Saturday News:

December 22, 2012 at 9:28 am
Filed under Basketball, Denver, Fairfield, Georgetown, Northwestern, Oregon State, Princeton, Richmond, Today's News

Today's Game: Bucknell (11-1 / 0-0) vs. Princeton (4-6 / 0-0)
Location: Jadwin Gym - Princeton, NJ
Time: 7:00 pm ET
Radio: 103.3 fm WPRB
TV: N/A
Internet: goprincetontigers.com
Series History: Princeton leads 10-4.
Last meeting: Bucknell 62 Princeton 56 - 11/25/11.

American vs. Georgetown - 12:00 pm ET - ESPN+
Fairfield vs. St. Joe's - 2:00 pm ET
MCCC vs. Bronx - 3:00 pm ET
George Mason vs. Richmond - 3:00 pm ET - Governor's Holiday Hoops Classic
San Diego vs. Oregon State - 9:00 pm ET - Pac-12 Network

Dartmouth vs. Bryant - 1:00 pm ET
Cornell vs. Boston University - 1:00 pm ET
Holy Cross vs. Harvard - 2:00 pm ET
Elon vs. Columbia - 4:00 pm ET

There was some great conversation in the forum for the Rider game. Keep it going tonight when the Tigers face Bucknell!

Four notes on the Bison in lieu of a proper preview:

1. 6'11" senior center Mike Muscala is a special player who shoots the ball well both inside and out, plus draws 6.8 fouls/40 minutes. He's going to be a difficult assignment for all three (four?) Princeton big men who might check him defensively.

2. Bucknell may be the worst team in the nation in forcing turnovers and second-worst in creating steals but teams are shooting a very poor 41.5% from the floor against them. The Bison also protect the offensive glass exceptionally well. Their opponents' possessions usually end with a miss more than any other outcome.

3. As a team, Bucknell rarely turns the ball over and is very good at the line (76.6%). Too much attention to Muscala then opens the floor for a squad shooting 37.0% from deep. There's a reason the Bison are 11-1.

4. Notable victories include triumphs over #65 Purdue on the road, #91 George Mason at home, #103 New Mexico State on a neutral floor and #66 La Salle at home. I still don't understand how Bucknell lost to #192 Penn State in State College after the Nittany Lions lost guard Tim Frazier for the season.

The Hans Brase gamble paid off for Princeton in the Tigers' last contest.

There's a piece on the Rider game on the Mid-Majority.

Rush The Court checks in on the Ivy League.

Stanford edged Northwestern (8-4) by two in Evanston. After falling down 18 the Wildcats rallied on more than one occasion but both times they pulled even in the second half the Cardinal hit a three. A potentially tying runner and tip follow in the waning seconds did not drop for Bill Carmody's team.

Denver (4-6) easily handled Southern Utah, 72-47.

Games throughout the day begin with Georgetown hosting American, Fairfield visiting St. Joe's, Richmond and George Mason meeting at the Richmond Coliseum and finally Oregon State testing out the new home of the Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas by playing San Diego.

Around the Ivy League: Playing without three starters and five players total who were all suspended for a violation of team rules, Penn (2-8) lost for a second time this season to Delaware. On this occasion the final was 83-60.

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Friday News:

December 21, 2012 at 9:18 am
Filed under Basketball, Denver, MCCC, Northwestern, Princeton, Recruiting, Today's News

Southern Utah vs. Denver - 6:00 pm ET
Stanford vs. Northwestern - 9:00 pm ET - Big Ten Network

Penn vs. Delaware - 7:00 pm ET

In addition to our recap, read about Princeton's first home victory of the season on goprincetontigers.com, in the Trentonian, in a rare Trenton Times appearance and on gobroncs.com.

Mercer (10-3) defeated Manor 99-80. Larry Webster had 22 points to lead four Vikings in double figures. You should also read about MCCC's recent trip to Washington, DC.

Princeton recruit Steven Cook and New Trier beat Evanston.

Denver hosts Southern Utah and Northwestern welcomes Stanford tonight.

