Basketball Diaries: UAA Men’s Basketball
By Scott Green ‘05
The University Athletic Association (UAA) is regarded as one of the most
competitive and intense Division III conferences in America. This season, compared
with sixty other conferences, the Massey Ratings Index ranked the UAA as the fifth most
talented DIII league in the country and the eighth most balanced league. In other words,
there are some tough SOBs in this association. If you need proof let me quickly take you
on a tour of the league.
Last season NYU’s Daniel Falcon literally broke our poor Aaron Charlop Powers’
Power’s face as ACP unsuccessfully ran through one of Falcon’s infamous elbow laden
screens. Three surgeries and one year later, Aaron Powers is enjoying life at the
University of North Carolina. University of Rochester point guard Gabe Perez might
only stand at 5’10’’ but can bench press 310 pounds. Case Western Reserve is led by
Funso Lafe, who previously played at George Washington, a Division I school. Senior
Omri Ayalon almost got in a fight with fans at the University of Chicago, who wore
wooden Ws on their heads in honor of guard Brandon Woodhead. In an exhibition game
this season against Springfield, freshman Stephen Hill bumped heads with guard Damien
Farley. Farley was carried off on a stretcher fifteen minutes later, and Hill walked off the
court, blood dripping from his forehead, declaring, “That’s what happens when you run
into the man of steel.” Finally, there is NYU’s Jason Boone – who is best known for
causing opposing centers to suddenly fall ill the night before the game with what doctors
refer to as “Boone-itis” (just ask Bryan Lambert who might tell you his flu-like
symptoms were just a coincidence).
Passionate rivalries reside throughout the conference: Brandeis/NYU, Wash
U/Chicago, and Carnegie Mellon/Rochester are just a few examples. Unlike other DIII
conferences, the geographical layout of the UAA allows student-athletes to travel across
the country to battle conference opponents. From January 19 – February 13, the Brandeis
basketball team spent nine days in Waltham and sixteen days in Cleveland, Atlanta,
Amherst, Chicago, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, and Rochester. Winter time in Cleveland and
Rochester makes Brandeis seem like a tropical resort. If it sounds like this league is
filled with hate, anger, and scorn, I would agree. However, a combination of the Internet
and love has United this Athletic Association.
There is a lighter side to the UAA that most outsiders do not know about. It all
started with Facebook.com, when Case Western Reserve point guard Andrew Impastato
randomly invited Rocco Toppi to be his friend early in the season. Rocco kindly
accepted. Then, Bryan Lambert befriended the entire NYU women’s basketball team –
but this was not random; the league is getting all mushy. When I reminisce about this
season, I want to remember our come from behind 73-72 win at Carnegie Mellon (19-7,
second place in the UAA), and not recall that their point guard shaves his legs (thanks to
our home crowd for making this observation).
I would also like to say that this Brandeis team was the closest team I have ever
played on. Everybody genuinely cared about each other and we were close friends off
the court. For example, on one road trip Joey Coppens and Steve DeLuca desperately
wanted to order The Notebook on pay per view. When I asked DeLuca if I could mention
this story in my diary, he said, “Yes, it will show a softer side of Steve DeLuca.” It is not
known at this time if tears would have been shed. Instead of hitting the town during the
Pittsburgh road trip, John Saucier and Joey Coppens decided to walk to the closest barber
shop to trim their bangs. We had our share of fun. Our road trip to Danny Katzman’s
hometown of St. Louis coincided with Mardi Gras, and if you are interested I can let my
video recorder do the talking (WOW!). Some practices ended with a three point shooting
game that the team eventually evolved into “USA vs JewSA” or “USA vs Europe” (so
Florian could play on the Jewish team); only at Brandeis could these teams field the same
number of players. But, at night, the team mostly cuddled and ordered movies,
frequently bought room service, and yes, I even brought my blanket from home.
It seems like such a long time ago since Rocco Toppi began the season with a
running one-handed dunk from the baseline against Colby-Sawyer. From then on, we
won fourteen games (our best record in ten years) and finished fourth in the UAA. Most
importantly though, is that I got to play ball with some nice SOBs. I LOVE YOU GUYS
MAN!
Brandon Woodhead with The Woodheads upper right
Meet NYU’s Jason Boone