Might as well put the thread up now. Princeton showed some signs of life yesterday, but I’m not sure whether they’ll get that many clean looks against Yale’s defense. I expect a big game from Bez - Princeton will struggle to guard him and John both at once.
The usual “hard to beat a team 3 times” phrase applies. I just wonder how accurate it is if the first 2 matchups weren’t close.
Princeton seems like a Jekyll and Hyde team. - not sure which to expect. I expect Poulakidas will be their focus as they plan to stop Yale. Yale needs to take advantage of its size inside. If Mbeng and Poulakidas play to their abilities, Yale should do fine.
Townsend is the guy we cannot defend or keep off the boards.
I think the key is limiting Yale’s offensive rebounds.
Essentially, that means the key is Pierce.
Of course, we need to shoot well too.
A big ask, but fun to have a shot.
The Tigers were way under 33% from three on many decent-to-great attempts in their big losses. Making those shots is key to keeping it interesting at least.
The other aspect is playing active rather than passive defense. Usually you’d say that being sound positionally, staying behind your man, etc. is good for defensive rebounding. But that hasn’t worked so well against Yale so far, whereas pressuring them and trying to speed them up to force urnovers and bad shots has worked better. So I’d advise lots of ball pressure, throw in some 1-3-1 possessions, throw in some full-court press possessions from the first jump ball.
Princeton is doing a good job so far playing the underdog card and nothing to lose hard to beat a team 3x etc
I think JJ needs to sell to his squad that Mitch picked them 3rd and Princeton was the ~unanimous preseason pick.
Perhaps it helps to wrap up the reg season title early as obvious besides nit it matters little. Maybe not. Guess we’ll find out.
The jekyl and Hyde aspect seems to come down to Princeton’s long range dependence. That is what makes it all a little scary no doubt given it can swing and has against Yale at times this year
Yale getting major props from ESPN 2’s Champ Week crew (led by Dalen Cuff).
High praise for James Jones and Poulakidas. One of the other guys, Malcolm Huckaby, said he thinks they can go on a “deep run… maybe a Sweet 16, Elite 8.”
‘Can’ being the operative word.
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Still nice to see Ivy hoops get national TV/media attention.
I respect Coach Henderson for having emerged from the Pete Carril Princeton basketball era; for his high level of basketball coaching acumen; and for his honesty - he picked Yale for third, knowing they’re all amateur athletes; while his is a team with two young men being paid to play. Understandably, Henderson believes that pros should sooner advance to greater heights on a basketball court than non-pros. That Yale is two for two against Princeton is explainable in two ways:
#1- a team’s chemistry can be adversely impacted when 17% of the team is being paid to play and the rest of the team isn’t. And #2- the dignified black man, on the bench with all of those amateur athletes from New Haven, is a sure bet for eventual enshrinement as an inductee to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Two things that worry me:1. 2 yrs ago Henderson assigned Tosan to guard Poulakidas. It worked but we have no Tosan. 2. Peters was 1 of 4 from deep at Brown. For us to contend he needs to make 5+.
we have serious match-up issues.
If Deven Austin had returned with
his athleticism intact, he would
have been the wing defender we lack.
Peters is just too short to stop
Pouakidis. He will probably start on him,
and try hard. We can also try Hicke, Abdullahi
and even Scott.
we need 3s Fromm somebody, but at least we have
options there. I still think the key is keeping Townsend
off the offensive glass.
This set-up reminds me a bit of 2019 — Yale blasted Princeton in the first two meetings, then was up 12 at halftime in the ILT and relaxed. Princeton ripped off a 20-2 run to start the second half and all of a sudden, the game was on. Yale was only able to salt it away when Miye Oni drew Myles Stephens’ fifth foul on a kinda ticky-tack handcheck. It’s imperative that the team match or beat Princeton’s effort here. Like James says, maybe the high-level hustle will come back now that Yale isn’t just playing for pride like they were the last three games.
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Lo-cal: Jadwin game Townsend had 4 OR’s, true. But @Yale he had only 1 OR. He shot 7/9 and 2/3 from 3-point land, as well as 4 assists, all in 28 minutes played. We really had no answer for him.
Looking at future odds (h/t Bet365)
Ivy Madness Tourney Winner
Yale -165
Cornell +310
Dartmouth +600
Princeton +1100
I well remember that call on Stephens. Three of the five afainst him were questionable. This is a great Yale team opposed by a so-so Tiger squad. Hope we can keep it respectable.
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Three point shooting has had a huge impact on the two games between Princeton and Yale this year and I believe will determine the outcome on Saturday.
Princeton is shooting 28.9 3 pointers per game–14th most in the nation. Yale shoots 19.5 3 points–304th highest. That’s a huge difference.
In their two games, Princeton shot 33% and 23% behind the arc and Yale shot 56% and 45% from deep.
If the Tigers can shoot 45%+ and Yale shoots under 40%, Princeton will have a chance.
Though no enjoyment emerges from a phyrric victory.
Peters 1 of 4 at Nrown. He must make 5+ for Tigers to compete