Big Red in Blue Ribbon Yearbook Page

Above, Cornell's Ryan Wittman pictured on ESPN.com.

ESPN is publishing the conference and team-by-team previews from Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, arguably the most comprehensive preseason publication out there. Below are links to the profiles for Cornell's 2009-2010 opponents as well as the full Cornell preview. Note: We will continually update this post until all of Cornell's opponents are linked below.

• Alabama
• Massachusetts
• Seton Hall
• Syracuse
• Vermont (free to view)
• Drexel
• Toledo
• Bucknell
• Saint Joseph's
• Davidson
• St. John's
• Hofstra
• La Salle
• Kansas
• Brown-"The consensus may be that the Ivy League is "Cornell and everybody else," but Brown has work to do before it can join the A-List of the leftovers."
• Columbia-"Columbia could well establish itself as the best of the rest in the Ivy League and perhaps even give its travel partner, Cornell, a prolonged scare."
• Cornell (free to view)
• Dartmouth
• Harvard-"Harvard isn't in Cornell's class yet, but it proved late last year it could compete with the rest of the league."
• Penn-Cornell's ascension to the league's top and the growth in competition everywhere else may bring smiles at the league offices, but the Penn hoops community isn't amused. In fact, if things don't turn around quickly, there are whispers that Glen Miller, who succeeded Fran Dunphy in 2006 may be exploring other employment avenues...his is a huge year for Miller. Even though his staff has already accumulated a strong recruiting class for 2010, he may not make it that far if the Quakers aren't above .500 both overall and in league play. With Princeton on the rise, and former Penn assistant -- and, in many Quaker alums' eyes, the man who should be coaching the team -- Steve Donahue leading the two-time defending Ivy champs at Cornell, Miller needs to deliver now."
• Princeton-"Princeton isn't close to where it was when it rattled off strings of championships, and with Cornell's returning all five starters from a two-time title team, thoughts of an assault on the top spot must be tempered... it's not unreasonable to think Princeton will establish itself as the main competition to Cornell... Princeton is still a step behind Cornell, but in an Ivy League that lacks much talent, it is a strong second right now and not too far away from mounting a challenge. In fact, the Big Red shouldn't be surprised if the Tigers are still close behind as the season heads into March."
• Yale-"While Jones is quick to remind us that he doesn't concede anything at all to anyone, even he has to admit (grudgingly) that Cornell is the favorite in the Ivies. But when it comes to second place, the Bulldogs are right there. And should the Big Red falter, don't be surprised if Jones' crew is poised to step in."
• Bryant (no preview from Blue Ribbon)
• South Dakota (no preview from Blue Ribbon)
  
• Clarkson (no preview from Blue Ribbon)
• PSU-Behrend (no preview from Blue Ribbon)
  

Team preview: Cornell

Cornell Big Red

Last Season	21-10 (.677)
Conference Record	11-3 (1st)
Starters Lost/Returning	0/5
Coach	Steve Donahue (Ursinus '84)
Record At School	117-133 (9 years)
Career Record	117-133 (9 years)
RPI Last 5 years	212-207-170-68-115

COACH AND PROGRAM

When Penn and Princeton were trading the Ivy mantel back and forth and embarking on runs that featured multiple championships, coaches and players understood the standard they were chasing. Those schools were supposed to win big and win often. That's how it had been since the 1960s. So, when you won two titles in a row, you went and took a third. Got three? Four to score, baby.

Now that the Quaker/Tiger tyranny has been broken among the Ancient Eight, the concept of bunching crowns together has reappeared. Cornell, which ended the dominance, has ruled the Ivies two straight seasons and appears primed for a hat trick this year, thanks to five returning starters, a pair of top-flight transfers and a recruiting class that will offer support and backup, should any of its touted members actually get the chance to supplant a regular.

The problem is that coach Steve Donahue, though certainly used to the idea himself thanks to his long stint as an assistant at Penn, has no frame of reference for such a sustained run of prosperity at Cornell. Were this ice hockey or lacrosse, the Big Red would understand how to assemble a dynasty and subjugate all in its path. Basketball is a much different story.

"We're still building up to new and higher expectations," Donahue said. "We don't have the ability to say, "Here's how to handle it.' I've been through it at Penn, but for this program, it's a new thing. We can't assume we're going to be champion."

