News and Notes: Cornell RPI Reaches No. 23

Cornell could pick up "Signature Wins" during the Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden between December 20-21. Cornell plays St. John's or Hofstra in game 2 and will play Davidson in game 1.

• Cornell recruit Jake Matthews scored a team-high 19 points, including 14 in the first quarter, in Greensburg Salem's 70-62 win against Franklin Regional in the Hempfield tournament. Matthews is a 6'2" guard from Pittsburgh.


• After knocking off Boston College this weekend and playing UConn close, it would not be surprising to see Harvard join Cornell in the Mid Major Top 25 on Monday. The Crimson might even get some votes in either the A.P. or Coaches' polls. However, despite Harvard's recent surge of success, we have yet to find a single journalist out there who is willing to call Harvard the new favorite in the Ivy League. The reality is that despite Harvard's success, Cornell has been more impressive with the Big Red playing seven of nine games away from home, including capturing true road wins at Alabama, UMass and Drexel, along with a home win over a St. Joseph's team that beat Boston College. Harvard has yet to beat anyone outside of the cozy comfines of the eastern part of Massachusets.

• Hoopville writes, "Once league play comes, Harvard projects to be the best team to challenge two-time defending champion Cornell for the league title. The race for second projected to be wide open before the season, and right now the only team besides Cornell and Harvard with a .500 record or better is Columbia at 4-4."

• Today, Alabama hosts No. 5 Purdue. The Ft. Wayne (IN) News Sentinel notes with respect to the Tide that "has enough size and athleticism for two teams, although that wasn’t enough in losses to Cornell and Florida State."

• The Cornell Basketball team continues to involves itself in community services during the Thanksgiving and Winter Holiday Season.

• Ever wanted to hear Ivy League Basketball in a Rap/Hip Hop song? Now you can courtesy Tennessee reserve forward Renaldo Woolridge. And if you ask us, it is pretty good and should be considered by Cornell Athletics for warm-ups at Newman Arena. Check out the song by clicking the link.