On December 15, 2007, Cornell's Mark Coury, a Kentucky transfer, played 19 minutes for the Wildcats against the UAB Blazers of Conference USA. Coury did his part, chipping in 4 points (2/4 FGs), dishing 3 assists, grabbing 2 rebounds and blocking a shot, but Kentucky fell to UAB 79-76.
|
|
|---|
Saturday, October 31, 2009
More KU Highlights from Coury...
On December 15, 2007, Cornell's Mark Coury, a Kentucky transfer, played 19 minutes for the Wildcats against the UAB Blazers of Conference USA. Coury did his part, chipping in 4 points (2/4 FGs), dishing 3 assists, grabbing 2 rebounds and blocking a shot, but Kentucky fell to UAB 79-76.
Newman Nation Tribute
Cornell Basketball's Newman Arena experience...
Cornell has had success and their gym is always rocking and just packed.
-Jeremy Lin, Harvard
They’ve [Cornell] certainly done a good job getting a pretty good atmosphere—it was rocking all night. They [Cornell's fans] were out here a good 45 minutes while we were warming up already, making chants, getting on people, and certainly as you saw at the end with them rushing the court. I thought it was a lot of fun, I mean it’s good for them, it’s good for the league—we certainly love playing in it.... I think the most exciting places to play are either Yale or Cornell because we get heckled. Although the venues aren’t very big, their students get into it and get after us pretty good.
Cornell has had success and their gym is always rocking and just packed.
-Jeremy Lin, Harvard
They’ve [Cornell] certainly done a good job getting a pretty good atmosphere—it was rocking all night. They [Cornell's fans] were out here a good 45 minutes while we were warming up already, making chants, getting on people, and certainly as you saw at the end with them rushing the court. I thought it was a lot of fun, I mean it’s good for them, it’s good for the league—we certainly love playing in it.... I think the most exciting places to play are either Yale or Cornell because we get heckled. Although the venues aren’t very big, their students get into it and get after us pretty good.
-Andrew Pusar, Harvard '09 (see also here)
The birth of our student section known as Newman Nation early last season made our home court the Ivy League’s answer to Cameron Indoor Stadium. While the fan base continues to grow, so too do their expectations for our team...
I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank “Newman Nation”, our student section at home games, for turning Newman Arena into the greatest basketball environment and home-court advantage in the Ivy League.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank “Newman Nation”, our student section at home games, for turning Newman Arena into the greatest basketball environment and home-court advantage in the Ivy League.
-Jon Jaques, Cornell '10 (see also here)
Louis Dale '10, who elicits cheers of "Louuuuu" whenever the ball is in his possession, expressed his appreciation for the fans..."It's been great ... having people coming out and supporting us...It's overwhelming."
-Louis Dale, Cornell '10 with The Cornell Chronicle
This is my first time here in this facility period, and obviously with a lot riding on the game for their team, their fans were tremendous, their students were terrific. They had the place packed and rockin’ and their team fed off that and away it went.
-Tommy Amaker, Head Coach, Harvard
As [Jeff Foote's] 7-foot frame rose for the dunk, so did the entire crowd of 4,254 at the Newman Arena, which many fans said had never been as loud as it had been at that moment.
-Stu Woo, Brown University Daily Herald
The loyal Newman Nation... pack[s] Cornell’s Newman Arena... The Cameron Crazies they aren’t, but they certainly rock the arena. The student section gets shot-altering loud, and they’re on their feet for all 40 minutes.
-Stu Woo, Brown University Daily Herald
The loyal Newman Nation... pack[s] Cornell’s Newman Arena... The Cameron Crazies they aren’t, but they certainly rock the arena. The student section gets shot-altering loud, and they’re on their feet for all 40 minutes.
-Ben Strauss, Ithaca College, writer for The Ithacan
Last night, I ventured to Newman Arena in Ithaca, N.Y. to take in Cornell's Ivy League finale against Princeton. When I originally purchased the tickets, I thought I'd be watching the Big Red attempt to clinch the Ivy title and the NCAA berth that goes with it. But, alas, it was not meant to be. Cornell took care of business on Friday by dismantling Penn... When the majority of your college basketball viewing is done at the [Syracuse] Carrier Dome, it's nice to catch a game in an intimate atmosphere every once in a while... [Cornell's] Newman Arena is, all things considered, a very nice venue... Cornell's student section enjoys counting down when the opposition's shot clock is about to expire... [and] enjoys beginning its countdown at the wrong number... Cornell's student section is better than that of Syracuse.
-Holding On Ruben Brown Blog
For the Quakers (10-18, 6-8), the loss to the Big Red - the fourth straight time they have failed to beat former Penn assistant Steve Donahue's squad - was just another reminder of how things have changed on 33rd Street [in Philadelphia] Instead of cutting down the nets themselves, the Red and Blue [of Penn] had to watch as Cornell fans stormed Newman Arena's floor while Queen's We Are the Champions blared over the loudspeaker.
-Zach Klitzman, The Daily Pennsylvanian
[T]he atmosphere here [at Cornell's Newman Arena] is pretty electric... I bet Penn can’t wait to leave this state.
-The Daily Pennsylvanian
Cornell fans did something that no other floor stormin’ fan base has done: they CHANGED THE SCORE OF A GAME. Think about that for a moment. Forget about being feared in the Ivy, they should be the most feared student section in the nation. Trailing Syracuse by three points with under one minute left? That’s fine, they’ll just take the court and give the scoreboard a little boot…
-Marco Anskis, StormingtheFloor.com with TheMidMajority.com
Cornell is traditionally a hockey school before anything else. Every year, Cornell students camp out for season tickets to Big Red men's hockey and, before the school changed the system three years ago, risk broken limbs in a mad weeknight stampede to claim line numbers. Cornell's Lynah Rink is known as one of the toughest places for visiting teams to play due to the volume and spirit of the student fans. The men's basketball team's recent rise to (relative) prominence has resulted in record attendance for Big Red basketball.
-Deadspin.com
-Holding On Ruben Brown Blog
For the Quakers (10-18, 6-8), the loss to the Big Red - the fourth straight time they have failed to beat former Penn assistant Steve Donahue's squad - was just another reminder of how things have changed on 33rd Street [in Philadelphia] Instead of cutting down the nets themselves, the Red and Blue [of Penn] had to watch as Cornell fans stormed Newman Arena's floor while Queen's We Are the Champions blared over the loudspeaker.
-Zach Klitzman, The Daily Pennsylvanian
[T]he atmosphere here [at Cornell's Newman Arena] is pretty electric... I bet Penn can’t wait to leave this state.
-The Daily Pennsylvanian
Cornell fans did something that no other floor stormin’ fan base has done: they CHANGED THE SCORE OF A GAME. Think about that for a moment. Forget about being feared in the Ivy, they should be the most feared student section in the nation. Trailing Syracuse by three points with under one minute left? That’s fine, they’ll just take the court and give the scoreboard a little boot…
-Marco Anskis, StormingtheFloor.com with TheMidMajority.com
Cornell is traditionally a hockey school before anything else. Every year, Cornell students camp out for season tickets to Big Red men's hockey and, before the school changed the system three years ago, risk broken limbs in a mad weeknight stampede to claim line numbers. Cornell's Lynah Rink is known as one of the toughest places for visiting teams to play due to the volume and spirit of the student fans. The men's basketball team's recent rise to (relative) prominence has resulted in record attendance for Big Red basketball.