I'm gearing up for my annual 24-hour holiday radio show on WPRB and my favorite preview this year interviews my parents, wife and daughter about the marathon.

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Wednesday News:

December 19, 2012 at 8:31 am
Filed under Audio, Basketball, Denver, Fairfield, MCCC, Oregon State, Princeton, Recruiting, Richmond, Today's News

Howard vs. Oregon State - 10:00 pm ET - Pac-12 Network

Cornell vs. Duke - 7:00 pm ET - ESPNU

With three Vikings in double figures, Mercer (9-3) defeated Salem 71-64.

Undefeated Wyoming was too much for Denver (3-6).

Richmond (9-3) lost 87-59 at Kansas. To Chris Mooney the Jayhawks were every bit as good as advertised.

The Chicago Tribune has a piece about Princeton recruit Steven Cook and the versatile New Trier Trevians.

The latest Sit Down With Sydney is embedded below.

Oregon State hosts Howard this evening.

Around the Ivy League: Yale (4-7) destroyed Albertus Magnus, 112-63.

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Tuesday News:

December 18, 2012 at 9:28 am
Filed under Basketball, Denver, Princeton, Richmond, Today's News

Salem vs. MCCC - 7:00 pm ET
Richmond vs. Kansas - 7:00 pm ET - ESPN2
Denver vs. Wyoming - 9:00 pm ET

Albertus Magnus vs. Yale - 7:00 pm ET

I'll be a guest on the Rider Basketball Radio Show tonight at 7:00 pm ET taking about this week's intra-county matchup. You can listen live at 107.7 WRRC or come to the broadcast at Killarney's Publick House in Hamilton.

Northwestern (8-3) scored the final 12 points of their 74-68 victory over Texas Southern.

Who is first team All-Ivy so far based on Value Add?

Tonight Richmond travels out to Kansas and Denver visits Wyoming.

Around the Ivy League: Cornell (4-6) fell 66-55 at Vanderbilt.

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YouTube potpourri LXXXV.

December 17, 2012 at 12:08 pm
Filed under Basketball, Denver, Fairfield, Northwestern, Princeton, Richmond, Video

Here's the latest collection of videos from various corners of the Princeton basketball family. Above, highlights from Fordham's win over the Tigers.

Seven additional videos follow after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Sunday News:

December 16, 2012 at 9:08 am
Filed under Basketball, Denver, Fairfield, Georgetown, MCCC, Oregon State, Princeton, Recruiting, Richmond, Today's News

Drexel vs. Fairfield - 4:00 pm ET - SNY
Chicago State vs. Oregon State - 7:00 pm ET - Pac-12 Network

In addition to our recap, read about Princeton's stunning loss to Fordham on goprincetontigers.com, in the Trentonian, on Big Apple Buckets, in the New York Post, on the Ram, courtesy the Associated Press and on fordhamsports.com.

Future Tiger Spencer Weisz had a double-double in Seton Hall Prep's season opener. Weisz followed that up with 23 points and seven steals last night against Columbia High School.

If you want to watch Amir Bell and East Brunswick defeat St. Joseph the entire game is archived here.

Mercer (8-3) won their annual early morning game at the Verizon Center, 71-66 over CCBC. Mustafa El-Amin had 22 once again for the Vikings.

A few hours later on the same floor Georgetown (9-1) bested Western Carolina, 81-68. Greg Whittington had a career high 25 for the Hoyas.

With a 76-57 win over Stetson, Richmond (9-2) is off to the school's best start in 25 years.

Denver (3-5) used a 25-0 run to rout Nebraska-Omaha, 82-47.

Today sees Fairfield host Drexel and Oregon State welcome Chicago State.

Around the Ivy League: Dartmouth (2-7) lost 61-42 at Arizona State.

