MBB: University Athletic Association

[Gregory Sager]

The Midway Classic should be a good one this year. On Saturday Chicago takes on Lake Forest (15-10 last season), while Ohio Wesleyan (18-10 last season) faces Trinity (TX) (16-12 last season). As usual, the consolation and championship games will take place on Sunday afternoon. Lake Forest is picked to finish third in the MWC this season, while Ohio Wesleyan is picked to finish second in the NCAC. I don't think that the SCAC has a poll, so I'm uncertain where that league's braintrust feels Trinity (TX) will end up in the standings.

[Hoop Dreams]

And of course Trinity coach Pat Cunningham was Mike McGrath's predecessor at the U of C and presided over the resurgence of Maroons men's hoops in the 90's.

Great to be back for another season on D3Hoops.  Go Maroons against Northwestern tomorrow night!

[martin]

There wil be a video webcast of tomorrow's (Wed Nov 7) Chicago-Northwestern game.  You can connect from this page.

Northwestern does not say that they are playing a rebuilding D3 team - rather "it faces former Big Ten rival University of Chicago in an exhibition contest at Welsh-Ryan Arena."

Since it is listed as an exhibition, the game should not count in the UC/NU series - which the Maroons lead 29-28.  Chicago has losing records against all the other Big Ten Teams.  After dropping football in 1939, Chicago remained in the Big Ten until 1946 - piling up losses in other sports.  Chicago still has more Big Ten Basketball Championships (6) than Northwestern (2).

Michigan State joined the Big Ten in 1949 - bringing membership back to 10.  Penn State joined in 1990, giving the Big Ten 11 members.  I think if they get to 12, they will still call it the Big Ten.  Chicago is still a member of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation , the academic adjunct of the Big Ten.  The CIC was one of the big reasons why Penn State joined the Big Ten.  The Notre Dame faculty desperately wanted to join the Big Ten to become a member of the CIC.  But the football team won that battle.  Chicago stays a part of the CIC partly for historical reasons but also because the CIC needs Chicago's resources.

[bouttime]

The West Penn Classic was done away with because there was not support from all of the participating coaches to continue the event. It was always a nice way to start the year and get a decent gauge on how the team was coming along. It's a shame that it was continued.

[nobody]

It will be interesting to see how the Maroons fair against Northwestern tonight, and throughout the season as well.  Rumor has it that the boys have been spending a lot of time in the weightroom...they might be a bulky bunch...hopefully they can throw it in the hoop too!

[martin]

From todays Chicago Tribune:


Wildcats need to learn on the run
Inexperienced NU can benefit from game with Chicago
By Neil Milbert

Tribune staff reporter

November 7, 2007

With the Big Ten schedule increasing to 18 from 16 games this season, Northwestern coach Bill Carmody secretly may be wishing the University of Chicago was back in the conference.

But the Maroons, whose basketball teams played in the Big Ten from 1896-1946, now are a member of the Division III University Athletic Association.

So, instead of being a game that will count on the Wildcats' record, Wednesday night's get-together with Chicago in Welsh-Ryan Arena is an exhibition.

Nevertheless, it's anything but a meaningless exhibition.

Carmody has lost one of the most talented all-around players in school history, Tim Doyle, to graduation and that loss was compounded by the decision of last season's top scorer and rebounder, Kevin Coble, to leave the team while his mother undergoes cancer treatment in Phoenix.

With games against tough non-conference opponents Stanford and DePaul launching the regular season next week, Carmody still is putting together the pieces of a personnel jigsaw puzzle and searching for players who can make an impact.

"Up front there are so many question marks," said Carmody, who doesn't have a player taller than 6 feet 8 inches on his roster. "And it seems we always have problems with rebounding.

"None of our [returning] guards -- Craig Moore, Sterling Williams, Jason Okrzesik and Jeremy Nash -- had great years last year (when the Wildcats were 13-18 overall and 2-14 in the Big Ten). I think they're so much better than they showed.

"We have four newcomers (redshirt freshman forward/center Nikola Baran, redshirt freshman forward Ivan Peljusic, freshman forward Mike Capocci and freshman guard Michael Thompson) and they all have to help. The question is: 'How quickly can they help?'"

Chicago coach Mike McGrath's team also is a work in progress. Senior Nate Hainje, who averaged 13.5 points, six rebounds and 3.5 assists, is the only starter returning from last season's team that was 20-6 overall and 11-3 in the UAA.

[Titan Q]

Last year Wheaton played Northwestern in a real game.  The Thunder led for a large chunk of the game and missed a shot at the buzzer that would have won it...Wheaton lost by 2. 

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/Sports/mbball/mbbstats/mwhe8.htm


Good luck to the Maroons this evening in trying to pull off the upset!

[martin]

16 minutes to go in the first half - Chicago leads Northwestern 8-7.

Announcers are idiots - said this is a big game for Chicago and that the Maroons would much rather beat NU than Wash U.  WRONG!!!!!!

Also said the Maroons would not see something as complicated as the Princeton offense in the UAA.  What condescending jerks.

[Titan Q]

16 minutes to go in the first half - Chicago leads Northwestern 8-7.

Announcers are idiots - said this is a big game for Chicago and that the Maroons would much rather beat NU than Wash U.  WRONG!!!!!!

Also said the Maroons would not see something as complicated as the Princeton offense in the UAA.  What condescending jerks.

Watching the stream.  These broadcasters are jack-sses.

