Postgame audio - Coach Sydney Johnson, Marcus Schroeder & Kareem Maddox:
After Princeton fell in a close game to Cornell at Jadwin Gym in mid-February, Tigers head coach Sydney Johnson spoke with a friend of his. A friend who is the men's basketball coach at Georgetown.
It was, recalled Johnson, the first time he said his squad might be pretty decent.
"I told [Coach Thompson] I really believed in this team and that we were good and I think we've shown that over the last month or so," Johnson said. "If the postseason comes calling for us, I think they'll have a good team involved in their tournament, because we're showing something."
Princeton improved its postseason tournament profile, recorded its 19th win and assured itself of a second place finish in the Ivy standings with a 54-51 victory over Harvard on Saturday night.
Oliver McNally was unable to get off a stable look from behind the arc with time running out and for the second time this season Harvard missed a tying three point shot against the Tigers as time ran out.
McNally’s off-balance miss punctuated a foul-plagued victory for the Tigers, who got an enormous contribution off the bench from junior forward Kareem Maddox.
Maddox scored a career high 18, made 10-11 at the free throw line and blocked a Jeremy Lin drive at the rim with the Tigers holding a one point lead late in the game.
Lin, Harvard's leading scorer, shot 1-8 from the floor, did not make a layup or a midrange jump shot - the hallmarks of his game - and never touched the ball on the Crimson's final possession of the season.
"He puts so much heat on you because he's pretty aggressive with the ball and tries to get low and draw fouls," Johnson said of Lin. "We worked on a scouting report, and the coaches did a very a good job. [The team] listened and they can apply it. They have the physical tools. We have some players. I think all of that worked together to slow Jeremy Lin down."
Marcus Schroeder converted four free throws in the final minute to take Princeton from a 51-50 deficit to the final margin of victory after Brandyn Curry had sent Harvard in front with a three point shot out of the left corner. Schroeder played all 40 minutes, adding five assists, six rebounds and a pair of steals.
Harvard scored the game's first seven points. Lin drove the left baseline, passed down to Max Kenyi in the near corner who dished sideways to Curry on the right wing for three to open the scoring.
When the likely Ivy League Rookie of the Year, Kyle Casey, drove and scored off glass while being fouled by Pawel Buczak the Tigers trailed by three possessions.
Enter Maddox off the bench for Patrick Saunders as Johnson countered the debut of big Harvard forward Keith Wright on the floor. Maddox immediately turned the ball over, slipping on a drive for a travel.
Princeton wasn't just scoreless. The two shots they got were extremely well defended and the Tigers were having difficulty getting inside Harvard's active perimeter defense.
What kept Princeton in shouting range of the Crimson was their own defense, which improved as both the half and the game went on.
Maddox got the offense going through the defense. Picking up a steal and in transition leaving the ball for a trailing Davis on his left. The ball was tipped away, but Dan Mavraides was the recipient of the deflection and got the Tigers on the board.
Six minutes in and the officials were ruining the game. A staccato flow was punctuated by a whistle for minor contact so often that Mavraides for Princeton and Doug Miller and Wright for Harvard all were saddled with two personals.
Zach Finley, in for Buczak, had a steal of Pat Magnarelli inside and scored off glass as the shot clock expired to draw within three.
The Tiger defense watched Lin miss a reverse and Mangarelli tipped home the follow. Christian Webster's jumper in transition had rebuilt the seven point Harvard lead.
Johnson brought Buzak back off the bench in place of Ian Hummer, opting to play Buczak and Finley on the floor together. Finley stole the ball from Magnarelli and a Princeton possession ended with Davis' corner three.
Dee Giger's attempt to answer was blocked by Buczak and Harvard committed a shot clock violation.
Trailing 11-7, the mixture of fouls and sloppy plays made the action hard to watch.
Finley traveled with Casey guarding him in the post.
A pass by Casey sailed over Oliver McNally's hands and into the grasp of Princeton assistant Tony Newsom on the sideline.
Davis rushed a three from the top of the arc and Maddox fouled on the rebound.
Lin was hit by Maddox on a move to the hole with 9:12 left, putting Princeton over the limit and giving Maddox two personals. Lin made both sides of his one-and-one.
Buczak spun to his right and hooked it home over Casey.
The next player to suffer their second personal foul was Buczak, whistled for holding Casey as he faked a three and stepped into a two. Casey was short on the front end of his one-and-one, with Maddox rebounding.
Kenyi tried to poke possession away from Schroeder from behind and another tweet rang through the gym. Schroeder unexpectedly missed the front end, but hustled to grab the offensive board when it bounced behind the free throw stripe and Princeton got points off the possession as Maddox posted Lin, made a quick move to his left to take advantage of his size and was held. Two Maddox free throws made it 13-11.
The foul-free Ian Hummer got Buczak out of the game and provided a nice lift off the bench.
Trailing by six, Hummer came up with the ball as Lin tried to find Casey, then dropped the ball home at the other side of Jadwin over Casey.
Lin hit his first and only field goal of the game from behind the top of the key with the shot clock running down, using a screen and rising up for the triple.
