I started this thread last year on the old board. Lots to be excited about at PENN with new coaching staff, transfers and incoming frosh (assuming they all show up)
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I will predict Penn as top 4!
Yale
Penn
Princeton
Brown
Cornell
Columbia
Dartmouth
Harvard
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I’ve always liked Penn and the league is better when they’re good. Great history, winning tradition and love the Palestra. I’m not convinced that the off season changes move them into the top half of the league right away though. Losing Brown and Spinoso hurt and a few of the replacements are uncertain. Also, very different job for McCaffery. People are quick to say raise some NIL and get guys from the portal but neither of those are certain strategies for the league. They might be soon, but not yet. Coaching in the Ivy League is a pretty tough job. I do think they’ll be better and are destined for the top half, but next year might be premature.
I don’t know enough about who will be playing on the other teams but I like the core group returning for Yale and excited about what I’ve heard about the incoming class (mainly from James, who deserves a shout out). I’ve said before that we owe a debt of gratitude to the Princeton guys for getting this site launched and I’m happy that our Penn friends are migrating over from the old site (and that you have reasons to be excited again about Quaker basketball).
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A tough off-season for Princeton. Huge loss of Lee,
and a lesser one in Scott, plus some coaching upheaval.
But I still really like our core. Pierce and Davis returning
is huge, and there are some other useful pieces. Wondering if
Austin comes back, and if he is still as athletic.
Yale looks like the best team, but not as good as last year.
I think we look like the next best. I expect big improvement
from Harvard and Penn, and Dartmouth and Cornell will
be factors. I see Brown and Columbus at the bottom right now,
but who knows.
tiers IMO
Yale/Princeton
Penn
Cornell/Harvard
Brown/Columbia/Dartmouth
As a Penn fan, I wish I had the confidence of some of the posters–we don’t have nearly enough information to know what the team will look like and whether it will come together. That’s why it’s “Way too Early.”
Agree, honestly right now I couldn’t even guess.
I more or less agree with this vision of the league. I would throw Princeton in the same tier as Penn - I can’t see the Tigers pushing Yale for first with only one senior on the roster, but it’s worth noting that neither of the two teams that were crowned pre-season favorites in recent years (Yale in '24, Princeton in '25) ended up winning the regular season title.
At this point in the offseason, the league looks like it will be pretty open. I think Yale is the clear favorite, but I don’t think that there are huge gaps between the other tiers.
Im going to be optimistic that Penn goes 10-4 for second or ties for first. That assumes Fran can adapt to Ivy quirks, huge season from Ethan who is really excited (and was hurting much of last ivy season), good contrbutions from transfer and freshman. Ill be happy if we beat Princeton
With Harvard losing their recruiting class I think it will be a tough year for the Crimson.
Given Tigers’ performance last year, I don’t see how they can be considered likely to challenge Yale, although I will gladly revise this opinion if their play merits it. After Yale, looks to me like everyone is more or less in the same pot, except Harvard with its eviscerated recruiting class. But perhaps they may pick up some transfers.
Penn seems to keep moving up with the players Fran is bring in
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Princeton will be a vibes underdog. Other teams are adding transfers and supposedly big-time recruits left and right, excited about new coaches, etc. The Tigers are in recovery mode after a disappointing 2024-25 season and the loss of their marquee player and top recruiter. At a high-major school, the hot takes and knives would be out in force with little sense of perspective.
I think the Tigers may surprise a bit on the upside if the coaching switch to Brennan reinjects some system and spacing to the offense and more creativity to the defense (his best AU teams ran some funky matchup zone stuff), and if the core returning players take the bad vibes personally and make a collective vow to punish the league. Hopefully Pierce gets back to 100% and returns to his old performance, Davis returns to form as a late-clock bailout option and full-time three-point shooter, Happy steps up and makes his flashes of greatness more consistent, Huggins justifies getting backup minutes at least, and the other young-uns like Stanton (I really like that kid) keep improving. If Austin somehow comes back in form that would be a cherry on top.
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there is a lot of chatter about new players, coaches, etc.
Maybe in portal world, that is the new reality. But the
Ivies still seem different, and I still think the biggest
factor is returning talent. Princeton brings back a lot
of guys who played meaningful minutes. Pierce has
the potential to be the best player in the League.
Davis may flourish with the ball in his hands.
Lee’s loss is obviously a big deal. and Peters
brought shooting, defense and leadership,
but Happy, Stanton and Abdulahi all have
the potential to take big steps forward.
Austin’s return would be huge. If he
does not come back, size and depth at guard
will be an issue. Maybe Seals or one of the frosh
will prove an answer. I think we should make it
to Ithaca, and may mesh into a contender by then.
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And let us not forget Jackson Hicke, who always seems to find a way to score.
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Yeah, Hicke, Abdullah, and Seals have some proven ability and could improve too. The cupboard isn’t bare. it’s just a lack of novelty off a subpar season in a league undergoing a lot of change that is hurting the vibe. Looking forward to a potential restoration of order.
Be careful what you wish for. You guys don’t have the only fan base that’s looking forward to a potential restoration of order, and we’ve been waiting for a hell of a long time.
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Im just hoping for well played meaningful penn princeton battles again! Appreciate the effort that went into this board
New coach is very high on the seven new players coming in and several of the holdovers as part of a current 19 man roster
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