MBB: University Athletic Association

[Gregory Sager]

I thought it worth noting that CMU won their 18th consecutive non-conference game today.  That surprised me.  Their last three wins have been against Catholic, John Carroll, and Wooster.  Last year they beat a 21 win Gwynedd Mercy team, and a 19 win Misericoridia team in the ECAC, as well as Christopher Newport, Ohio Northern, Averett, and Capital (they beat Catholic last year as well.)  So it seems they haven't exactly been ducking people. 

I'm not really sure what any of this means, other than recently Carnegie Mellon has won a lot of non-conference games, but it seemed worth mentioning.  Wash U. has also won 18 consecutive non-conference games.  This is also an outstanding achievement as six of those wins came in last year's NCAA tournament, as many people might remember.

That's the hallmark of a good conference: Top-to-bottom strength. CMU only went 6-8 in UAA play last season, so that 19-9 final record achieved by the Tartans is a testament to the fact that even mediocre UAA teams are very good by D3 standards. The same thing applies to the WIAC, where even the bottom-feeders traditionally hover somewhere in the 15-win range, and to the CCIW, where the team that's picked to finish last this season, Millikin, is already 5-0.

[BUBeaverFan]

Gregory,
I think Darryl was just trying to be funny with his "A" comments rather than making a predictive statement for the rest of the year.
WashU33Fan

[topoftheworld]

anyone see or hear anything from the tufts brandeis game?

[Pat Coleman]

Gregory,
I think Darryl was just trying to be funny with his "A" comments rather than making a predictive statement for the rest of the year.
WashU33Fan

I think Gregory was just trying to be funny, too. At least, that's what the smiley said to me.

[BUBeaverFan]

Sorry, I don't see smiley faces on my computer (I get random symbols) for some reason, so I didn't see one at the end of your post.

[Hugenerd]

CMU jumps into the rankings.  I guess with Chicago and Brandeis losing 8 games over the last couple weeks, the voters have decided that CMU is likely the 2nd best team in the UAA.  Hopefully they can continue to play well and beat Juniata before a big game against Rochester in their UAA opener.

[Gregory Sager]

Gregory,
I think Darryl was just trying to be funny with his "A" comments rather than making a predictive statement for the rest of the year.
WashU33Fan

I think Gregory was just trying to be funny, too. At least, that's what the smiley said to me.

Pat, when the smileys start talking to you, it's time to go to bed.

[ILive4This]

After wins against Tufts and Babson, Brandeis sits at 2-3 and goes against another team with a rough start RIC in an effort to get back above .500. If Brandeis wins this game I think their season is at a fresh start and they will be fine (especially as we have seen DeLuca's play get back to top form). If they lose, more will need to be seen.

[bouttime]

I thought it worth noting that CMU won their 18th consecutive non-conference game today.  That surprised me.  Their last three wins have been against Catholic, John Carroll, and Wooster.  Last year they beat a 21 win Gwynedd Mercy team, and a 19 win Misericoridia team in the ECAC, as well as Christopher Newport, Ohio Northern, Averett, and Capital (they beat Catholic last year as well.)  So it seems they haven't exactly been ducking people. 

I'm not really sure what any of this means, other than recently Carnegie Mellon has won a lot of non-conference games, but it seemed worth mentioning.  Wash U. has also won 18 consecutive non-conference games.  This is also an outstanding achievement as six of those wins came in last year's NCAA tournament, as many people might remember.

That's the hallmark of a good conference: Top-to-bottom strength. CMU only went 6-8 in UAA play last season, so that 19-9 final record achieved by the Tartans is a testament to the fact that even mediocre UAA teams are very good by D3 standards. The same thing applies to the WIAC, where even the bottom-feeders traditionally hover somewhere in the 15-win range, and to the CCIW, where the team that's picked to finish last this season, Millikin, is already 5-0.

Does anyone know of any other impressive winning streaks in D3 hoops? (non-conference, rivial, ect.) I don't know if that information is even tracked by the NCAA or anyone for that matter.

[pradam]

After wins against Tufts and Babson, Brandeis sits at 2-3 and goes against another team with a rough start RIC in an effort to get back above .500. If Brandeis wins this game I think their season is at a fresh start and they will be fine (especially as we have seen DeLuca's play get back to top form). If they lose, more will need to be seen.

Yeah, I agree, especially since, other that Carnegie and Wash U, nobody's showing life in the UAA.  Chicago's 0-5, Rochester's rebuilding and NYU is still a year away.  If they beat RIC, they can lose to Amherst, go 11-3 in the UAA (one loss to WashU, two losses to other teams) and still probably get an NCAA bid at 19-7 with their tough schedule.  Hell, if they go 10-4 in the UAA, 18-8 could still get them in. 

The RIC game is a biggie though.  Neither team wants to fall too far off in New England.

[Hugenerd]

CMU beats Juniata tonight behind 20 and 10 from Jack Anderson, 16 from Ryan Einwag and 15 from Shane Rife.  They will be 6-0 going into the first UAA game of the season this saturday against Rochester.

[Ethelred the Unready]

CMU beats Juniata tonight behind 20 and 10 from Jack Anderson, 16 from Ryan Einwag and 15 from Shane Rife.  They will be 6-0 going into the first UAA game of the season this saturday against Rochester.

Who beat RIT 70-68 after being down 12-0.

[Hugenerd]

Chicago gets pounded by Wheaton tonight.  They havent looked too good in the first 6 games of the season.  Their final 5 non-conference games are on the road.  2 of those 5 teams are currently unbeaten and another is 3-1 Illinois Wesleyen.

[Marty Peretz]

Hate to say it, but I think WU may lose to IWU at home on Saturday. With only 3 teams in the Lopata Classic this year, WU somehow got screwed into playing an 8 PM Friday game and then having to turn around and play  a 3 PM Saturday game vs a rested IWU team. Tough circumstances, es[ecially considering that WU draws literally 3 times more fans for a Friday night game and IWU travels well. Saturday's contest could go down as the lone non-conference L of the 2008-2009 Wash.U. campaign, even as I hope I'm wrong.

[Hugenerd]

We are also on the eve of the first UAA game of the season, when CMU (6-0) host Rochester (5-1).  The winner will be the undisputed leader of the UAA for over a month, and the loser will be in last place for the same amount of time.  The game will be webcast so watch if you can.