According to a notice posted on the Columbia Athletics Website this morning, almost all the tickets were already gone for the Columbia Women’s Basketball Team’s game against Princeton tomorrow night at Columbia’s Levien Gymnasium. Fortunately, someone at ESPN had the foresight a few months ago to realize the significance allure of the Columbia-Princeton rivalry so the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU. I’m looking for a great game between the Lions and the Tigers with Columbia winning the Battle of the Jungle by eleven points.
11??
Halftime ceremony to honor the Lavine family for their $10 mil gift to men’s and women’s basketball.
Looks more like a Pick ‘Em match up to me.
Totally agree. 11 is assinine.
I’m also feeling Columbia by 11. Its not asinine.
I doubt this lands anywhere near double digits. We’ll probably get an ESPN line tomorrow since Princeton is Top-25, but the models already give a good sense of the range:
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ESPN matchup predictor: Columbia 52%
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Her Hoop Stats: Columbia –3.2 (61% win probability)
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Warren Nolan: Princeton –2
When the analytics disagree on who should even be favored, an 11-point expectation is pretty ambitious. If forced, I’d would be the under on a big margin.
That said, home court absolutely matters. If you assume a typical “~6-point swing” from road to home, you can at least see the path to a 11 point Columbia win. Still, the most likely outcome looks like a tight, single-possession or two type game.
As an aside - on a who is favored basis - Her Hoops Stats has Columba winning out and being the #1 seed - in a simulation, Princeton would be favored for 1st.
You do know princeton’s pretty good?? Do ya ?
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Aside from the analysis and bravado, this has become a great rivalry. Seems like the best in the league these days, men’s and women’s. I will be at the game and expect to see 2 tough teams get after it.
It should be a compelling game, and this rivalry is starting to matter.
But let’s give it some time, and the Harvard women are also a force.
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11 seemed ambitious, but they won by 14! Paige with 25, Weiss with 23.
When was the last time Princeton lost by 14?
Griffith seems to have their number.
You were right!
Great second half performance by the women tonight. Whatever Meg said at halftime worked.
The headlines, deservedly, go to Page and Weiss, and to Fliss Henderson for her work on defense and on the boards. But also a really nice game by Mia Broom, who provided 26 minutes as a controlled, genuinely steadying influence without abandoning her usual flashes of brilliance.
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Thanks to my friend Jasmer424 for acknowledging that his failure to rely on the veracity of my 11 point prediction was a mistake. So Jasmer424 what is your prediction for the Columbia - Penn game?
Agree. Riley and St Rose are frequently considered potential POY winners and Riley was much better tonight. Her second half was spectacular.
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And a shout out to, I assume, the coaching staff for the Lions seeming to get an open layup or, occasionally a wide open three (the one that got Riley going was sweet) on EVERY baseline inbounding play.
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Perri Page also should get consideration for POY or Defensive POY. She has been the most consistent Lion. Lots of games to go, which will decide this. If the season ended now, Riley wins POY handily (she has been up and down, but 40 and 38 points in Ivy play and coming up big tonite….). Defensive award may go to Brown’s top player (although I’m rooting for Perri).
BTW, the post-game press conference on Columbia’s WBB website is a MUCH WATCH 
!! Coach G at her best!
Finally, Fliss is a beast!!
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Glad someone mentioned the D because that is what secured the win tonight. I agree Page deserves DPOY consideration, but Griffith has the entire team playing fantastic, ball-swarming defense… Fliss, Broom, Nasi are superb. And Weiss has improved quite a bit too. They held the Tigers’ terrific trio of Belker/Chea/MSR to 21 points… after a hot start (Princeton led 29-18), the Lions outscored the Tigers, 52-27 the rest of the way. Wow!
Hutcherson and Tall have turned into really nice players… they get it done on both ends. The Tigers are gonna be scary good next season… I believe all starters will be returning.
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Columbia should romp. I defer to you, sir.