Pictured above, Ka'ron Barnes ('04). Below, we go back in time just a bit. Blue Ribbon Yearbook's preview of Cornell heading into the 2003-2004 season.Blue Ribbon Yearbook (2003-2004) Cornell
No Ivy League team has won less games in the last six years than Cornell's 42. Actually, no one is really all that close, with Dartmouth and Colombia having 48 each. In Steve Donahue's three seasons as coach, the Big Red hasn't even cracked double digits, with last season's nine wins being the most.
However, that should all change this winter, and by no means will it be a one-year fluke. By design, Donahue rebuilt this program with three consecutive recruiting classes considered among the league's best and finally, after allowing the underclassmen to develop, it's time.
The scary thing is Cornell has just one senior this season. However, as good as it could be next season and the season after, this could be its best shot of capturing the league's first outright Ivy League won by a team other than Penn or Princeton since 1988, when Cornell played in the NCAA Tournament.
There are two reasons for this optimism: First, senior 6-0 guard Ka'ron Barnes (14.0 ppg, 4.0 apg, 1.6 spg), is the league's returning leading scorer and is among a short list of favorites for Ivy League Player of the Year. Second, the league is more balanced than any season in recent memory.
"I've been in this league for 14 years, 10 as an assistant at Penn before coming here and this is the first year where it's not Penn or Princeton," Donahue said. "It really is open, and we expect a lot of things, a lot of big things from this team. We're in good shape and no question, I'm excited for the opportunity to challenge for the league title.
"It can be a reality this season. We've put it on our board, we're going for the NCAA Tournament and that's a realistic goal for us."
Barnes, who isn't a true point guard but finally relented last season, spent the summer working out in Philadelphia with numerous NBA and big-time Division I players, and more than held his own. In Cornell's early summer trip to Australia, where it won three of its four games, Barnes dominated, leading all players in scoring three times.
"To me, he's a notch above all other guards in the league, he does so much for us," Donahue said. "This summer, his shooting improved, along with his defense, which was already great, and if he cuts down a little on his turnovers, there's not much else."
A year ago Barnes averaged 2.5 turnovers per game, mainly from trying to do too much, too often. This season, especially after the bonding experience of Australia, Donahue expects his point guard to trust his teammates more, which should cut down on turnovers.
Junior Cody Toppert (9.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg), 6-4, joins Barnes in the backcourt and is among the league's top returning shooting guards. Last year's Ivy Rookie of the Year, 6-6 sophomore Lenny Collins (8.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.5 spg) splits time at guard and forward.
"Cody has started every game for me here, and no one plays harder," Donahue said. "Now that the league is younger and he's older, he'll have some real monster games this season. And Collins, he can defend anyone, 6-foot-9 post players to shooting guards, and he's our best all-around player, no doubt about it."
Sophomore 6-4 guard David Lisle (4.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg) and juniors A.J. Castro (1.9 ppg), 5-9, and 6-5 Steve Cobb (1.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg) should also see minutes in the backcourt. Freshman Graham Dow, 5-10, averaged 24 points and 11 assists for Nelson Lords High in Toronto and could see a few minutes at point guard.
Eric Taylor (12.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.1 bpg, 1.0 spg), a 6-7 junior and potential first team All-Ivy player, shot 56 percent from the field last season, but an abysmal 43 percent from the foul line. He spent the off-season trying to change his technique and finished the Australia trip at 70 percent.
"There may have never been a lower free-throw shooter in the history of this league than Eric last year," Donahue said. "Teams just started fouling him on purpose, it was a dramatic thing for him. But he worked a considerable amount this season and there's no doubt, that he's the best low-post scorer in the league. He gained another 20 pounds of muscle this off-season."
"No one will be able to defend him in our league."
Junior forward Gabe Stephenson (2.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg) is expected to be the fifth starter after battling numerous injuries the last two seasons. On the Australia trip, the 6-9, 240-pounder led the team in rebounds with almost 10 per game and although he will not score a lot, post defense and rebounding is all Donahue's expecting from him. However, he can run the floor and finish on the break when needed.
Grant Harrell (4.3 ppg), a 6-6 junior forward, has started in the past and will see valuable minutes in the post. A trio of 6-9 freshmen could provide added depth, Jason Mitchell (17.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg at Saluda High, S.C.), Andrew Naeve (18.0 ppg, 13.0 rpg, 5.0 bpg at East Central High in Miles, Iowa) and Dane Williams (10.0 ppg, 5.0 bpg at Columbus, Ga.).
Blue Ribbon Analysis
"Yale, Princeton, Penn have very good teams and so do we," Donahue said. "I believe Barnes will be the best player on the floor and we're real excited about our prospects."
"On the Australia trip we got to know each other, and now, we can look each other in the eye and mean it. We relaxed around each other, as players and coaches. It's a different feeling around here and we're ready."
There is no reason Cornell shouldn't have its best season since 1987-88 when it won the Ivy League crown and qualified for the NCAA Tournament. That was the last time an Ivy team, besides Penn and Princeton, played in the Big Dance. At the very least, it would be a stunner if Cornell didn't register its first winning season since 1997.
Besides returning its top nine scorers, the Big Red has a potential Ivy Player of the Year in senior guard Barnes and reigning Ivy Rookie-of-the-Year Collins. However, junior Taylor could be the focal point and with improved free-throw shooting, he could be the league's most dominant forward.
Four years ago, Donahue inherited the program and focused upon this season as becoming a contender. Now, with the pieces in place and the league as balanced as ever, Donahue and company have set their goals high: Winning the Ivy and returning to the NCAA Tournament.
However, a top half finish and winning record would also be cause for celebration in Ithaca and appears more realistic.
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