-Deadspin.com
Two Weeks Until Season Opener
In exactly two weeks... Saturday, November 14, the Cornell Big Red kick off the 2009-2010 season at the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. For Cornell senior, Louis Dale (No. 12 above), it is a homecoming game for the Bimingham, Alabama native.Dale was an Honorable Mention All-Ivy selection during '06-'07, the Ivy League Player of the Year during '07-'08 and a First-Team All-Ivy selection during '07-'08 & '08-'09. His other resume accomplishments include but are not limited to '07-'08 A.P. Honorable Mention All-American, NABC Second Team All-District selection '08-'09 and a national Bob Cousy Award nominee for '08-'09.
Recruiting News
Below, some recruiting news from around the Ivy League...Minnesota Preps reports that Shelby Moats, a 6'8" forward from Waconia, Minnesota now has offers from William & Mary, Utah, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and South Dakota State. He is also receiving regular visits from Saint Louis. Despite the fact that a school like Utah is involved, Moats is still very interested in the Ivy League. "Academics are very important to Shelby and his family," said his AAU coach Jeremy Miller. "At the end of this (recruiting) process Shelby will end up at the school that is based on the best mix of basketball and academics." He is a member of the class of 2011.
GopherIllustrated reports that Jonah Travis, a 6'5" guard from DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis has offers from Wofford, Northern Illinois and Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Other schools are also considering making offers, including a few Ivies. "It's hard to tell who is the most interested right now," Travis explained. "I just had a good conversation with Northwestern (coach Mitch Henderson), I've talked to Princeton some, Colorado, Colorado State, Butler, UC-Davis who saw me play in L.A., all the Iowa schools have called (Iowa, Iowa State, Northern Iowa, and Drake), and NDSU. Lafayette and Montana have shown good interest as well. Columbia will be in Tuesday."
Three Northfield Mount Hermon School players, Tommy Carpenter (class of 2012), Evan Cummins (class of 2012) and Brown commitment, Joe Sharkey (class of 2011) are on an unofficial visit to Brown on Saturday. NMH is located in Northfield, Massachusetts.
Mid Major Top 25 Returns...
The Mid Major Top 25 returns to CollegeInsider.com on November 2. Cornell finished the 2008-2009 in 29th position after finishing the 2007-2008 season ranked No. 18.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Cody Toppert Cornell Highlights
Below, some video clip footage of Cody Toppert from his Cornell days between 2001-2005. Toppert currently plays for MEG Goettingen in German's premier league, the Budesliga.Return Home for Reeves and Reynolds
Above, Cornell's Geoff Reeves (left) of Burlington, Kansas (point A above) and Pete Reynolds (right) of Blair, Nebraska (Point C above), make a return trip to their home region when the Big Red visit Lawrence, Kansas to face the Jayhawks on January 6, 2010. Two days later, on January 8, Cornell stays in the region with a visit to South Dakota.Cornell Head Coach Steve Donahue makes it a practice to play games in each of his players' home region or city before they graduate.
KCTV in Kansas City reports the following with respect to the Cornell-Kansas game:
As the University of Kansas basketball team launches into one of it's most anticipated seasons in history, My-KSMO is the home to the Jayhawks and will have a series of specials to look at the team.The basketball specials will run prior to KU games that will appear on My-KSMO. Neal Jones will host the shows and will be joined by personalities from 810 WHB radio to discuss the Jayhawks and their match-ups.The schedule for the KU basketball specials is: Nov. 3 - Fort Hays State Nov. 10 Pittsburg State Nov. 13 Hofstra Nov. 19 Central Arkansas Dec. 2 Alcorn State Jan. 6 Cornell. All of the KU specials will start at 6:30 p.m., prior to KU games that appear on My-KSMO.
News and Notes: Around the Ivy League
Below, some news and notes around the Ivy League. Above, a feature story on Cornell from BleacherReport.com is a lead link today on CBSSports.com.- The Daily Pennsylvanian covers the Ivy and national preseason polls. The D.P. writes:
With the NCAA basketball season just weeks away, everyone’s been releasing their preseason polls. The conference polls have been trickling in over the last week, and the national polls came out today.
The Ivy League released its preseason rankings yesterday, with Penn coming in at third behind Cornell and Princeton. Cornell is, as expected, the unanimous favorite, returning all five starters from last year’s Ivy championship. You’d be hard-pressed to argue against the conference being Cornell’s to lose.
...The ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll was released today, as was the AP Preseason Top 25. ...Cornell received points in the Coaches’ Poll, getting three points total. Not sure if someone thinks they’re the 23rd best team, if three voters think they’re the 25th best team, or something in between.
- "Unleash the Roar" ... Columbia season tickets are on sale per Columbia Athletics. Columbia also hosting a meet the coaches event.
- The Trentonian published a story on Princeton guard Marcus Schroeder.
- The Hamilton Spec has a story on a former Brown forward, .
- Storming The Floor has published its "all name team." A couple of Ivy players were snubbed.
Recruiting News
Below, some recruiting news from around the Ivy League...This weekend Cornell is hosting one of its top frontcourt prospects.
Dekeeba “Keeba” Battee-Aston, is a 6'8" 230 lb. Australian power forward at national power Findlay Prep School. The Las Vegas Sun reports that his mother would like him to attend an Ivy League school.
Eastland, Texas 6'9" center, Forrest Robinson will visit Texas Tech for the second time this month according to TexasHoops.com. The 2011 prospect is drawing interest from Penn and Stanford while he already holds scholarship offers from Texas Tech, Louisiana Tech, Iowa State, Centenary, North Texas and Utah.
NJHoops.com reports that 6'5" forward, John Caprio of Seton Hall Prep School in West Orange, New Jersey is hearing from Ivy and Patriot schools.
Scout.com and Rivals.com both report that 6'7" forward Josh Huestis of Great Falls, Montana, committed to Stanford over offers from Harvard, Santa Clara, Montana and Montana State. He told Scout, "I just had a feeling inside me that Stanford was the best fit for me on and off the court."
We will get back to this comment from Huestis.
Eastland, Texas 6'9" center, Forrest Robinson will visit Texas Tech for the second time this month according to TexasHoops.com. The 2011 prospect is drawing interest from Penn and Stanford while he already holds scholarship offers from Texas Tech, Louisiana Tech, Iowa State, Centenary, North Texas and Utah.
NJHoops.com reports that 6'5" forward, John Caprio of Seton Hall Prep School in West Orange, New Jersey is hearing from Ivy and Patriot schools.
Scout.com and Rivals.com both report that 6'7" forward Josh Huestis of Great Falls, Montana, committed to Stanford over offers from Harvard, Santa Clara, Montana and Montana State. He told Scout, "I just had a feeling inside me that Stanford was the best fit for me on and off the court."
We will get back to this comment from Huestis.
As it stands now for the Crimson, two of Harvard's remaining top prospects, Majok Majok, a 6'8" forward and Pe'Shon Howard, a 6'2" guard are both expected to wait until the spring before committing to a college. Harvard is reportedly on both players' college lists. However, both prospects also reportedly require substantial improvement in their standard test scores (i.e. the SAT) if they plan on playing in the Ivy League or similar programs with stringent admissions requirements. It will be very interesting to see if these two prospects are granted admission by Harvard because the school recently received significant negative publicity and criticism concerning its lowered academic standards and recruiting tactics for basketball recruits.
But even more interesting is how the recruiting bubble has seem to burst for Harvard. This program spent the last year plus hyping their recruiting efforts, socializing with basketball journalists, using the media as a vehicle to get the Harvard name "out there" and on published lists of schools involved with certain high profile recruits.
