Postgame audio - Coach Sydney Johnson, Dan Mavraides & Ian Hummer:
If tonight's opener for the 2010-11 Princeton basketball season is a microcosm of what is to come over the next 29 games, it is going to be a wild ride.
There were so many ups and downs, questions raised and questions answered alongside near-simultaneous thrills and frustrations that the game between Rutgers and Princeton at Jadwin Gym needed five extra minutes after regulation concluded to try and fit them all in.
The Tigers raced to a 14 point first half lead, matched last season's point total against the Scarlet Knights by the break (44) but were eventually passed by Rutgers with less than seven minutes to go as the Scarlet Knights extended their defense on the wings before rallying to force overtime and holding on for the five point victory with 8-8 OT shooting at the free throw line.
It was as exhausting as the above run-on sentence implies.
"I thought that there was a lot of guts there," said Princeton head coach Sydney Johnson. "I was pleasantly surprised."
Drama and pathos aside, the end result was the Tigers' first victory over a "Big Six" school since 2004.
Led by a career high 26 points and seven rebounds from senior guard Dan Mavraides and 17 points on 8-10 shooting from Ian Hummer, the Tigers won their curtain raiser for the third time in four seasons under Sydney Johnson.
While Mavraides' six three pointers were appreciated by his coach, other elements stood out. "I think Dan brings a lot more than shooting to our team," remarked Johnson. "Obviously when he shoots and the ball goes in it makes things that much easier. My challenge to him is: "What if your shot is not going down? Can you lead us?' I felt like there were hustle plays there, there was leadership there that doesn't show up in the box score and I want to see that every night."
James Beatty had 15 for Rutgers, one of four Scarlet Knights in double digits.
Princeton's 78 points were the most by a Tiger team against Rutgers since a 79-70 decision in 1995.
For those of you keeping score at home, Princeton started 2010-11 with Douglas Davis, Dan Mavraides, Brendan Connolly, Kareem Maddox and Ian Hummer on the floor. I told you all those projected lineups were wrong!
The Tigers opened the game on a 10-2 run.
It began with a free throw.
Hummer, falling to the ground on a drive, was able to bounce the ball forward to Mavraides scooping a shot as Rutgers' James Beatty fouled him.
Mavraides spun out his first attempt but was true on the second.
It continued with a three point shot.
Brendan Connolly, your new starting center, threw a dandy pass to Mavraides, who had zero hesitation launching the first three point make of the year.
Dane Miller scored inside on Hummer to put Rutgers on the board.
It ended with a dunk.
Hummer drove and pulled up for a short bank followed by long outlet pass to Kareem Maddox who missed in close, grabbed his own rebound and leapt high from under the iron to slam the ball home with both hands.
After Rutgers escaped two Princeton traps on the far sideline and an open three point shot for Miller was grabbed by Jonathan Mitchell who promptly booted the ball off his leg for a turnover, the Tigers had reached the first media time out in fine fashion.
An inbounding Mavraides passed to Connolly who handed the ball back to a curling Mavraides on the left side for a triple that extended the lead to nine.
Leading 15-8 when Hummer went glass, Rutgers responded with seven straight to tie the score for the first time. A give-and-go between Miller and Austin Johnson was executed perfectly as the Scarlet Knights began to find some offensive rhythm and ratchet up their defense.
When Beatty connected from the top of the arc we were even.
The deadlock didn't last long. Mavraides sped into the center of the Rutgers defense and on his way to the rim passed across his body to Maddox sprinting down the left baseline for a second two hand flush.
It was the start of a lightning 15-2 Tiger push. Princeton switched into a few possessions of zone instead of their matchup defense and forced Rutgers away from its gameplan.
A posting Hummer set up his left hand to receive a Mavraides pass and turned to finish.
Hummer crossed over his man on the next possession to get to the hole and passed down the baseline to Mavraides setting up in the corner by the Rutgers bench.
A deep spin hook by Connolly created a seven point edge and when Mavraides jumped Austin Carroll's passing lane that lead was nine. Davis pushed the ball ahead of the pack following a Carroll miss for a surprisingly easy layup to take it up to 28-17 and Davis found Hummer on the bounce for a strong interior hoop while being fouled to make it a game-best 13 point lead.
Leading by the same margin, Johnson went to guard T.J. Bray off the bench, spelling Mavraides. Bray did not look rattled in his four minutes of inaugural college play but Princeton was outscored by 12 during his time on the floor.
Maddox, who had surprisingly few touches on offense and was not much of a presence on defense in the first game of his senior year, took the lead up to a high water mark of 14 at the 4:51 mark when he made one of two free throws after being fouled from behind grabbing a one-handed rebound of a Rutgers miss.
Two things went wrong for Princeton in the final five minutes of the half and in tandem the allowed Rutgers to head into the locker room feeling like they still had a chance.
First, Mavraides committed his second personal foul trying to poke the ball loose from behind and had to sit for the last 3:46 of action.