Hummer got two of those points back with a soft floater over Wright inside.
The Academy Awards are on Sunday, but Hummer won't be receiving a trophy for his flop when bodied by Wright in the block. Hummer flew backwards onto his backside like he was pulled by a string, but when Wright realized no foul had been awarded and his defender was lying on the floor he turned and calmly banked the ball home.
Harvard came close to a second shot clock violation. McNally got the shot off in time but it missed the rim and landed with Finley as time ran out.
Schroeder split a pair at the line before Hummer played garbage man, picking up a Maddox miss and going glass to make it 22-18.
Hummer's steal began a two-on-one with Davis, who drove and was fouled by Lin, making both free throws at the 2:00 mark. With Lin on the bench for the rest of the half with two personals, Princeton was unable to take advantage. In fact, Harvard scored the final three of the half, all at the line.
Saunders' light touch of Webster was good enough for two free throws.
Schroeder floated to his left inside the ring and his shot was blocked by Magnarelli. An off balance Magnarelli split a pair at the line to close the scoring.
Out of a time out Davis could not connect from on a three and Finley rebounded, but blew the easy follow. It was a fitting way to close an ugly half.
How ugly was it? Harvard had one assist and nine turnovers, four belonging to Casey. The Crimson shot 8-19 (44.4%), 2-5 from deep (40.0%) and 7-10 at the line (70.0%). Four different Harvard players had two personal fouls.
Princeton was 7-20 (35.0%), 1-6 outside (16.7%) and 5-8 from the line (62.5%). Finley had three turnovers. Davis went 1-7 yet led the team with five points.
Casey drove left and under Buczak to rebuild Harvard's biggest lead to resume play.
Schroeder did not establish position on the floor coming from the baseline for a turnover. Then Mavraides rightfully picked up his third foul bumping Lin while playing him tight.
Schroeder caught Kenyi napping and zipped a pass to Mavraides in the corner by the Princeton bench for three to draw within 27-23.
Kenyi answered from the wing and the lead was seven again.
When Finley returned to the game with 16:53 left, his coach yelled two words at him as he passed - "Play hard."
Finley did just that, timing a cut down the lane perfectly as Maddox drove and scooping the ball home. Finley inside made it a 32-29 score.
Lin got back to the line attempting a reverse, the awful sort of whistle that comes only because the shooter did not make his layup. Lin went one for two from the stripe.
Maddox worked by Wright and was fouled on a clutch, converting both tries. For the first time in the half, Princeton trailed by a pair.
I'd like to pause in the recap for a second to introduce you to potentially the worst call I saw all season. It came with 14:42 left in the game and Harvard in possession. A cross-court pass by Magnarelli to the sideline was clearly deflected by Maddox's long arm, changing direction and heading out of bounds. The players saw it. Those in the stands saw it. Some on press row even heard it. Not the officials. To them it was a completely logical pass to no one, a turnover and Princeton ball.
Yeesh. Let's resume.
Maddox could not score inside and a lob by Magnarelli to Wright sailed out of bounds.
Buczak dribbling at the free throw line gave Davis enough space to size his second three and put Princeton in front for the first time all Saturday night.
Curry got lost in the air when Harvard had the ball, his pass to a cutter going over the baseline.
A posting Hummer passed out to Schroeder setting his feet on the right arc for three, Schroeder hoisting three digits in each hand as he ran backwards down the floor. Princeton had a 37-33 edge.
Wright got deep on Finley and scored.
Leading by four, Princeton had five different chances to make it a six point lead or greater.
1.) Too many interior passes resulted in a three second violation on Finley.
2. & 3.) A right corner Mavriades three was off target, with Maddox's two handed follow bouncing off the iron.
4.) Buczak was whistled for his fourth foul hooking Casey as he tried to spin away inside.
5.) Hummer was too strong on a hook and the score remained 41-37.
Mavraides' fourth personal came with 7:51 showing, drawing the referee's attention on a loose ball. Curry made a pair at the line.
When they needed him, the resurgent but frustratingly humble Maddox got deep position and sprung up for a basket, fouled by a reaching Webster. A free throw took the lead up to five.
A Hummer deflection to the sideline saved a sure basket as Lin looked clear of his man on a back cut. Lin was off on a runner and Finley fouled Miller on the offensive board, Finley's fourth. Miller would make one of two, way short on the first and true on the second.
A posting Maddox spotted Hummer, who could not finish. At the other side Webster's rainbow over the arm of Buczak made it a one point game, Harvard's first three of the half.
Webster held Maddox, putting Princeton into the first bonus. Maddox's first free throw was good but his second did not suffer a similar fate, his lone miss from the line all night.
Buczak fouled out with 4:45 left, whistled on a Curry drive. Curry could not tie the game, hitting the back iron on his second free throw.
Maddox drove and Casey slid over late for his fourth personal. Both sides of the one-and-one went down to make it 47-44.
Schroeder put his hand on Lin, who slapped it away. As Lin moved towards the rim, Schroeder was then called for the hold and Lin made two free throws.