But was this involvement real? For the last eight weeks, Harvard has watched every single one of these recruits flatly reject the Crimson as a college choice. And despite Harvard's generously offered financial aid packages to these recruits (which in many cases were akin to full scholarship offers) and extended academic admission to a school that views itself as the best education in the world, these recruits still chose to enroll elsewhere. But why?
While we applaud Harvard's efforts, the reality is that Harvard remains a long-shot to land any elite level basketball talent. It is a program without any historical success in the Ivy League (it never won a league championship). The Crimson also have virtually no fan base (a function of the culture of the studious and academically driven student body) and the school offers players subpar athletic facilities. With dozens of schools offering comparable or better educations, including the other seven Ivy League schools, and more successful basketball programs and better facilities, we just do not see Harvard's recruiting strategy as viable.
This is exactly what Josh Huestis meant when he said, "I just had a feeling inside me that Stanford was the best fit for me on and off the court." Harvard does not offer the "academic-basketball balance" that any top recruit is seeking. In short, Harvard is not Duke, Stanford or even Cornell.
The Harvard program should focus instead on solid mid major prospects and try to build a winning tradition and a fan base before it aims so high. You need to learn to walk, before you learn to run. Right now, Harvard just did a face plant two steps out of the gate.
1998-1999-- 13-13 (7-7 Ivy, 4th place) Frank Sullivan
1999-2000-- 12-15 (7-7 Ivy, 3rd place) Frank Sullivan
2000-2001-- 14-12 (7-7 Ivy, 4th place) Frank Sullivan
2001-2002-- 14-12 (7-7 Ivy, 5th place) Frank Sullivan
2002-2003-- 12-15 (4-10 Ivy, 5th place) Frank Sullivan
2003-2004-- 4-23 (3-11 Ivy, 7th place) Frank Sullivan
2004-2005-- 12-15 (7-7 Ivy, 3rd place) Frank Sullivan
2005-2006-- 13-14 (5-9 Ivy, 6th place) Frank Sullivan
2006-2007-- 12-16 (5-9 Ivy, 6th place) Frank Sullivan
2007-2008-- 8-22 (3-11 Ivy, 6th place) Tommy Amaker
2008-2009--14-14 (6-8 Ivy, 6th place) Tommy Amaker
But even more interesting is how the recruiting bubble has seem to burst for Harvard. This program spent the last year plus hyping their recruiting efforts, socializing with basketball journalists, using the media as a vehicle to get the Harvard name "out there" and on published lists of schools involved with certain high profile recruits.
But was this involvement real? For the last eight weeks, Harvard has watched every single one of these recruits flatly reject the Crimson as a college choice. And despite Harvard's generously offered financial aid packages to these recruits (which in many cases were akin to full scholarship offers) and extended academic admission to a school that views itself as the best education in the world, these recruits still chose to enroll elsewhere. But why?
While we applaud Harvard's efforts, the reality is that Harvard remains a long-shot to land any elite level basketball talent. It is a program without any historical success in the Ivy League (it never won a league championship). The Crimson also have virtually no fan base (a function of the culture of the studious and academically driven student body) and the school offers players subpar athletic facilities. With dozens of schools offering comparable or better educations, including the other seven Ivy League schools, and more successful basketball programs and better facilities, we just do not see Harvard's recruiting strategy as viable.
This is exactly what Josh Huestis meant when he said, "I just had a feeling inside me that Stanford was the best fit for me on and off the court." Harvard does not offer the "academic-basketball balance" that any top recruit is seeking. In short, Harvard is not Duke, Stanford or even Cornell.
The Harvard program should focus instead on solid mid major prospects and try to build a winning tradition and a fan base before it aims so high. You need to learn to walk, before you learn to run. Right now, Harvard just did a face plant two steps out of the gate.
Fielding a successful collegiate basketball team starts before any players ever step on the court. The quality of the facilities, the amount of support given by the admissions office, and the development of a student and local fan base all signal a program’s emphasis on winning... you know that Harvard’s facilities rank in the bottom half of the league... [Harvard's] Lavietes best strikes one as a high school gym, not only by its size, but also with the relative lack of buzz or excitement felt inside it... the Harvard basketball program makes little attempt to sell itself to the students and cultivate a fan base.
--The Harvard Crimson student newspaper
Below, a look at the last eleven seasons of Harvard basketball.
1998-1999-- 13-13 (7-7 Ivy, 4th place) Frank Sullivan
1999-2000-- 12-15 (7-7 Ivy, 3rd place) Frank Sullivan
2000-2001-- 14-12 (7-7 Ivy, 4th place) Frank Sullivan
2001-2002-- 14-12 (7-7 Ivy, 5th place) Frank Sullivan
2002-2003-- 12-15 (4-10 Ivy, 5th place) Frank Sullivan
2003-2004-- 4-23 (3-11 Ivy, 7th place) Frank Sullivan
2004-2005-- 12-15 (7-7 Ivy, 3rd place) Frank Sullivan
2005-2006-- 13-14 (5-9 Ivy, 6th place) Frank Sullivan
2006-2007-- 12-16 (5-9 Ivy, 6th place) Frank Sullivan
2007-2008-- 8-22 (3-11 Ivy, 6th place) Tommy Amaker
2008-2009--14-14 (6-8 Ivy, 6th place) Tommy Amaker
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Cornell Basketball in the News
By Rob Miech
Las Vegas Sun
October 29, 2009
The basketball teams at Cornell and Utah State are better than UNLV, at least that’s according to 31 coaches.
In the newly released ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, the Rebels received two points. On the Top 25 list they check in at No. 53.
Cornell and Utah State both got three points.
Last season, UNLV went 21-11. It lost seven of its final 11 games, including an opening game in the National Invitation Tournament at Kentucky.
With returnees like Tre'Von Willis, Oscar Bellfield, Darris Santee, and transfers Derrick Jasper (Kentucky) and Chace Stanback (UCLA), all of who were stung by last season, the Rebels might have the arsenal and experience to return to the NCAA tournament next spring.
The Big Red of Cornell is the favorite in the Ivy League. It went 21-10 last season and lost to Missouri in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
The Aggies of Utah State won a school-record 30 games last season and lost to Marquette by a point in an NCAA first rounder. They are coached by 12th-year boss Stew Morrill.
Other Mountain West Conference teams showing up in the poll are BYU (16 points) and San Diego State (8 points).
Kansas (770) points, Michigan State (732), Texas (676), North Carolina (653) and Kentucky (635) are the top five teams in the preseason poll.
CBS Sports Ivy League Preview
Ivy League preview The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.comteam-by-team glance at the Ivy League heading into the 2009-10 season.
Quick facts
Defending regular-season champion: Cornell
Top returning scorer: Ryan Wittman (Cornell), 18.5 ppg
Top returning rebounder: Jeff Foote (Cornell), 7.2 rpg
Predicted Finish
1. Cornell
2. Princeton
3. Harvard
4. Penn
5. Columbia
6. Yale
7. Dartmouth
8. Brown
First Team All-Conference
G - Louis Dale, Cornell
G - Jeremy Lin, Harvard
F - Tyler Bernardini, Penn
F - Matt Mullery, Brown
F - Ryan Wittman, Cornell
(In CBSSports.com predicted order of finish)
1. Cornell
Even as rivals bring in more talent to try to compete, Cornell appears to be in great shape to not only win its third consecutive Ivy League title but also to put itself in position to pull off an upset in the NCAA tournament.
It seems almost unfair that a team returning all five starters should also bring in a host of new players that includes two Division-I transfers, but that's the situation Steve Donahue finds himself in.