[martin]

NU leads 42-34 at the half.  Maroons were up 14-12 with 14 minutes to go.  Five and a half minutes later, it was 31-16 NU.

Problem for Maroons - turnovers.  11 to 4 for NU.  I think the Marrons had at least 4 offensive fouls off the ball.

Nate Hainje, Matt Corning and Tom Watson all have 3 fouls.  Corning in only 8 minutes.  Watson took 10 minutes to get them.

[martin]

Maroons started Nate Hainje, Adam Machones and Tim Reynolds in the front court.  Reynolds moved well - seems to have recovered from knee surgery.  Backcourt is Matt Corning and Jake Pancratz.  First guys off the bench were guard John Bonelli, forward John Kinsella and center Tom Watson.

Maroons have been playing man to man defense.  If they really were intent on winning this game, they would play zone.  They have no one who can handle the quickness of Northwestern freshman guard Michael "Juice" Thompson. He is 5-10 and lightning quick.

Yahoo announcers had some more D3 insults - said that Wheaton and DePauw (whom NU has played in the past) were small and looked like high school teams.  Northwestern has a regular season game against D3 Benedictine on Nov 20.

[martin]

Final - Northwestern 84 Chicago 76

Chicago shot poorly to start the second half and NU led by as many as 19.  But the Maroons kept firing away and got back into the game.

Hainje had 21, Pancratz 18 and Corning 15.  Chicago had 15 turnovers to 7 for NU - which led to the disparity in shots, 63-44 for NU.  Chicago shot poorly from the line - 23-35.  So did NU, 15-25.  Boards were fairly even - 37-33 for NU.  NU had 14 offensive rebounds to 7 for Chicago.

Chicago clearly set the pace of the game.  Northwestern runs the Princeton offense and likes scores of 60-58.  Coach McGrath used the game to get the team ready for the season.  He took no special measures to play against Northwestern.  Chicago played its game and let the chips fall where they may.  I don't think this team will be quite the bombs away squad that the Maroons were last year.  Still, they were 11-29 from behind the arc.

Northwestern has the Medill School of Journalism with all sorts of media programs.  You would think they could get better announcers.  Many stupid condescending comments throughout the game.  One said that Chicago was treating this like an NCAA tournament game.  If they had an ounce of familiarity with D3 hoops. it was clear that McGrath was using this EXHIBITION game for its intended purpose - to get his team ready for the upcoming season.

NU may go 0 for the Big Ten this year.  Chicago was able to easily go inside on the Wildcats.  It may get ugly for Northwestern in the Big Ten campaign.

With some breaks, I can see Chicago going 10-4 in the UAA.

[Titan Q]

Final - Northwestern 84 Chicago 76

Chicago shot poorly to start the second half and NU led by as many as 15.  But the Maroons kept firing away and got back into the game.

Hainje had 21, Pancratz 18 and Corning 15.  Chicago had 15 turnovers to 7 for NU - which led to the disparity in shots, 63-44 for NU.  Chicago shot poorly from the line - 23-35.  So did NU, 15-25.  Boards were fairly even - 37-33 for NU.  NU had 14 offensive rebounds to 7 for Chicago.

Chicago clearly set the pace of the game.  Northwestern runs the Princeton offense and likes scores of 60-58.  Coach McGrath used the game to get the team ready for the season.  He took no special measures to play against Northwestern.  Chicago played its game and let the chips fall where they may.  I don't think this team will be quite the bombs away squad that the Maroons were last year.  Still, they were 11-29 from behind the arc.

Northwestern has the Medill School of Journalism with all sorts of media programs.  You would think they could get better announcers.  Many stupid condescending comments throughout the game.  One said that Chicago was treating this like an NCAA tournament game.  If they had an ounce of familiarity with D3 hoops. it was clear that McGrath was using this EXHIBITION game for its intended purpose - to get his team ready for the upcoming season.

NU may go 0 for the Big Ten this year.  Chicago was able to easily go inside on the Wildcats.  It may get ugly for Northwestern in the Big Ten campaign.

With some breaks, I can see Chicago going 10-4 in the UAA.

Chicago played well in the final 10 minutes.  I think anyone who saw the game (either via stream as I did or in person) would come away with the impression that the Maroons are very well coached.  Mike McGrath always seems to get the most out of his talent.

The Maroons should be OK this year if the low post guys can provide some scoring.  They'll be fine from the perimeter.  As good as the UAA will be this year though, I don't see 10-4, Martin...maybe 8-6. 

Northwestern is going to have a longgggggggggggg year in the Big Ten. 

[martin]

The Maroons should be OK this year if the low post guys can provide some scoring.  They'll be fine from the perimeter.  As good as the UAA will be this year though, I don't see 10-4, Martin...maybe 8-6. 

Northwestern is going to have a longgggggggggggg year in the Big Ten. 

Q - In my comment I said with some breaks the Maroons could go 10-4.  It is a very qualified 10-4 - if a lot of things happen, I think it is possible.  Given the strength of the UAA, 8-6 is more likely.

With regards to NU, I think you can add about a thousand more g's to long in describing their upcoming season.

[hugenerd]

I think the best Chicago can hope for is 4th in the conference, behind WashU, Brandeis and Rochester.  I cant see them going undefeated against NYU, Emory, Case and CMU and then knocking off one of the other three teams twice.  8-6 may be more realistic, but they could just as easily go 6-8.