put together this stat comparison:

Offense	% 2pt	% 3pt	% FT
Hope	48.3	42.6	73.9
Chicago	46.7	39.8	74.3
Defense	% 2pt	% 3pt
Hope	39.9	30.9
Chicago	46.7	34.6
Rebounding	Team	Opp	Margin
Hope	37.2	33.0	4.2
Chicago	31.8	30.9	0.90
Scoring	Team	Opp	Margin
Hope	80.8	63.2	17.6
Chicago	76.1	67.3	8.8
3 point shooting	Attempts	Made	Made/game
Hope	570	243	9
Chicago	691	275	11
Blocks	Total	per game
Hope	101	3.74
Chicago	24	0.96
Steals	Total	per game
Hope	284	10.5
Chicago	142	5.7
Turnovers	Total	per game
Hope	391	14.5
Chicago	263	10.5
Assists	Total	per game
Hope	417	15.4
Chicago	371	14.8
Assist/Turnover
Hope	1.07
Chicago	1.41

[howardjp]

Brandeis went to three of the first four D3 tourneys (1975, 1977, and 1978), accumulating a 5-3 record in the process. The Judges haven't been back to the dance since 1978. They aren't the team in this year's tourney that will have snapped the longest danceless streak -- Loras has been in D3 from the beginning, and yet this will be the first-ever trip to the tourney for the Duhawks -- but it is the longest non-appearance streak being snapped by a school that had previously appeared in the D3 tourney.

]Thanks for the answer!  Those were terrific teams.  This team has the chance to be even better, with everyone returning next year.

[Ole Ollie]

As a Brandeis alum from the 70s, I can give you some more information about Brandeis' three prior NCAA appearances.  Brandeis was the dominant DIII team in New England in the 70s.  They won the ECACs in 1974, before there was a Division III, and then they went to the NCAAs three of the next four years.  In 1975 and 1978 they won the New England Regionals and went to the Elite 8 (which of course was not called that then) before losing to Brockport in 75 and then Stony Brook in 78.  The 75 team probably was the best in school history.  In the regualar season they beat at least four Division I teams: Harvard, Northeastern, New Hampshire and Vermont--that sure does not happen these days.  They even played a very close game against an Oral Roberts team that had been ranked #1 in the country by Sports Illustrated and featured two future NBA players including 7 foot center David Vaughn.   The Brandeis 1975 team was led by Mike Fahey, a shooting guard who was the best player in school history.  He was an All American and ECAC Player of the Year and led the nation (all divisions) in scoring (more than 30 a game in days before the three point line, he probably would have averaged close to 40 if he played a little later, because he was an outside shooter who could also drive to the basket).  He scored more than 1,300 career points despite playing only a little more than two years (freshmen could not play then and he was hurt most of another season).  The 77 team featured two DIII All Americans, John Martin (2d team) and Joe Carter (3d) and the 78 team had two second team All Americans, Martin and Walter Harrigan.  The 74 and 75 teams have the school win record, 20, which the current team could tie or surpass this weekend.  The current team could be up with those teams and since they have no seniors, they should be a legit Final Four contender next year, at least if they can find a more dominant big guy.  Coach Meehan has done a great job taking a program that had been woeful for nearly 10 years and bringing it back to one of the better programs in New England.

[ILive4This]

The big man is clearly the issue for the judges, there is height without size and size without height, still waiting on the combo. There is a playing in the TYP program right now who should be playing next year who could play post. T. Hollins played well down low as  PF, if only he was a few inches taller he would dominate. Brandeis really showed how they can play without a big man, by handeling Jason Boone and NYU home and home. However, we can all say the big man would take this fast paced guard driven team to the next level possibly even a national championship.

Looking at the bracket it would appear that the first round matchup with trinity is the toughest they could face all the way until the elite 8 against Amherst. I truely believe a win against trinity, will be followed by additional wins over RIC, and perhaps Salem State (Coach Meehan's old squad).

Also a side not, I am always mind boggled by the fact that when Meehan came to brandeis he had to basically clear out a squad recruited by Chris Ford. If I used to play for the celtics and coached multiple NBA squads, I really should be able to recruit some of the best players in the country, how he was unable to do so drives me nuts.

[Pat Coleman]

I don't think Ford ever wanted to be in D-III in the first place. He was just trying to get back to the NBA or get to D-I.

[ILive4This]

I am sure you are right, but why not make the most of it, even with little effort he should have gotten top notch local recruits. Maybe i overvalue the idea of celebrity coach but it seems to work in other sports.

[Ole Ollie]

Ford was hired right before the season started so he did not get a chance to recruit that year.  He seemed bored during his two year tenure, did not decide whether he wanted to come back, but then decided he would fcoach or a second year and recruited almost no one that year.  When he finally quit and Coach Meehan was hired, Meehan did not get a chance to recruit either.  He had one star, Lambert, and a bunch of role players to put it kindly.  The current junior crop came in his second year and the rest is history.

ILive, who is the TYP big man and can he play?  Any other recruits for next year?  What about other UAA recruits?

[Hoop Dreams]

Wow, the newly posted D3 RPI formula sure likes the UAA:

http://www.d3hoops.com/scoreboard/mensrpi07.htm

4. Wash U
5. Brandeis
7. Chicago
9. Rochester
29. NYU

[ILive4This]

I did not want to mention names because with the TYP program you are at Brandeis but for NCAA purposes you are not a brandeis student, or atleast not full time and able to play basketball. I believe with TYP you have to re-apply to the school which if you do well in the program gets guarenteed admission but I am not sure on the details. Anyway next year he will be able to play and should add a little something extra to the current jr crop and others.

[ur2004]

Wow, the newly posted D3 RPI formula sure likes the UAA:

http://www.d3hoops.com/scoreboard/mensrpi07.htm

4. Wash U
5. Brandeis
7. Chicago
9. Rochester
29. NYU

Yeah, and yet NYU gets totally shafted, and only one of our four top-10 teams are hosting their regional. Chicago has to play at #48 Aurora and Rochester (two final fours in the past six years) has to play at a team they outrank and destroyed 82-53 in their last game this season.  Silly.

[Pat Coleman]

NYU should schedule better out of conference.

[Hoop Dreams]

According to the RPI all four of the UAA tourney teams should breeze into the Sweet 16, but I don't see it happening that way.  I would be happy if two of our four teams can survive the weekend. 

Wash U has the best chance.  They're at home and, for my money, are the UAA team best-equipped to go deep into the tournament.  But the winner of Whitworth/DePauw will be no picnic for the Bears in St. Louis...and that's assuming Wash U can survive across-the-street rival Fontbonne.