The biggest problem won't be finding five capable players to fill the court at all times, but to work the minutes enough to keep everyone fresh and happy.
Cornell starts off with three players who will challenge for league Player of the Year honors. The frontrunner is Ryan Wittman, a two-time All-Ivy first-teamer with NBA size and shooting ability on the wing.
But point guard Louis Dale won Player of the Year honors in 2007-08, and Jeff Foote was the league's Defensive Player of the Year last season at center. The three give Cornell the size, speed, and shooting ability to cause match-up nightmares for opponents.
Also returning is starting forward Alex Tyler, and guards Geoff Reeves and Ivy Rookie of the Year Chris Wroblewski in the backcourt, and that's as solid a group of six as has existed in recent Ivy history.
But there's more.
Joining the rotation will be UMass transfer Max Groebe in the backcourt and Kentucky transfer Mark Coury in the paint. Both have the skills to make an instant impact in Ivy play, and give Donahue incredible lineup flexibility.
There are also key reserves Adam Wire and Jon Jaques, and six freshmen among the 10 other reserves. The Big Red bench will be deep and talented enough to outscore the starting fives of several of the other teams in the Ancient Eight.
But with many of the key players seniors who have bowed in the NCAA tournament first round two years running, the goals are higher than winning the league.
A brutally tough non-conference schedule is designed to prep the Big Red for the postseason, both in terms of the level of competition and the RPI.
If Cornell can win a few games against opponents that include Kansas, Syracuse, Alabama, Seton Hall, St. John's, UMass and St. Joseph's, it will be in prime position to get a good enough seeding to make its dreams of making noise in the NCAA tournament a reality.
2. Princeton
Last season's Princeton team was an inspiration to terrible teams everywhere, because it showed how quickly things can turn around.
Coming off a 2007-08 season that saw the Tigers stagger to last in the Ivy and a 6-23 overall record, Sydney Johnson's crew didn't show many signs of dramatic improvement early.
Princeton went 5-8 in its non-conference games and showed no signs it could contend. But it surprised with a strong league season, contended for the title until the final week and ultimately finished tied for second with an 8-6 record.
Johnson hopes to build on that success, and the core of last year's surprising squad is back to help him do so.
All five starters return, led by the backcourt of Doug Davis and Dan Mavraides. Both averaged in double figures a year ago and were particularly solid in league play.
Marcus Schroeder joins them on the wing, with Kareem Maddox and Pavel Buczak in the frontcourt.
Also returning for the Tigers is sixth man Patrick Saunders, experienced big man Zach Finely and newcomer Ian Hummer. Hummer may see time at wing forward, since the Tigers have more depth on the inside than they do on the outside.
Traditionally, the Tigers have been one of the Ivy League powers. Johnson and the Tiger faithful hope that last year shows that after a brief fall from grace, Princeton can regain a position in the league hierarchy.
3. Harvard
Tommy Amaker was brought in with an impressive resume, with his background as an assistant at Duke and head coach at Seton Hall and Michigan. His mission? To turn Harvard into a big-time college basketball team and a perennial power in the Ivy League.
Entering his third season, the Crimson are making progress. The talent level is high, and Amaker has used his recruiting acumen to bring in another solid class.
But the pressure will be on him and the program to show improvement in 2009-10, especially since recruiting season saw many of the team's higher-rated targets wind up elsewhere.
That's not to say Amaker doesn't have a lot to work with. He returns several key components from a team that beat Boston College as well as Cornell and finished with a 6-8 league record a season ago.
It all starts with Jeremy Lin, who filled up the stat sheet a year ago like nobody else in college basketball. He finished in the top 10 in the Ivy league in every statistical category, and at times seemed unstoppable on the court.
Sophomore guard Oliver McNally will join Lin in the backcourt, coming off a strong freshman season. Also looking to take a leap forward in his second season is center Keith Wright.
The rest of the frontcourt will be controlled by Doug Miller, Paul Magranell and Andrew Van Nest, along with highly touted freshman Kyle Casey. Max Kenyi is the top returning guard off the bench.
When Harvard was at its best a year ago, it could compete with any team on its schedule, but the problem was that it wasn't at its best very often. Getting a high level of play consistently from his players will be the key as Amaker hopes to take the Crimson to the next level.
4. Pennsylvania
Year in and year out, there's no Ivy League program with more of a big-time feel than Penn. That can be good and bad, as coach Glen Miller and the Quakers are finding out.
Penn might play in a league noted for academics, but it's located in a city that prides itself on being perhaps the biggest college basketball hotbed in the country.
The Quakers aren't only members of the Ivy League, they're part of the Big Five, a city-wide group that also includes Villanova, Temple, LaSalle and St. Joseph's.
Add Drexel to the mix, and there's no shortage of big-time basketball in the area -- and no shortage of fans with high expectations.
That hasn't been a great thing for Miller, who has struggled in Years 2 and 3 since taking over for Fran Dunphy, who now is coaching at local rival Temple.
Two seasons out of serious Ivy League title contention have left the fans restless, and it would be good for his long-term future at the school if he could improve upon last season's disappointing 6-8 conference mark.
For that to happen, Miller will be counting on Zack Rosen and Tyler Bernardini.
Bernardini, the Ivy League's Rookie of the Year last season, is a high-scoring forward and team leader. Rosen, who many think should have won that honor a year ago, already is one of the best point guards in the league entering his sophomore season.
The question is, who will play alongside them? One player who looked like the answer last season was Harrison Gaines, but he elected to transfer. So Miller is hoping for some of the players who lost last year to injuries -- such as Andreas Schreiber and Darren Smith -- to fill the void.
The 2008-09 season was Penn's first losing season in the Ivy League since 1990-91. Regardless of injuries, bad luck or the unusually talented Cornell team at the top of the preseason standings, that's not going to fly for the Quakers faithful for much longer.
5. Columbia
With the new talent at Joe Jones' disposal, Columbia is one of the few teams in the Ivy League that can match up with Cornell.
Columbia offers challenges that few can match among the Ancient Eight. In addition to the 13 returning players, new faces add host of challenges for opposing coaches to deal with.
The Lions have added Brian Grimes, a transfer from LaSalle who missed the 2008-09 season because of a torn ACL, and 7-footer Max Craig, a transfer from Loyola Marymount.
That, combined with returning frontcourt players Asenso Ampim and Zack Crimmins, gives the Lions some depth in an area that it had trouble with a season ago.
The backcourt was the strength of the team, and nearly everyone of note is back in 2009-10.
Patrick Foley missed significant time because of an injured foot but can take the team to another level if healthy. Nico Scott and Noruwa Agho are contenders for All-Ivy honors, and Kevin Bulger and Steve Egee are capable threats off the bench.
Columbia isn't quite at the level of its Ivy League travel partner, but even with the Big Red's additions, the separation is not as large as it has been in the past.
This is a team that can definitely surprise.
6. Yale
The Bulldogs suffered some key losses during the offseason, but there's still enough in New Haven to give Yale a shot at staying in the top half of the standings.
Alex Zampier is the only returner among the top three scorers of a year ago (Ross Morin and Travis Pinick graduated). He averaged 13.2 points per game in 2008-09 in earning honorable mention honors on the All-Ivy team.
The loss of Morin and Pinick affects the Bulldogs in the scoring column and on the glass. That will put pressure on the veterans returning in the frontcourt -- Garrett Fiddler, Michael Sands, Paul Nelson and Jordan Gibson.
Fiddler in particular brings a physical presence to the paint but now will need to be more active on offense as well.