Davis, who shot 2-11 on the evening, came two long steps inside the arc and could not find the target on a pull up jumper. Finley tipped the ball up and was fouled by Casey on the other side of the rim, Casey's disqualifying foul. Finley's first was good, his second off the mark.
Wright backed in Finley and evened the scoreboard at 48.
Following a miss by Webster on an open three, Mavraides found a rolling Finley who could not throw down a one-handed dunk try as Miller fouled him.
With the score tied, Finley came up way short on his first try and did not get enough wrist on his second, the rebound coming to Wright.
Wright tried to roll to the basket, but Finley denied him with a block into Maddox's hands.
Schroeder found a cutting Maddox for a nifty layup to break the tie with 1:38 to play, Princeton's only field goal of the final 7:23.
Lin was unable to penetrate with Maddox on him, but he found Curry setting up in the far corner for a three. It was unclear what broke down defensively, but Davis was the only Princeton player on Curry's side and nowhere near the Harvard freshman.
For the first time since the 13:54 mark, Princeton trailed.
"I thought that was indicative of how we played the entire half, to be honest," Johnson said of how Princeton proceeded to finish out the game despite now playing from behind. "I felt that we didn't give in to any anxiety, any tension. I think it wasn't pretty. I think things went wrong, but we didn't quit. We didn't give in."
The final three offensive and defensive possessions showed what Johnson meant.
Schroeder drove on Lin and it looked like Lin might have tied up the Tiger co-captain, but a foul was called. Schroeder stepped to the line and put his rare pair of first half misses behind him.
"I just didn't want to let my teammates down," Schroeder said when asked what was going through his mind as he stood alone at the free throw line. "They had played so well and I felt like we had the mentality of refusing to lose tonight."
"I just try to slow everything down. Two dribbles has kind of been my thing. I changed it junior year of high school," explained Schroeder about his routine at the stripe. "Two dribbles and kind of focus in."
Dribble. Dribble. Focus. Swish. 51-51.
Dribble. Dribble. Focus. Swish. 52-51.
Lin drove into the paint down the center of the lane and his layup try was blocked at the rim by Maddox with Finley coming over to help.
Maddox found himself guarded by Lin in the low block and called for the ball, trying to post. Maddox spun to his left, went to the hook and could not get the shot to go, the ball heading out of bounds to Harvard.
The Crimson, who had not won at Jadwin Gym in their last 20 visits, had the ball with :26.6 showing and a chance to hold for the final shot.
Lin attacked the lane and Finley was there to alter the drive enough that Lin could not finish. Finley rebounded and wisely got the ball to Davis, who passed to Schroeder, fouled by Curry with :12 on the clock.
Dribble. Dribble. Focus. Swish. 53-51.
Dribble. Dribble. Focus. Swish. 54-51.
Princeton called time out.
"We felt that they needed a three being down three," analyzed Schroeder when asked about Harvard's final possession. "We just wanted to cover out on their shooters. I think we were ok with them shooting a layup at that point."
Wright inbounded to Curry, who tried to create off the dribble. He thought for a moment that he had a clean look. Then, out of the corner of his eye he saw something. Whatever it was or whoever it was, it forced Curry to use a screen and pass to McNally for a clutching three try that sailed well to the left of the center of the rim.
The same situation as up at Harvard. The same result as up at Harvard. The biggest difference between these two plays? The ball never found Lin's hands.
Kareem Maddox is modest to a fault. When asked about his defense on Lin, another impressive performance shutting down one of the Ivy League's top guards, Maddox said "I really believe this, that's why I always say it, but it was great team defense."
While Maddox's teammates never left him out on an island, it was again Maddox's long arms and leaping ability that forced Lin into a sub-par finish to a stellar Ivy career.
"His length is probably something that we don't have at any other spot on our team," Johnson said of his defensive difference maker. "Kareem is long and able to disturb people. When you put him out there with four guys who are covering for each other and helping him out to defend whoever we're trying to make life difficult for it is a pretty good combination."
A combination that has helped Princeton to 10 conference wins for the first time since 2006.
-Notes:
-Princeton was 16-41 for the game (39.0%), improving to 9-21 in the second half (42.9%). The Tigers shot 4-12 from three (33.3%) and 18-25 at the line (72.0%). Harvard went 16-45 (35.6%), 5-13 from deep (38.5%) and 14-21 on free throws (66.7%).
-In the non-conference games Kareem Maddox averaged 2.0 ppg and 1.3 rebounds. In 13 Ivy games Maddox has averaged 9.0 ppg and 5.1 rebounds.
-The Tigers took excellent care of the basketball in the second half, committing turnovers on just 10.3% of their possessions. Princeton had assists on 88.9% of their second half buckets.
-Princeton scored 19 points off of 14 Harvard turnovers.
-There were 44 fouls called in the game.
-Princeton honored Tiger great Brian Taylor at halftime. Former players from the past six decades joined Taylor at center court (will try and work on a full list tomorrow), where Taylor received a silver plate and urged the crowd over the PA to help Princeton rally in the second half.