Everybody else has taken care of that. If Donahue were to measure the esteem for the Big Red throughout the league, he wouldn't worry too much about whether his squad were ready for a continuation of prosperity, because to many folks, it's a done deal.

"Cornell is great, and everybody else stinks," said one coach, who [naturally] requested anonymity.

PLAYERS

Indeed, the Big Red returns talent at every position and adds reinforcements where they are needed most. Although the rest of the Ivies are growing and building, they aren't yet at Cornell's level. Not that Donahue doesn't have his concerns.

The three key cogs Cornell loses, while not starters, did have an impact on the team and will be missed. Adam Gore, Brian Kreefer and Jason Battle didn't make substantial statistical contributions, but they're part of the group that built the Big Red into a champion.

"What goes understated in this is that before these guys came, we weren't very good," Donahue said. "They leave after going 42-14 in Ivy play. They brought a lot of intangibles. They were terrific practice players and warriors. The effort was always there, and those guys were leaders."

That senior class is gone, but the group that graduates after this season will cause Donahue even greater nostalgia, because it's likely to have produced three straight league titles. And though the newcomers this year could be something special, it's unlikely they'll be as productive as the nine vets who pass on next spring.

If there is one player in that group likely to make a name for himself beyond the Ivy League, it's 6-6 senior forward Ryan Wittman (18.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, .416 3PT), a first-team All-Ivy selection and a candidate for league's player-of-the-year honor. Wittman is an excellent shooter and dangerous weapon who hopes to follow his father, Randy, into the NBA. While Donahue considers that a possibility, he says Wittman has more to do before he can entertain that dream fully.

"He's not close to what he can be," Donahue said. "He's stronger and more athletic this year. I expect him to be a better leader. That's something we've talked about.

"He can be much better with the ball in terms of creating opportunities. He can be a better passer. When we need a basket, he needs not to just look for a jump shot. He can get into the lane and initiate contact, so that he's getting a couple free throws or a three-point play, instead of an 18- or 19-foot jumper. He can be a better defender, so that he can guard quicker and more athletic players."

Don't get Donahue wrong; he loves Wittman's game. But if the forward wants to take the big step from the Ivy League to the NBA, he must improve.

The coach isn't looking for that much new from 6-7 senior Alex Tyler (6.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, .497 FG), a rugged interior veteran whom Donahue praises for "the physicality he brings and his mental toughness." This year, he'll have some more power with him inside, in the person of Kentucky transfer Mark Coury, a 6-9, 240-pound senior.

Coury didn't see much time at Kentucky as a freshman, but he started 29-of-31 games as a sophomore. While his averages of 2.0 points and 1.9 rebounds were not sterling, he played a hard, rough 10 minutes a game and was able to give the Wildcats needed toughness inside. He hit Central Arkansas for 13 points and 10 boards as a sophomore and put up nine points and grabbed five rebounds against Vanderbilt. A graduate of Detroit Country Day, the same school that produced Chris Webber and Shane Battier, Coury maintained a 4.0 GPA at Kentucky and decided to play at Cornell when coach Billy Gillispie wasn't going to renew his scholarship for the 2008-09 campaign. Coury scraps at all times on the court and is a good passer from the wing and inside.

"I see him helping on the defensive end and in transition," Donahue says. "We could have really used him against quick opposition last year, because he is laterally quick and is a very good defender. He plays the pick and roll as well as anyone I have seen. I don't know how much he can score, but he can definitely help us."

If Coury doesn't fill it up, 7-0 senior Jeff Foote (11.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.0 bpg, 2.3 apg, .531 FG) can and should do more of it this season. He played at 222 pounds last year, and Donahue reports Foote is up to 260 now and still looks like he can add some weight and strength.

"He has increased his athleticism, and his vertical leap, 40-yard dash and shuttle run numbers are off the charts," Donahue said.

Expect to see Foote and Coury on the court at the same time, because they are both good passers and intelligent ballplayers.

Adam Wire (2.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg), a 6-5 junior, can score inside and does a great job on the offensive boards and defensively. He's a tough guy who may not score a lot, but he can make rival forwards pretty uncomfortable.