But the key to the team might be at the point. Porter Braswell had an up-and-down season a year ago and will be looking to emerge as a force as a junior.
If he doesn't, he will be pushed hard for minutes by freshman Michael Grace.
James Jones has led the team to a .500 or better finish in the Ivy League for the past nine seasons.
Getting that to double digits will be difficult, but the pieces are in place to make that a definite possibility in 2009-10.
7. Dartmouth
The Big Green were one of the Ivy surprises in 2008-09.
After being buried in the basement thanks to only two victories in the non-conference schedule, Dartmouth rebounded behind Ivy League Player of the Year Alex Barnett to stay in the conference race until March, finishing with a 7-7 record.
Unfortunately for coach Terry Dunn, Barnett graduated. That means the underclassmen who let Barnett carry the load a year ago will need to step up their production.
Chief among those players are sophomores David Rufful and Jabari Trotter, who both had their moments a year ago but deferred to the red-hot Barnett most of the time.
Now that the security blanket is gone, both will have to adjust to their new roles in the offense.
So will the rest of the veterans, but the good news is that there are a lot of them on the roster.
Forwards Herve Kouna, Josh Riddle and Clive Weeden and guards Ronnie Dixon and Robby Pride all were effective role players a year ago.
It's difficult to predict how the Big Green will do, since last year was so Barnett-focused that there weren't many opportunities for the remaining players or any pressure for them to step up their game.
Both will be abundant in 2009-10.
8. Brown
There's nowhere to go but up for the Bears.
After coming in last place in the Ivy League with a 3-11 conference record in Jesse Agel's first season at the helm, the Bears welcome back a solid core of players who will look to make a bigger impact in the standings this time.
Like last year, Brown will be dominated by its frontcourt.
Leading the way is center Matt Mullery, a first team All-Ivy pick who took to Agel's motion offense like it was second nature. He averaged 16 points a game, highlighted by a 20-20 double-double against Harvard.
Back alongside him is Peter Sullivan, who will also see younger brother Matt added to the backcourt. Sullivan was the fifth-leading scorer in the Ivy a season ago, and led the conference in minutes played.
The other forward slot will likely be taken by either Chris Taylor or Stefan Kaluz.
Once again, the questions occur in the backcourt, specifically ball-handling. Adrian Williams will open as the point guard, with Garrett Leffelman alongside.
However, if Marques Coleman can come back from the injury that sidelined him a year ago, he could move into the lineup and shift Williams to the wing. That would give Agel increased flexibility to use a smaller lineup.
There's no question Mullery and Sullivan are good enough to get the Bears a few more Ivy victories than the team earned a year ago. Now, the task for Agel and his staff is to find the right mix of players who can do the same.
A Look at the Polls...
Below, the preseasons polls from the coaches and the associated press (Click on the image to zoom). Cornell received 3 votes in the coaches' poll. (Image courtesy RushThe Court)
Cornell Athletics Press Release on Top 25 Coaches' Poll
ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell men's basketball team received three votes in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Top 25 poll that was released today. The Big Red was the lone Ivy League school to capture votes in the preseason poll and finished up tied for 48th. In all, just 55 Division I teams received top 25 votes.
Two two-time defending Ivy League champion and preseason Ancient Eight favorite Big Red, directed by head coach Steve Donahue, will be looking to become the fourth team in Ivy League history to capture three consecutive outright Ancient Eight titles when it begins the upcoming campaign.The 2008-09 Big Red posted a 21-10 mark, claimed its second straight Ivy League title with an 11-3 record and became the first Ivy League school other than Penn or Princeton to earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament in consecutive years. Cornell set team records for points (2,281), 3-pointers (241) and blocked shots (121) this past season. The Big Red will return all five starters, including two-time first-team all-league selections Louis Dale and Ryan Wittman and reigning Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year Jeff Foote, as well as eight of the team's top nine scorers for the 2009-10 campaign.
The USA TODAY/ESPN Board of Coaches is made up of 31 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The board for the 2009-10 season include Ivy League representative Tommy Amaker of Harvard and future opposing coaches Jim Boeheim of Syracuse, Bob McKillop of Davidson, Phil Martelli of Saint Joseph's and Tom Pecora of Hofstra (possible opponent).
Cornell opens its 2009-10 season on Saturday, Nov. 14, when it visits Alabama of the SEC in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Top 25 Preseason Coaches Poll Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Kansas (27) 0-0 770
2. Michigan State (3) 0-0 732
3. Texas 0-0 676
4. North Carolina (1) 0-0 653
5. Kentucky 0-0 635
6. Villanova 0-0 620
7. Purdue 0-0 586
8. Duke 0-0 528
9. West Virginia 0-0 501
10. Butler 0-0 408
11. Tennessee 0-0 406
12. California 0-0 370
13. Washington 0-0 364
14. Connecticut 0-0 361
15. Michigan 0-0 279
16. Oklahoma 0-0 244
17. Ohio State 0-0 241
18. Minnesota 0-0 151
19. Mississippi State 0-0 149
20. Georgia Tech 0-0 136
21. Georgetown 0-0 134
22. Dayton 0-0 130
23. Louisville 0-0 123
24. Clemson 0-0 114
25. Syracuse 0-0 111
Others Receiving Votes
Maryland 100, Illinois 83, Siena 72, UCLA 59, Vanderbilt 38, Oklahoma State 29, Missouri 28, Xavier 25, Gonzaga 24, Notre Dame 22, USC 22, Pittsburgh 19, Tulsa 17, Kansas State 16, Brigham Young 16, Florida State 15, Florida 13, Wake Forest 13, San Diego State 8, Creighton 7, Boston College 4, Texas A&M 4, Southern Illinois 3, Utah State 3, Cornell 3, Memphis 3, Mississippi 3, UNLV 2, South Carolina 1, Northern Iowa 1.
Maryland 100, Illinois 83, Siena 72, UCLA 59, Vanderbilt 38, Oklahoma State 29, Missouri 28, Xavier 25, Gonzaga 24, Notre Dame 22, USC 22, Pittsburgh 19, Tulsa 17, Kansas State 16, Brigham Young 16, Florida State 15, Florida 13, Wake Forest 13, San Diego State 8, Creighton 7, Boston College 4, Texas A&M 4, Southern Illinois 3, Utah State 3, Cornell 3, Memphis 3, Mississippi 3, UNLV 2, South Carolina 1, Northern Iowa 1.
A.P. Poll Released
After picking up votes in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Top 25 Poll, Cornell did not receive any votes in the preseason Associated Press Poll. Above, Mark Coury's (No. 42) former team, the Kentucky Wildcats, check in at No. 4. Below is the full A.P. Poll. Cornell opponents in italics.1. Kansas
2. Michigan State
3. Texas
4. Kentucky
5. Villanova
6. North Carolina
7. Purdue
8. West Virginia
9. Duke
10. Tennessee
11. Butler
12. UConn
13. California
14. Washington
15. Michigan
16. Ohio State
17. Oklahoma
18. Mississippi State
19. Louisville
20. Georgetown
21. Dayton
22. Georgia Tech
23. Illinois
24. Clemson
25. Minnesota
Others receiving votes: Maryland 171, Siena 112, Notre Dame 107, Florida St. 92, Vanderbilt 90, Syracuse 83, Oklahoma St. 65, UCLA 63, Florida 53, Wake Forest 50, Xavier 42, Gonzaga 37, South Carolina 28, Kansas St. 24, BYU 21, N. Iowa 16, Tulsa 16, Mississippi 15, Texas A&M 10, Missouri 8, Boston College 6, Pittsburgh 4, Utah St. 2, Va. Commonwealth 2, W. Kentucky 2, Holy Cross 1, Old Dominion 1.
