News and Notes

Below, some news and notes on Cornell Basketball.

• Tonight, The Cornell Basketball Rebounders Club welcomes the men's basketball team back to campus with a picnic.

• Although Cornell's schedule is tentatively complete for 2009-2010, the Big Red have not yet gone ahead with the official release. Bryant College's schedule release earlier today confirms it is visiting Cornell on January 2. Bryant is facing five Ivy League teams this season.
  

• September could be a big month for Cornell Basketball recruiting! Stay tuned to our daily recruiting updates.
  

• The Hoops Report ranked Cornell No. 41 in its 2008-2009 preseason ranking of the nation's top 65 teams. However, the site appears to be excluding Cornell from its 2009-2010 ranking. Notably, the site places LaSalle at No. 48 while Siena is No. 35. During the last two years, Cornell had success against both of these programs. Cornell beat La Salle last season on December 20, 2008 in Ithaca, 79-70 and will play the Explorers again this season in Philadelphia. With respect to Siena, Cornell hosted the Saints on November 25, 2007 and the Big Red prevailed 83-77. Last season in Albany, Siena turned a 4 point halftime lead over the Big Red into a convincing 74-56 win on November 22, 2008. But it should be noted that Cornell was without All-Ivy League starting point guard, Louis Dale.

• As we have previously reported, Cornell is a participant in the 2009 Legends Classic which is being organized by the Gazelle Group. Apparently, the Gazelle Group tries to develop intriguing first round match-ups in each of its preseason tournaments. (see the related story at Rush The Court). Cornell is no exception. Cornell's Legends Classic game at UMass on November 18 will feature a return back to Amherst for the Big Red's Max Groebe. He transferred to Cornell during 2008 from UMass.

• Speaking of the Legends Classic, how 'bout those lucky Cornell basketball fans in Philadelphia? The Big Red will play an incredible five games in the City of Brotherly Love this season. Between November 27-29, 2009, Cornell plays three consecutive subregional games in the Legends Classic in Philadelphia against Drexel (host), Vermont and Toledo. The order of games and start times in Philadelphia is to be announced at a later date. Cornell returns to Philly on December 29, 2009 with a visit to La Salle, then on February 12, 2010, Cornell heads to West Philadelphia to visit Penn. But New Yorkers get a piece of that Cornell hoops action as well. On December 20, 2009, Cornell goes up against Davidson in Madison Square Garden's Holiday Festival opening round. In a second game in MSG on December 21, Cornell will face either Hofstra or St. John's. Of course, Cornell returns to New York for a third game when the Big Red battle Columbia on January 22.