Alex Hill (2.7 ppg, 0.3 rpg, .450 3PT) is a 6-5 sophomore who scored 18 in a win over Ursinus and can stroke the long ball.

A quintet of veteran reserves rounds out the frontcourt. Pete Reynolds (1.0 ppg, 0.7 rpg), is a 6-8 senior and is joined in the group by 6-7 senior Jon Jacques (0.8 ppg, 0.8 rpg), 6-5 senior Andre Wilkins (0.8 ppg, 0.9 rpg), 6-9 junior Aaron Osgood (0.5 ppg, 0.8 rpg) and 6-11 Marc Van Burck (0.0 ppg, 0.3 rpg).

Donahue is honest when assessing the freshmen. He figures only two of them have a chance at real time, and only one plays up front. Errick Peck (Cathedral HS/Indianapolis, Ind.) is a 6-6, 210-pounder who scored 14.4 points and grabbed 11.1 rebounds as a senior.

"He gives us something we don't have," Donahue said. "He's explosive off his feet and can really go get the ball."

The other three front line freshmen are 6-7 Peter McMillan (Northfield Mt. Hermon School/Brentwood, Calif.), 6-8 Eitan Chemerinski (Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School/Potomac, Md.) and 6-9 Josh Figini (Chisago Lakes HS/Chisago Lakes, Minn.).

Donahue has no trouble talking about what improvement he would like to see in 5-11 senior guard Louis Dale (13.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.6 apg, .370 3PT).

"He needs to increase his cardio capacity," Donahue said.

Dale can go hard for a couple minutes, but when he tires, he commits silly fouls.

"We could only play him 26 minutes a game last year, and he needs to play 35," Donahue said.

Dale is a fine shooter and distributor who could score another few points a game if he were on the court more. But his inability to do so allowed Donahue to see what 6-0 sophomore Chris Wroblewski (6.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.6 apg, .441 3PT). As it turns out, it was a lot.

"He surpassed my expectations by a long shot," Donahue said. "I'm impressed with his confidence and poise. I'm excited about where he can be. I expect him to be a guy who can create for others."

One of the beneficiaries of Wroblewski's creativity is 6-4 senior sniper Geoff Reeves (9.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, .421 3PT). Don't expect him to mix it up inside, but do look for Reeves to go on three-point binges, like when he hit five against South Dakota and Loyola and four against Bryant.

Donahue doesn't expect that kind of production out of 6-2 freshman Miles Asafo-Adjei (Ensworth High School/Nashville, Tenn.), but he sure can't wait to see him play defense.

"We don't have a guy who can guard you 94 feet and speed you up," Donahue said. "Miles can do that."

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS

BACKCOURT: B-
BENCH/DEPTH: B+
FRONTCOURT: B
INTANGIBLES: A-

Cornell has established itself as the Ivy's premiere program, and now it's time to look past the Ancient Eight. The Big Red must still take care of business in its own neighborhood, but judging by the ambitious schedule, it's clear Cornell is interested in doing more than just winning 20 games and the league title.

On the docket this year are Kansas, Syracuse, Alabama, Seton Hall and Davidson. The goal is clearly to be more prepared for NCAA Tournament play, and Cornell has the kind of veteran, deep team that could take a step forward this year.

It begins with Wittman, who has the potential to be a standout, provided he is more of a complete player, as Donahue wants. The Big Red frontcourt will be bolstered by Coury's arrival; he gives the team more muscle inside, a good thing against top-flight competition. If Foote continues to develop, Cornell could be quite difficult to deal with, no matter the opponent.

Donahue is right about Dale's conditioning. There's no excuse for him not to play 30-plus minutes a game. Wroblewski has great potential, but Dale's experience and leadership must be on the floor. The arrival of Asafo-Adjei will help the team's athletic ability, particularly on defense.

This is a huge year for Donahue and Cornell. He wants to continue establishing Cornell as a dynastic team, and he wants the Big Red to be better away from the Ivy wars. Left unsaid is that if Cornell wins another title and then takes an NCAA Tournament game, Donahue could move on to bigger and better things. He isn't worried about that now, but increased prosperity for his team could make it an issue.

(edited 11.4.09, originally published 10.21.09)