VOTER INFORMATION (click here).
VOTER INFORMATION (click here).
Individual Preseason Honors Piling Up
Below, a recap of Cornell's preseason individual honors...Ryan Wittman
- CBS Sports Ivy League Preview (1st Team All-Ivy League)
- March Madness All Season (CollegeHoopsNet) Ivy League Preview (Ivy Player of the Year)
- March Madness All Season (CollegeHoopsNet) Ivy League Preview (1st Team All-Ivy)
- BloggingTheBracket.com2009-2010 Season Preview (Ivy League Player of the Year)
- BloggingTheBracket.com2009-2010 Season Preview (1st Team All-Ivy League)
- Yahoo Sports College Basketball 2009-2010 Preview (Ivy League Player of the Year)
- Yahoo Sports College Basketball 2009-2010 Preview (1st Team All-Ivy League)
- RushTheCourt.net (1st Team All-Ivy League)
- Sporting News College Basketball 2009-2010 Preview (Ivy League Top Player)
- Sporting News College Basketball 2009-2010 Preview(1st Team All-Ivy League)
- Blue Ribbon Yearbook 2009-2010 (1st Team All Ivy-League)
- Lindy's College Basketball 2009-2010 Preview (Ivy League Player of the Year)
- Lindy's College Basketball 2009-2010 Preview (1st Team All-Ivy League)
- Lindy's College Basketball 2009-2010 Preview (Ivy League Top Shooter)
- Lindy's College Basketball 2009-2010 Preview (Ivy League Best NBA Prospect)
- Athlon Sports' College Basketball Preview, '09-'10 (1st Team All-Ivy League)
- CBS Sports Ivy League Preview (1st Team All-Ivy League)
- March Madness All Season (CollegeHoopsNet) Ivy League Preview (1st Team All-Ivy)
- BloggingTheBracket.com2009-2010 Season Preview (1st Team All-Ivy League)
- Yahoo Sports College Basketball 2009-2010 Preview (1st Team All-Ivy League)
- RushTheCourt.net (1st Team All-Ivy League)
- Sporting News College Basketball 2009-2010 Preview(1st Team All-Ivy League)
- Lindy's College Basketball 2009-2010 Preview (1st Team All-Ivy League)
- Athlon Sports' College Basketball Preview, '09-'10 (Ivy League Player of the Year)
- Athlon Sports' College Basketball Preview, '09-'10 (1st Team All-Ivy League)
- Athlon Sports' College Basketball Preview, '09-'10 (Top Shooters in America)
- March Madness All Season (CollegeHoopsNet) Ivy League Preview (1st Team All-Ivy)
- BloggingTheBracket.com2009-2010 Season Preview (1st Team All-Ivy League)
- Yahoo Sports College Basketball 2009-2010 Preview (1st Team All-Ivy League)
- RushTheCourt.net (1st Team All-Ivy League)
- Sporting News College Basketball 2009-2010 Preview(1st Team All-Ivy League)
- Lindy's College Basketball 2009-2010 Preview (1st Team All-Ivy League)
- Lindy's College Basketball 2009-2010 Preview (Best Defender)
- Lindy's College Basketball 2009-2010 Preview (Best Rebounder)
- Athlon Sports' College Basketball Preview, '09-'10 (1st Team All-Ivy League)
- Yahoo Sports College Basketball 2009-2010 Preview (2nd Team All-Ivy League)
- Sporting News College Basketball 2009-2010 Preview (Top Newcomer)
- Sporting News College Basketball 2009-2010 Preview (Top Coach)
Katz Reports on Ivy Poll
From ESPN's Andy Katz:Cornell was picked for a three-peat as Ivy League champs in the preseason poll. Princeton was slotted second, followed by Penn, Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Brown and Dartmouth. The Big Red will have player of the year candidates in Ryan Wittman and Louis Dale. But don't sleep on Harvard's Jeremy Lin as a possible POY, even if the Crimson doesn't win the league.
Cornell Basketball in the News
Syracuse fans are taking notice of Cornell's appearance in the voting results for the Top 25 ESPN/USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll Preseason Coaches Poll.Cornell Basketball in the News: Is Harvard a Contender... or a Pretender?
After watching a practice in Cambridge, Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com is claiming that Harvard is getting itself in a position to claim its first-ever Ivy League crown.This is not the first time that journalists have claimed Harvard was getting itself into position to win an Ivy crown. Before the days of Tommy Amaker and as recently as the 2005-2006 season, many media members were talking about Harvard as the Ivy League favorite. The '05'-'06 Crimson team had two All Ivy League players on the frontline, including 7'0" 250 lb. Brian Cusworth and 6'8" Matt Stehle. That team also featured future All-Ivy player Drew Housman.
The reality is that if Cornell claims its third consecutive title this season, then the Big Red will most likely be the favorite, or at least in position, to win a fourth consecutive title in 2010-2011.
Even after Cornell's loaded class of 2010 graduates, the Big Red should have unmatched balance in all position areas on the 2010-2011 team. Next season's roster will be led by 6'9" Kentucky transfer Mark Coury, 6'8" Centenary transfer Anthony Gatlin, 6'4" UMass transfer Max Groebe, and 6'2" point guard (and reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Year) Chris Wroblewski. A fifth starter could come from either proven veteran 6'6" Adam Wire or highly touted current freshman, 6'6" Errick Peck.
HARVARD: FROM NOBODY TO CONTENDER
BOSTON - Harvard coach Tommy Amaker called it the worst practice thus far.
``If we play like this, we won’t beat anyone,” Amaker told his team following Wednesday’s practice.
That may be accurate, but the Crimson will improve. Amaker and his staff have brought in recruits that will eventually put Harvard in a position to claim its first-ever Ivy League crown.
``These guys are way better than I was as a freshman,” Harvard senior guard Jeremy Lin admitted. ``Harvard hasn’t seen this level of recruit – ever.”
While Cornell is the clear-cut favorite to win the Ivy League, Harvard has put itself in a position to be in the mix with the return of Lin (who ranked in the Top 10 in the league in just about every statistical category last year) and the addition of guys like freshman wing Kyle Casey.
Amaker calls Lin (17.8 ppg) a throwback player.
``I think I’m qualified to say that he can play anywhere,” said Amaker, who played at Duke and coached at Seton Hall and Michigan. ``The kid can play.”
But the difference is that the Crimson will be more athletic and have quality depth with a freshman class that includes Casey, point guard Brandyn Curry and wings Dee Giger and Christian Webster.
Harvard also brings back sophomore big man Keith Wright (8 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and talented face-up forward Andrew Van Nest – who missed his entire freshman campaign due to a shoulder injury. Senior Pat Magnarelli, after suffering a knee injury that cost him all of last season, is also back healthy.
``We talked about going from a nobody to an upstart,” Amaker said. ``And this year we want to position ourselves to be a contender.”
``Cornell is clearly the favorite,” he added. ``We want to be in the mix.”
Harvard, in Amaker’s second season at the helm, finished 15-15 last season and 6-8 in league play – but showed its potential with a victory at then-ranked Boston College and also on its home floor against Cornell.
But this is a different Crimson team. Even with the addition of the freshman class, there are holes to plug. Point guard Drew Housman is gone and will be replaced by sophomore Oliver McNally or Curry. Evan Harris (5.0 ppg) was a solid reserve and Andrew Pusar (6.4 ppg) was invaluable due to his leadership abilities.
