ITHACA, N.Y. -- Head coach Steve Donahue probably dreamed of winning Ivy League titles as a head coach when he took over the Cornell program in 2000. Mired in last place when he took over, Donahue slowly started turning the ship around. Just 31 wins came in those first four seasons, but each year the win total improved. By 2004-05, Cornell earned a hard-fought winning record in league play. The following season it was another 8-6 mark in the conference. Then in 2006-07 came the breakout season thanks in large part due to a core of players, now seniors, who turned the Big Red from a middle of the pack Ivy League team to one that has now made consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and stands on the precipice of completing one of the great runs in the storied history of the Ancient Eight.
Cornell returns three legitimate Ivy League Player of the Year candidates in seniors Louis Dale, Jeff Foote and Ryan Wittman. The trio are among the best to ever play their positions in the conference, with Dale capturing Player of the Year honors in 2007-08, Foote capturing the conference's inaugural Defensive Player of the Year accolade in 2008-09 and Wittman earning two all-district mentions and a unanimous spot on the All-Ivy first-team each of the last two seasons. Along with three-year starter Alex Tyler at power forward and the tandem of senior Geoff Reeves and 2008-09 Ivy League Rookie of the Year Chris Wroblewski in the backcourt with Dale, Cornell is poised to make noise on the national scene this season.
A two-time first-team All-Ivy guard, Dale was slowed early last season with an injury, but recovered to rank among the Ancient Eight leaders in scoring (13.0 ppg.), rebounding (4.2 rpg.) and assists (3.6 apg.) despite standing just 5-11. Arguably the best athlete in the conference, he is one of the top point guards in the country. Dale was an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press in 2007-08, becoming the first player to garner national honors since Ken Bantum in 1985.
Foote is a mobile 7-0 center who is a force in the paint on both ends of the floor. The Ivy League's leading rebounder (7.2) and shot-blocker (2.1 bpg.) a season ago, Foote was among the team leaders in scoring (third, 11.8 ppg.) and assists (fourth, 2.3 apg.) while starting 30 contests for the Big Red. Now the team tri-captain returns to campus after gaining nearly 25 pounds of muscle over the summer and is even quicker and more athletic than his first two seasons.
Wittman is one of the all-time great 3-point shooters in college basketball history. A tough competitor with a high basketball IQ, Wittman is the Ancient Eight's top returning scorer and a preseason All-American by several publications. The 6-7 forward is a good team defender and an excellent passer who has become a tremendous defensive rebounder. He provides great leadership on and off the floor, and is willing to take, and make, the big shot.
While he has garnered fewer accolades, Tyler is just as important as any player on the Big Red. A team tri-captain, he is an aggressive and physically strong post player with a surprisingly soft touch in the lane. Possessing strong hands and good basketball instincts, Tyler has a knack for getting on the offensive boards and creating havoc with his energy on defense.
Both Reeves and Wroblewski will share time at the guard spot in 2009-10 after posting strong campaigns a year ago. Reeves is one of the team's top athletes who emerged as a starter as a junior. A deadeye shooter who can create his own offense, Reeves is an efficient scorer who has shown the ability to get in the lane at will. He has also developed into one of the top backcourt defenders in the Ivy League. Wroblewski is a deadeye shooter who can play either guard position. He proved to be a steady and efficient player as a rookie. A competitive athlete who is a strong defender and playmaker, Wroblewski consistently made big shots for the Big Red throughout his freshman season.
Expected to play major roles as reserves in 2009-10 are returners Adam Wire, Jon Jaques, Andre Wilkins, Alex Hill, Aaron Osgood and Pete Reynolds, as well as transfer eligible players Mark Coury (University of Kentucky) and Max Groebe (University of Massachusetts). Jaques will join Tyler and Foote as a team tri-captain.
A group of freshmen will also have a chance to earn some minutes, with guards Miles Asafo-Adjei and forwards Eitan Chemerinski, Josh Figini, Peter McMillan and Errick Peck competing for floor time.
Donahue decided to challenge his veteran team with one of the most difficult schedules in program history. Games against preseason No. 1 Kansas, as well as a pair of games at Madison Square Garden, highlight the schedule. Including possible tournament opponents, Cornell has six non-conference foes that won at least 20 games a season ago and seven that earned at least 10 conference triumphs on the slate. Five opponents earned postseason invitations, including two NCAA tournament foes, and three claimed at least a share of their conference's regular season titles.
The Big Red will play eight of its 17 games against teams from BCS conference schools and the Atlantic 10, while 12 of the team's potential opponents earned winning records in 2008-09. In all, the team will play 10 of its first 13 games away from home, including four against postseason teams with eight of those 10 road games against teams with winning records a season ago. Big names litter the schedule, with contests against Alabama, Massachusetts, Seton Hall, Syracuse, Saint Joseph's, Davidson, St. John's, Kansas and Vermont. Additionally, perennial foe Bucknell, 20-game winners Hofstra from the Colonial Athletic Conference and independent South Dakota will challenge Donahue's two-time defending Ancient Eight champion.
