Ivy Preview from the Columbia Spectator

The Columbia Spectator published the following predicted order of finish for Ivy League teams for '09-'10:

8. Dartmouth: The league’s perennial doormat finished a surprising 7-7 last season, but this is the year one of A.B. (After Barnett). Just how important was the Ivy Player of the Year to Dartmouth? He scored more than the Big Green’s next three leading scorers combined and led the team in rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, and three-pointers. The cupboard is pretty bare.

7. Brown: You have to feel for coach Jesse Agel. Former coach Craig Robinson leaves to take over at Oregon State and then guides the Beavers, who were coming off a winless Pac-10 season, to the College Basketball Invitational. Agel takes over a team that had made the CBI the year before and the Bears go 3-11 in Ivy play. It’s not his fault he had little talent to work with, but it doesn’t mean things will be much better this year.
Flaws vs. Potential

6. Yale: I do not understand how this team tied for second in the Ivy League last year. The Light Blue’s late-season collapse began at Payne Whitney Gymnasium, but the Bulldogs did not look like a top-tier team. The energy and grit of Ross Morin drove the Bulldogs, who were a different team with Morin on the floor. Unfortunately, he and his frontcourt mate Travis Pinnick are gone. Senior guard Alex Zampier is a good scorer, but he cannot carry a team offensively. He needs people to set him up, which is a problem since the Bulldogs have question marks at point guard.

5. Penn: Despite two consecutive down seasons, Glen Miller has continued to haul in top recruits. The pollsters have the Quakers third, but at what point do they stop getting points for being Penn? Something feels off. Last year’s second-leading scorer—Harrison Gaines—quit and Miller is relying on injury-prone players to contribute. Despite a solid trio of Tyler Bernardini, Zac Rosen, and Jack Eggleston, Penn lacks its usual depth of talent.

4. Columbia: Like Penn, Columbia enters the year with a lot of uncertainty. Can Pat Foley, Niko Scott, and Asenso Ampim stay healthy? Can Max Craig and Brian Grimes fill the void left by Jason Miller? Will some of the young players mature and provide needed depth? Nonetheless, with a more seasoned Noruwa Agho and an experienced backcourt of Foley, Scott and Kevin Bulger, there is a lot to like. Call me a homer.

Maybe Next Year

3. Princeton: Coach Sydney Johnson led the Tigers to a surprising 8-6 league record last year, including a 63-35 drubbing of Columbia. He has them primed to take another leap forward, and while some think the Tigers could even scare Cornell, I am not completely sold. Their style of play is hard to prepare for—especially when it comes on the second night of an Ivy back-to-back. They also welcome all of their talent back and have added some talented recruits. Still, I think they surprised teams last year, and that will not happen as frequently. The Tigers also just do not score enough for me to believe they are primed for double-digit wins in the league.

2. Harvard: This one could blow up in my face. The Crimson lost senior leadership in Drew Housman and Evan Harris and though Tommy Amaker has done a phenomenal job recruiting, he will still be relying on a lot of young players in a league where experience is supreme. That said, he has Jeremy Lin. Lin was the only player in the nation last year to finish in the top 10 in every significant statistical category in his league. He will also be playing with the most talented team of his career. While they are young, sophomores Keith Wright, Oliver McNally, and Max Kenyi all played more than 20 minutes per game last season. Wright, in particular, showed promise, averaging eight points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Throw in another stud freshman class and Harvard will be scary.

The Foregone Conclusion

1. Cornell: Last year’s 11-3 Ivy finish was considered disappointing after a 14-0 campaign in 2007. For some, it may be a sign that this team is vulnerable. I don’t buy it.

The Big Red welcomes all five starters back, including the all-Ivy backcourt of Louis Dale and Ryan Wittman. Center Jeff Foote, who bulked up after posting 12 points and seven boards per game last season, returns to anchor the post. Throw in the wild card of Mark Coury—a transfer from Kentucky—and no team in the Ivy League has as much talent, experience or depth.

Additionally, check out the nonconference slate—Alabama, Syracuse, Davidson, Kansas, and Seton Hall.

Coach Steve Donahue has set his eyes on more than just making the NCAA tournament.