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Saturday News:

December 15, 2012 at 8:48 am
Filed under Basketball, Denver, Georgetown, Northwestern, Princeton, Recruiting, Richmond, Today's News

Today's Game: Princeton (3-5 / 0-0) vs. Fordham (1-8 / 0-0)
Location: Barclays Center - Brooklyn, NY (Brooklyn Hoops Winter Festival)
Time: 2:30 pm ET
Radio: 103.3 fm WPRB
TV: YES Network
Internet: goprincetontigers.com
Series History: Princeton leads 17-11.
Last meeting: Princeton 73 Fordham 61 - 11/26/08.

MCCC vs. CCBC - 8:00 am ET
Western Carolina vs. Georgetown - 12:00 pm ET - ESPN+
Stetson vs. Richmond - 6:00 pm ET
Nebraska-Omaha vs. Denver - 6:00 pm ET

Dartmouth vs. Arizona State - 3:00 pm ET - Pac-12 Network

Talk about this afternoon's matchup with Fordham before/during/after the action in the forum, perhaps?

I helped preview today's game over at Big Apple Buckets.

It sounds like Chris Gaston will be available for the Rams.

Princeton recruit Amir Bell scored 18 points as East Brunswick beat the state's top-ranked team.

Lousy news for Northwestern as Drew Crawford will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. The silver lining is that Crawford is one game under the cutoff for a medical hardship waiver and should hopefully return for 2013-14.

Action picks back up today as Georgetown hosts Western Carolina, Richmond welcomes Stetson and Nebraska-Omaha visits Denver.

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Thursday News:

December 6, 2012 at 9:38 am
Filed under Audio, Basketball, Denver, Fairfield, Northwestern, Princeton, Recruiting, Today's News

Essex vs. MCCC - 7:00 pm ET

It seems like Dan Mavraides may be on the move from Avellino to Caserta.

Princeton's shooting guards are profiled.

Sydney Johnson signed an extension at Fairfield through the 2018-19 season.

Hun is off to a 2-0 start, due in part to the play of future Tiger Hashim Moore.

An interview with Bill Carmody can be streamed here.

Denver (2-5) declawed Mercer, 69-40.

The Dagger called Princeton's next opponent the biggest disappointment so far this season.

Around the Ivy League: A putback from Justin Sears at the horn gave Yale (3-6) a 64-62 victory at Bryant.

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Wednesday News:

December 5, 2012 at 9:28 am
Filed under Armond Hill, Basketball, Denver, Georgetown, MCCC, Northwestern, Princeton, Recruiting, Today's News

Mercer vs. Denver - 9:00 pm ET

Yale vs. Bryant - 7:00 pm ET

Kareem Maddox was rewarded as the BBL Player Of The Month. Maddox is averaging 13.7 points and 8.2 rebounds for Newcastle.

Doc Rivers was sick so Armond Hill ran practice for the Boston Celtics.

Princeton recruit Steven Cook had a season best 25 in New Trier's victory over Niles West.

Georgetown (6-1) trampled Texas in the Jimmy V Classic. Unlike the shorthanded Longhorns, the Hoyas possess staying power.

In what sounds like a very exciting game, Mercer County Community College (4-2) got past Morris 57-56. Mustafa el Amin tied the score on a three pointer with four seconds left and Barry Brockington, who was 11-14 from the line, won it for the Vikings with a free throw that came with :0.6 remaining.

Richmond (7-2) served ODU their worst-ever defeat at the Constant Center, 80-53.

Then there's Northwestern (7-2), who recorded a much-needed and very impressive 74-70 win at Baylor. It was 56-38 Wildcats with 10:25 remaining but intense pressure by the Bears and a stretch where Bill Carmody's team went 1-8 at the line closed that deficit to two. After all that - and I haven't even mentioned the twelve second sequence wherein NU committed three turnovers - Drew Crawford sealed the result with a pair of free throws as just over a second remained.

Two scores of note out of last night - Bucknell 76 Kent State 60 and Tennessee State 76 Drexel 66.

Denver hosts the other Mercer this evening.

Dave Winfield's son is already heading to Penn and now Fran Fraschilla's son has committed to Harvard.