Cornell returns three legitimate Ivy League Player of the Year candidates in seniors Louis Dale, Jeff Foote and Ryan Wittman. The trio are among the best to ever play their positions in the conference, with Dale capturing Player of the Year honors in 2007-08, Foote capturing the conference's inaugural Defensive Player of the Year accolade in 2008-09 and Wittman earning two all-district mentions and a unanimous spot on the All-Ivy first-team each of the last two seasons. Along with three-year starter Alex Tyler at power forward and the tandem of senior Geoff Reeves and 2008-09 Ivy League Rookie of the Year Chris Wroblewski in the backcourt with Dale, Cornell is poised to make noise on the national scene this season.
A two-time first-team All-Ivy guard, Dale was slowed early last season with an injury, but recovered to rank among the Ancient Eight leaders in scoring (13.0 ppg.), rebounding (4.2 rpg.) and assists (3.6 apg.) despite standing just 5-11. Arguably the best athlete in the conference, he is one of the top point guards in the country. Dale was an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press in 2007-08, becoming the first player to garner national honors since Ken Bantum in 1985.
Foote is a mobile 7-0 center who is a force in the paint on both ends of the floor. The Ivy League's leading rebounder (7.2) and shot-blocker (2.1 bpg.) a season ago, Foote was among the team leaders in scoring (third, 11.8 ppg.) and assists (fourth, 2.3 apg.) while starting 30 contests for the Big Red. Now the team tri-captain returns to campus after gaining nearly 25 pounds of muscle over the summer and is even quicker and more athletic than his first two seasons.
Wittman is one of the all-time great 3-point shooters in college basketball history. A tough competitor with a high basketball IQ, Wittman is the Ancient Eight's top returning scorer and a preseason All-American by several publications. The 6-7 forward is a good team defender and an excellent passer who has become a tremendous defensive rebounder. He provides great leadership on and off the floor, and is willing to take, and make, the big shot.
While he has garnered fewer accolades, Tyler is just as important as any player on the Big Red. A team tri-captain, he is an aggressive and physically strong post player with a surprisingly soft touch in the lane. Possessing strong hands and good basketball instincts, Tyler has a knack for getting on the offensive boards and creating havoc with his energy on defense.
Both Reeves and Wroblewski will share time at the guard spot in 2009-10 after posting strong campaigns a year ago. Reeves is one of the team's top athletes who emerged as a starter as a junior. A deadeye shooter who can create his own offense, Reeves is an efficient scorer who has shown the ability to get in the lane at will. He has also developed into one of the top backcourt defenders in the Ivy League. Wroblewski is a deadeye shooter who can play either guard position. He proved to be a steady and efficient player as a rookie. A competitive athlete who is a strong defender and playmaker, Wroblewski consistently made big shots for the Big Red throughout his freshman season.
Expected to play major roles as reserves in 2009-10 are returners Adam Wire, Jon Jaques, Andre Wilkins, Alex Hill, Aaron Osgood and Pete Reynolds, as well as transfer eligible players Mark Coury (University of Kentucky) and Max Groebe (University of Massachusetts). Jaques will join Tyler and Foote as a team tri-captain.
A group of freshmen will also have a chance to earn some minutes, with guards Miles Asafo-Adjei and forwards Eitan Chemerinski, Josh Figini, Peter McMillan and Errick Peck competing for floor time.
Donahue decided to challenge his veteran team with one of the most difficult schedules in program history. Games against preseason No. 1 Kansas, as well as a pair of games at Madison Square Garden, highlight the schedule. Including possible tournament opponents, Cornell has six non-conference foes that won at least 20 games a season ago and seven that earned at least 10 conference triumphs on the slate. Five opponents earned postseason invitations, including two NCAA tournament foes, and three claimed at least a share of their conference's regular season titles.
The Big Red will play eight of its 17 games against teams from BCS conference schools and the Atlantic 10, while 12 of the team's potential opponents earned winning records in 2008-09. In all, the team will play 10 of its first 13 games away from home, including four against postseason teams with eight of those 10 road games against teams with winning records a season ago. Big names litter the schedule, with contests against Alabama, Massachusetts, Seton Hall, Syracuse, Saint Joseph's, Davidson, St. John's, Kansas and Vermont. Additionally, perennial foe Bucknell, 20-game winners Hofstra from the Colonial Athletic Conference and independent South Dakota will challenge Donahue's two-time defending Ancient Eight champion.
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