With Mavraides off the floor and the long Will Barrett in for Bray, Princeton went with a "one guard" offense consisting of Davis, Barrett, Maddox, Connolly and Mack Darrow, who played 17 minutes all of last season but played 17 minutes against Rutgers.
The Scarlet Knights went into a zone looking to limit the ace shot Davis and cut their deficit down to 41-33 on two Mitchell free throws. With the clock running low and momentum growing for Rutgers, Darrow did the unthinkable - he confidently rose up from the right wing and hit the first three point shot of his Princeton career.
"Mack really busted his tail this summer," said Johnson of the sophomore backup center's first time managing meaningful minutes. "He helped us out in the preseason and in a couple scrimmages."
Maddox picked up his second personal fouling Beatty on a basket and then foolishly also picked up his third foul scant seconds later when he went over the back on Beatty trying to grab a Davis miss.
Not only had Maddox taken himself out of the game but he had already limited his availability for the second half.
Barrett's high arc three attempt was off the mark and Mitchell's midrange jumper in Darrow's face sailed through the netting as time ran out.
Once in danger of being blown back to New Brunswick, Rutgers was down a manageable 44-38 at the break, closing on a 15-7 run.
For a team that took such pride in its defense and was sub-average on offense in 2009-10, Princeton was unreal with the ball in the opening 20 minutes. They just couldn't get it together on D.
Rutgers shot 15-27 from the floor (55.6%), 2-6 from deep (33.3%) and 6-10 at the line (60.0%). The Scarlet Knights were able to drive to the basket with few obstructions on multiple occasions.
Princeton led thanks to seven offensive boards and a 20-12 edge on the glass. The Tigers hit 17-32 (53.1%), 6-15 from three with Mavraides connecting four times (40.0%) and were a substandard 4-7 on free throws (57.1%).
The two teams combined for 11 turnovers, with five belonging to Princeton.
When play resumed, the Tigers started to get careless with the basketball. Connolly tried to find Hummer inside and his pass was picked off to start the second half.
Connolly made a better entry to a posting Maddox for two but Maddox was soon on the bench in place of Barrett to avoid picking up a fourth foul. Maddox would sit from the 18:26 mark until exactly six minutes later.
Long deuces from Beatty and Coburn resulted in a four point game but Hummer responded with a spin hook after an offensive rebound and a drive by a flat-footed Gilvydas Biruta for two.
Rutgers extended their defense on the perimeter, looking to trap Princeton's ballhandlers on the wings and double the post. The Tigers could not get any overplays to their advantage and the offense bogged down.
Miller backed down Mavraides for two to make it a one possession game before Mavraides found Davis at the top of the circle for a three to double the Princeton lead, 54-48.
A drift screen freed up Beatty deep on the left wing to slice that lead in half once more.
Darrow, in for Connolly, placed an entry pass to Mavraides posting and he scored as Mike Poole fouled him from behind. With the three point play Princeton's edge was 57-51.
With 12:04 left in regulation Beatty hit again from outside to make the Princeton lead three one more time. A poor entry pass to Maddox was thrown over Maddox's shoulder from the right corner and across the floor into press row for a turnover.
Connolly and Bray replaced Darrow and Davis with Bray locking down Beatty on a couple of possessions.
With Beatty suddenly unable to score, Rutgers went inside to Johnson on Connolly. A soft hook over Connolly made it 57-56 and when Miller drove at Hummer, had the ball slapped away, picked it up off the floor on a bounce and laid it home Rutgers had a lead for the first time in the game with 6:24 remaining.
Poole thought he had stripped Davis for a breakway but a whistle sent Davis to the line for a one-and-one that went perfectly for Princeton's junior guard.
Hummer picked up his fourth foul holding Miller on a drive and it was Darrow's turn to replace Hummer.
Miller took advantage of a missed defensive assignment for a three that bumped it to 61-59 Rutgers. Darrow could not hit a jumper, Connolly missed the tip follow and Mike Coburn rolled in for two that gave the Scarlet Knights a four point lead with 4:49 to go.
Visions of a decade of painful losses against Rutgers faded for a moment when Davis swung a pass to Mavraides in the left corner for one more trifecta.
Coburn could not bank a jumper home and Connolly rebounded, fouled by Biruta, his disqualifying offense. Connolly's first half of the one and one was off but Connolly was first to the rebound between two Rutgers players and went right back up a touch too quickly, missing the potential follow.
The Rutgers lead remained a single point.
Princeton had a shot clock violation as Davis lost control of the ball trying to turn the corner to the glass.
Mavraides nearly had a steal helping on defense then did one better sliding over to absorb a Mitchell charge as he attempted to get past his defender.
Connolly came up short in the center of the lane, failing to go up strong enough and Rutgers responded with a sky hook by Johnson over Connolly for a 65-62 score in the final two minutes.
Johnson fouled Hummer as he drove to his left into the lane and Hummer's half hook rolled around the rim and out. His first free throw went off to the left but his second was pure.