The 6-foot-3 Lin, who grew up in Palo Alto, Calif., and played his high school ball basically across the street from Stanford, wasn’t truly recruited by the Cardinal. He chose the Crimson over Brown and has developed into a player who will make money playing professionally next year.
While he has seen his improvement and also the strides that the program has made since he arrived, there is still one more goal.
``To win the Ivy,” said Lin, who wants to become a pastor working with inner-city underprivileged kids down the road. ``That’s all we’re looking at. To be honest, that’s all I want.”
News and Notes: Around the Ivy League
Above, the transformation of Cornell's Jeff Foote. The senior transfer from St. Bonaventure arrived at Cornell during 2006 weighing just 220 lbs. on his 7'0" frame (see insert above). In three years he has bulked up to 265 lbs with increased muscle mass. Below some news and notes around the Ivy League. - The big news of the day appears to be Cornell receiving votes in the Top 25 ESPN/USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll Preseason Coaches Poll. Cornell previously ended the 2007-2008 season with votes in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, finishing in 29th position nationally.
- Bostonian Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com stopped by a Harvard practice this week. He noted on his Twitter account, "Watching Harvard practice - m[y] gut says Tommy Amaker and Crimson win Ivy for first-time ever in next few years; kyle casey looks terrific."
- Penn Athletics released the official announcement of its team captains. No surprises in the selections.
- The Providence Journal gives a brief recap of the Ivy League's media day and notes as follows:
League officials held a conference call Wednesday to discuss the season and reported that defending champion Cornell is a strong choice to win again. The Big Red received all 16 first-place votes for 128 points.
Princeton is picked second with 96 points, followed by Glen Miller’s Penn team with 92, Harvard 86, Yale 59, Columbia 55, Brown 41 and Dartmouth 19.
Cornell (21-10, 11-3) returns all five starters, including three all-Ivy choices. ``It’s a great group to coach,” said Big Red coach Steve Donahue. ``There’s very little maintenance.”
- Trenton Times published the story, "Tigers believe they will challenge Cornell" following Wednesday's Ivy League media day.
- Columbia Athletics, Cornell Athletics, Dartmouth Athletics, Harvard Athletics, Penn Athletics, Princeton Athletics (w/audio) and Yale Athletics, have all posted stories on the Ivy League media poll, while Harvard Athletics added some quotes. Princeton Athletics also has some multimedia video, while The Ivy office add a audio file for those interested in listening to the conference. The Ithaca Journal also covered the media poll results
- The Philadelphia Inquirer writes in the article, "Penn court outlook: In pack behind Cornell" as follows:
It came as no surprise yesterday that two-time defending champ Cornell, with all five of its starters back, was picked to take the Ivy League men's basketball crown again.In the media poll, the Big Red were the unanimous choice after going 21-10 overall and 11-3 in the conference. The team returns three all-league players in forward Ryan Wittman, guard Louis Dale, and center Jeff Foote, who was the Ivy League's defensive player of the year. Chris Wroblewski, a guard, was the '09 rookie of the year.
"They're a very good team, and they've proven they can play both ends of the floor," Penn coach Glen Miller said. "For the league to be won by some other team than Cornell, it's going to take multiple teams to beat Cornell. We've improved, and other teams have improved also."
Cornell Basketball Picked To Three-Peat By Ivy League Media
Below is Cornell Athletics' official press release from the Ivy League media day.* Red-White Scrimmage Highlights
* First Day of Practice Highlights
* 2009-10 Season Preview
ITHACA, N.Y. -- For the third straight year, the Cornell men's basketball team will be the hunted. The Big Red was the unanimous choice by the media as the favorite to take home the 2009-10 Ivy League championship when the preseason poll was announced on Wednesday by the league office. The Big Red is the first team in the League's storied history not named Penn or Princeton to garner a unanimous first-place selection and has now pulled that feat two years in a row.
The two-time defending Ivy League champion men's basketball team, directed by head coach Steve Donahue, will be looking to become the fourth team in Ivy League history to capture three consecutive outright Ancient Eight titles when it begins the upcoming campaign.The 2008-09 Big Red posted a 21-10 mark, claimed its second straight Ivy League title with an 11-3 record and became the first Ivy League school other than Penn or Princeton to earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament in consecutive years. Cornell set team records for points (2,281), 3-pointers (241) and blocked shots (121) this past season. The Big Red will return all five starters, including two-time first-team all-league selections Louis Dale and Ryan Wittman and reigning Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year Jeff Foote, as well as eight of the team's top nine scorers for the 2009-10 campaign.
Directly behind Cornell is traditional Ivy League power Princeton, who received 96 votes just a year after being picked to finish eighth. Each of the eight schools had two media representatives who cover Ivy League basketball eligible to vote. Penn (92 points) was picked third, followed by Harvard in fourth (86 points). Yale was fifth with 59 points, while Columbia (55), Brown (41) and Dartmouth (19).
Cornell opens its 2009-10 season on Saturday, Nov. 14, when it visits Alabama of the SEC in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
2009-10 Ivy Men's Baketball Preseason Media Poll
1. Cornell - 128 points (16 first-place votes)
2. Princeton - 96
3. Penn - 92
4. Harvard - 86
5. Yale - 59
6. Columbia - 55
7. Brown - 41
8. Dartmouth - 19
* First Day of Practice Highlights
* 2009-10 Season Preview
ITHACA, N.Y. -- For the third straight year, the Cornell men's basketball team will be the hunted. The Big Red was the unanimous choice by the media as the favorite to take home the 2009-10 Ivy League championship when the preseason poll was announced on Wednesday by the league office. The Big Red is the first team in the League's storied history not named Penn or Princeton to garner a unanimous first-place selection and has now pulled that feat two years in a row.
The two-time defending Ivy League champion men's basketball team, directed by head coach Steve Donahue, will be looking to become the fourth team in Ivy League history to capture three consecutive outright Ancient Eight titles when it begins the upcoming campaign.The 2008-09 Big Red posted a 21-10 mark, claimed its second straight Ivy League title with an 11-3 record and became the first Ivy League school other than Penn or Princeton to earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament in consecutive years. Cornell set team records for points (2,281), 3-pointers (241) and blocked shots (121) this past season. The Big Red will return all five starters, including two-time first-team all-league selections Louis Dale and Ryan Wittman and reigning Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year Jeff Foote, as well as eight of the team's top nine scorers for the 2009-10 campaign.
Directly behind Cornell is traditional Ivy League power Princeton, who received 96 votes just a year after being picked to finish eighth. Each of the eight schools had two media representatives who cover Ivy League basketball eligible to vote. Penn (92 points) was picked third, followed by Harvard in fourth (86 points). Yale was fifth with 59 points, while Columbia (55), Brown (41) and Dartmouth (19).
Cornell opens its 2009-10 season on Saturday, Nov. 14, when it visits Alabama of the SEC in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
2009-10 Ivy Men's Baketball Preseason Media Poll
1. Cornell - 128 points (16 first-place votes)
2. Princeton - 96
3. Penn - 92
4. Harvard - 86
5. Yale - 59
6. Columbia - 55
7. Brown - 41
8. Dartmouth - 19
Ivy League Preview from "March Madness All Season" of CollegeHoopsNet.com
The Ivy League did not feature much of a conference race last season, as Cornell won the regular-season title -- and therefore the automatic bid -- by a full three games over both Princeton and Yale. Princeton started 4-0 before losing its next three and effectively dropping out of the conference race, while Yale was too inconsistent throughout the league season to be a serious threat. On the other hand, Cornell jumped out to a 7-1 start in the Ivy, and coasted the rest of the way to a league title. Columbia and Dartmouth both finished 7-7 in the league, but neither posed much of a legitimate threat to the Big Red. Cornell fell to Missouri in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament last season, but the Big Red return the necessary pieces to easily repeat and be a factor in the first-round this year.