Around the Ivy League: Harvard (4-3) won their fifth straight against Boston College, 79-63. Elon bested Dartmouth (2-4) by 22.

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Monday News:

December 3, 2012 at 9:08 am
Filed under Basketball, Denver, Princeton, Recruiting, Today's News

Princeton recruit Steven Cook had 12 points as New Trier routed Julian.

Kareem Maddox dropped a team-high 27 in Newcastle's victory over the Cheshire Phoenix.

The Daily Princetonian talked to T.J. Bray about the Tigers' victory at Kent State.

Where does the Ivy League really stand this season?

Denver (1-5) was defeated 71-58 at Stanford.

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Sunday News:

December 2, 2012 at 8:48 am
Filed under Basketball, Denver, Fairfield, MCCC, Northwestern, Princeton, Recruiting, Richmond, Today's News

Denver vs. Stanford - 6:00 pm ET - Pac-12 Network

In addition to our recap, read about Princeton's very pleasant surprise at Kent State on goprincetontigers.com, in the Plain Dealer, in the Beacon Journal and on kentstatesports.com.

It is behind a paywall but there's an interview with Tiger recruit Steven Cook here. Cook scored 16 in New Trier's loss to Warren.

How about a second Mid-Majority write-up of Princeton's win at Lafayette?

Just 10-20 at the free throw line, Northwestern (6-2) was surprised 50-44 by UIC as the Flames scored the game's final six points.

Richmond (6-2) won their third straight over Wake Forest.

Eight games away from home to start the season concluded for Fairfield (4-4) with a 74-55 victory at Austin Peay.

Mercer (3-2) was topped by Del Tech Stanton, 53-46.

Sunday's only game of note sees Denver visiting Stanford.

Around the Ivy League: Brown (3-4) fell 63-50 at New Hampshire. It was Harvard (3-3) by nine over Fordham. Dartmouth (2-3) rallied past Longwood, 61-53. Penn State knocked off Penn (2-6) by a 58-47 final. Cornell (4-5) bested Colgate in 70-63 Ithaca. Mike Muscala had 29 points and 19 rebounds as Bucknell got past Columbia (4-4) in the final five minutes.

Comments (2)

Wednesday News:

November 28, 2012 at 9:18 am
Filed under Basketball, Bill Bradley, Denver, Fairfield, MCCC, Northwestern, Princeton, Richmond, Today's News

Today's Game: Princeton (2-3 / 0-0) vs. Wagner (1-3 / 0-0)
Location: Spiro Sports Center - Staten Island, NY
Time: 7:00 pm ET
Radio: 103.3 fm WPRB
TV: N/A
Internet: goprincetontigers.com
Series History: Princeton leads 3-1.
Last meeting: Wagner 73 Princeton 57 - 11/12/11.

William & Mary vs. Richmond - 7:00 pm ET

Columbia vs. LIU - 7:00 pm ET
Stony Brook vs. Cornell - 7:00 pm ET
Binghamton vs. Penn - 7:00 pm ET

There's an open thread for the Wagner game in the forum if you want to discuss this contest before/during/after. Fire up the forums!

Kudos to the Full-Court Press, who continues to regularly turn out the only other game previews this season.

Growing pains have hurt Wagner through four games.

The story of how UConn stole victory from Bill Bradley and Princeton in the 1964 NCAA Tournament.

Sean Gregory discusses the idea of allowing college athletes to major in sports.

How do you lose a basketball game by 20 while committing only four turnovers? Ask Northwestern (6-1) who lost 77-57 to Maryland in part because they were outrebounded 47-19.

Despite 29 from Derek Needham, Fairfield (3-4) dropped an 85-78 decision on the road at DePaul.

Denver (1-4) fell 61-50 at Southern Miss.

The Mercer game scheduled for yesterday evening was postponed.

Tonight Richmond hosts William & Mary.

Around the Ivy League: Harvard (2-3) lost 85-78 at home to Vermont. Dartmouth (1-3) connected on 11 three pointers but it wasn't enough versus Bucknell.

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