Mitchell's open three from the left side sailed long and Maddox rebounded.
With Darrow in for Connolly on offense after Princeton called time and :53.2 showing, setting up a faster five with the ball, Darrow ran the offense out of the left elbow, reset to Mavraides who fed Hummer on the block spinning back to his left for a short bank that went down.
The shot clock off and Rutgers holding for the final shot, the Scarlet Knights came out of a time out with :17.2 trying to win the game.
Well aware they had three fouls to give, Connolly fouled his man on the floor with six seconds left.
Miller drove from the top of the arc, got into the paint, lowered his head and had his path to victory impeded by all 6'11", 252 lbs of Brendan Connolly.
The charge call was an easy one as Miller thwacked Connolly from his set position to the hardwood.
"I think he showed improvement, it's clear," assessed Johnson when asked about Connolly's first career start. "I was pleased with his effort. They started doubling down. Rutgers was doubling Brendan Connolly, who hasn't played that much in his career! I think that is a credit to Brendan."
Princeton had the ball with :01.9 on the clock but was unable to get off a shot. Mavraides inbounded to Darrow who could not turn and shoot 70+ feet from the basket before time ran out.
The game had been theirs. The game had been almost lost. The game was going to overtime.
While Connolly had jumped center versus Biruta to open the game, Johnson sent Maddox out to leap for possession at the start of OT. Maddox won the tip but sent the ball into the press seating and Rutgers had control.
A great defensive possession that saw Hummer nearly jump two Rutgers passing lanes ended with Coburn trying to lean into Maddox on a jumper as the shot clock expired from the top of the key. Rightfully there was no call and the ball hit off Connolly and onto the baseline as the horn sounded.
Connolly at the free throw line found Mavraides posting the smaller Coburn and Mavraides made both his free throws post-whistle.
Mitchell's jumper was rebounded by Johnson, fouled by Connolly. Johnson missed his first but converted his second.
Hummer's hesitation layup with his right hand off glass as the shot clock expired made it a 69-66 affair.
A drive by Poole and a dish to Miller and it was a one point game once more with 2:06 left in overtime.
Maddox took the ball in the paint and threw a no-look pass across his body to Mavraides in front of the Princeton bench. For the sixth and final time on Friday night Mavraides sized up a three point shot and it was a two possession game.
Two free throws by Coburn, fouling out Hummer in the process produced a 74-72 Princeton lead with exactly :18.0 on the clock.
With Hummer unavailable, Darrow got the call.
Mack Darrow, who had not even attempted a single free throw as a collegian, was fouled with :11.8 showing.
First shot. Good.
Second shot. Perfect.
Timeout Princeton.
Huge smile.
Warm greeting from the entire Tiger bench.
Miller was fouled by Darrow with two seconds left as he tried to score and Miller made the first and tried to intentionally miss the second but his attempt did not touch the rim - nearly cracking the backboard on a line drive.
Davis was fouled on the inbounds with a second to go and gave the result no doubt with two more free throws, the last of eight straight conversions to close OT.
For Mavraides, Maddox and fellow senior Bobby Foley it was a win in their final chance to knock off the Scarlet Knights.
"It feels great. I personally haven't beat Rutgers. It has been a while, so it definitely means a lot," said Mavraides, who added seven rebounds and four assists to his career high.
"We lost the lead and we were down four but I think we stayed composed. I think the fans helped a lot. We just kept running our stuff and stayed with what we do, didn't get nervous and came out on top."
Notes:
-Princeton finished the night 26-53 from the floor (49.1%) and 2-3 in the extra frame. The Tigers went 9-22 outside the arc (40.9%) and hit 17-23 at the line (73.9%) after a 4-7 start.
-Rutgers shot 29-59 (49.2%) but was 14-33 after intermission, 5-15 from three (33.3%) and 10-18 on free throws (55.6%).
-Princeton outrebounded Rutgers 36-28 with Connolly grabbing a career-best 11. The Tigers had 12 offensive boards.
-Connolly also added a game-high five assists.
-Tri-captain Patrick Saunders did not play on Friday, still dealing with the after-effects of a concussion suffered in practice last week. His status for the Duke game is unclear.
-Princeton recruiting target Desmond Hubert was at the Rutgers game, as were at least two other potential Tiger prospects. Hubert could be seen joking with Tiger assistant Brian Earl courtside after the postgame press conference had concluded.
-In 2008 Princeton scored 44 points against Rutgers. In 2009 Princeton scored 44 points against Rutgers. In 2010 Princeton scored 44 points in the first half against Rutgers.
-A moment of silence was held before the national anthem for Professor Marvin Bressler, who passed away this summer at the age of 87.
-Christian "Crunch" Regulski was back with the team on the Tiger bench. It is great to see he now has a long, full head of hair.
-The Tigers are the first Ivy squad to beat a Big East foe since Cornell knocked off St. John's last season.
-Princeton's last overtime season opener came at home against Franklin & Marshall to start the 1984-85 campaign. The Tigers won 43-41.