1. Cornell: The Big Red have three of the league's five best players, and have a chance to go through the conference undefeated.
2. Princeton: The Tigers have a lot of work to do to get back on top of the League; Douglas Davis and Dan Mavraides are a good place to start.
3. Penn: The Quakers were a disappointment last season, but Tyler Bernardini is one of the league's best players and will carry them.
4. Harvard: Expect Tommy Amaker and co. to get some publicity this season, thanks to outstanding all-around performer Jeremy Lin.
5. Columbia: The Lions could be the sleeper this season, behind La Salle transfer Brian Grimes and several quality returnees from a year ago.
6. Yale: Can the Bulldogs finish .500 for the tenth straight season? If they do, it will be as a result of guard Alex Zampier, an all-conference player.
7. Brown: The Bears finished in last a year ago by a full three games, but Matt Mullery and Peter Sullivan form a dynamite forward tandem.
8. Dartmouth: The Big Green lose Player of the Year Alex Barnett, and could struggle to repeat their 7-7 mark of a season ago.
2. Princeton: The Tigers have a lot of work to do to get back on top of the League; Douglas Davis and Dan Mavraides are a good place to start.
3. Penn: The Quakers were a disappointment last season, but Tyler Bernardini is one of the league's best players and will carry them.
4. Harvard: Expect Tommy Amaker and co. to get some publicity this season, thanks to outstanding all-around performer Jeremy Lin.
5. Columbia: The Lions could be the sleeper this season, behind La Salle transfer Brian Grimes and several quality returnees from a year ago.
6. Yale: Can the Bulldogs finish .500 for the tenth straight season? If they do, it will be as a result of guard Alex Zampier, an all-conference player.
7. Brown: The Bears finished in last a year ago by a full three games, but Matt Mullery and Peter Sullivan form a dynamite forward tandem.
8. Dartmouth: The Big Green lose Player of the Year Alex Barnett, and could struggle to repeat their 7-7 mark of a season ago.
Player of the Year: Ryan Wittman, F, Cornell
All-Conference Team:
G- Louis Dale, Cornell
G- Jeremy Lin, Harvard
F- Matt Mullery, Brown
F- Ryan Wittman, Cornell
C- Jeff Foote, Cornell
Second Team:
G- Tyler Bernardini, Penn
G- Alex Zampier, Yale
G- Zack Rosen, Penn
F- Douglas Davis, Princeton
F- Peter Sullivan, Brown
Cornell Receives Votes in USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches Top 25
Below is the Preseason USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches Top 25 Poll. Cornell received 3 votes, while a pair of Cornell's 2009-2010 opponents appear in the Top 25 with #1 Kansas and #25 Syracuse.Top 25 Preseason Coaches Poll Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Kansas (27) 0-0 770
2. Michigan State (3) 0-0 732
3. Texas 0-0 676
4. North Carolina (1) 0-0 653
5. Kentucky 0-0 635
6. Villanova 0-0 620
7. Purdue 0-0 586
8. Duke 0-0 528
9. West Virginia 0-0 501
10. Butler 0-0 408
11. Tennessee 0-0 406
12. California 0-0 370
13. Washington 0-0 364
14. Connecticut 0-0 361
15. Michigan 0-0 279
16. Oklahoma 0-0 244
17. Ohio State 0-0 241
18. Minnesota 0-0 151
19. Mississippi State 0-0 149
20. Georgia Tech 0-0 136
21. Georgetown 0-0 134
22. Dayton 0-0 130
23. Louisville 0-0 123
24. Clemson 0-0 114
25. Syracuse 0-0 111
Others Receiving Votes
Maryland 100, Illinois 83, Siena 72, UCLA 59, Vanderbilt 38, Oklahoma State 29, Missouri 28, Xavier 25, Gonzaga 24, Notre Dame 22, USC 22, Pittsburgh 19, Tulsa 17, Kansas State 16, Brigham Young 16, Florida State 15, Florida 13, Wake Forest 13, San Diego State 8, Creighton 7, Boston College 4, Texas A&M 4, Southern Illinois 3, Utah State 3, Cornell 3, Memphis 3, Mississippi 3, UNLV 2, South Carolina 1, Northern Iowa 1.
The USA TODAY/ESPN Board of Coaches is made up of 31 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The board for the 2009-10 season: Mike Adras, Northern Arizona; Dana Altman, Creighton; Tommy Amaker, Harvard; Tevester Anderson, Jackson State; Ronnie Arrow, South Alabama; Randy Bennett, Saint Mary's; Eddie Biedenbach, North Carolina-Asheville; Jim Boeheim, Syracuse; Rick Byrd, Belmont; Charlie Coles, Miami (Ohio); Steve Fisher, San Diego State; Greg Graham, Boise State; Rob Jeter, Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Billy Kennedy, Murray State; Billy Lange, Navy; Dan Leibovitz, Hartford; Fran McCaffery, Siena; Mike McConathy, Northwestern State; Bob McKillop, Davidson; Phil Martelli, Saint Joseph's; Ron "Fang" Mitchell, Coppin State; Matt Painter, Purdue; Tom Pecora, Hofstra; John Pelphrey, Arkansas; Mike Rice, Robert Morris; Doc Sadler, Nebraska; Herb Sendek, Arizona State; Scott Sutton, Oral Roberts; Bob Williams, UC-Santa Barbara; Gary Williams, Maryland; Doug Wojcik, Tulsa.
Maryland 100, Illinois 83, Siena 72, UCLA 59, Vanderbilt 38, Oklahoma State 29, Missouri 28, Xavier 25, Gonzaga 24, Notre Dame 22, USC 22, Pittsburgh 19, Tulsa 17, Kansas State 16, Brigham Young 16, Florida State 15, Florida 13, Wake Forest 13, San Diego State 8, Creighton 7, Boston College 4, Texas A&M 4, Southern Illinois 3, Utah State 3, Cornell 3, Memphis 3, Mississippi 3, UNLV 2, South Carolina 1, Northern Iowa 1.
The USA TODAY/ESPN Board of Coaches is made up of 31 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The board for the 2009-10 season: Mike Adras, Northern Arizona; Dana Altman, Creighton; Tommy Amaker, Harvard; Tevester Anderson, Jackson State; Ronnie Arrow, South Alabama; Randy Bennett, Saint Mary's; Eddie Biedenbach, North Carolina-Asheville; Jim Boeheim, Syracuse; Rick Byrd, Belmont; Charlie Coles, Miami (Ohio); Steve Fisher, San Diego State; Greg Graham, Boise State; Rob Jeter, Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Billy Kennedy, Murray State; Billy Lange, Navy; Dan Leibovitz, Hartford; Fran McCaffery, Siena; Mike McConathy, Northwestern State; Bob McKillop, Davidson; Phil Martelli, Saint Joseph's; Ron "Fang" Mitchell, Coppin State; Matt Painter, Purdue; Tom Pecora, Hofstra; John Pelphrey, Arkansas; Mike Rice, Robert Morris; Doc Sadler, Nebraska; Herb Sendek, Arizona State; Scott Sutton, Oral Roberts; Bob Williams, UC-Santa Barbara; Gary Williams, Maryland; Doug Wojcik, Tulsa.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
