There has been such a ridiculous amount of new content on the site in the last 10 days that I wanted to do a summary post at the end of this stretch so that all of the interesting audio, video and text we've offered doesn't go unlooked.
Eight games in nine days - recaps, postgame audio and box scores:
Before this evening's dedication of "Carril Court," former Princeton head coach Pete Carril met the media, answering a far-reaching assortment of questions with even farther-reaching responses.
The entirety of this 25:00+ press conference can be heard above. The action starts before the first official querry, with Carril already talking about the last time he was in Caldwell Field House.
Postgame audio - Coach Sydney Johnson, Douglas Davis & Dan Mavraides:
One night after surviving at the horn against Harvard, it was Princeton who missed a tying shot at the end of regulation, as the Tigers fell 66-63 to Dartmouth. Dan Mavraides curled for a three pointer with under a second left, but could not convert the look.
Alex Barnett, the Ivy League's leading scorer, started the game 0-4 from the field, but finished with 22 in the final 26 minutes for the Big Green and was 7-7 at the free throw line, giving Dartmouth a one point lead with :47 remaining and making two additional pairs to hold off the Tigers.
Mavriades’ 19 led Princeton. Douglas Davis scored all 16 of his points in the second half.
"We gave up 66 points, the most any [Ivy] team has scored in this gym all year. We were awful defensively," Princeton coach Sydney Johnson said, clearly disappointed by how his team played on defense.
Postgame audio - Coach Sydney Johnson, Douglas Davis & Dan Mavraides:
All Drew Housman could do was slap the floor.
Housman’s long three point shot at the buzzer from the Princeton crest on the near side of Jadwin Gym sailed just wide the mark, giving the Tigers a 58-55 win. The victory ended Princeton's three game losing streak.
Princeton did not record a field goal in the final 6:13 of the second half, but won the game at the free throw line, where they were 12-14 in the final four minutes - allowing them to hold off the Crimson.
Harvard has not won at Princeton since 1989.
Douglas Davis was the Tigers' lone double figure scorer, tallying 12 on 5-7 shooting. Princeton's leading man in Ivy play, Dan Mavraides, recorded six points - all of which came at the free throw line and all of which came in the final :32 of action.
Bouncing back from his scoreless 37 minutes on the bench versus Penn three nights ago, Kareem Maddox scored eight and grabbed four boards. All came in the second half.
"This wasn't a pretty win for us by any stretch, but I think it is a mark for us to not play well for 40 minutes and still pull out a win," said Princeton head coach Sydney Johnson. "We don't expect that the rest of the season but we'll take it for now."
Postgame audio - Jarhon Giddings & Kevin Anderson:
Despite giving up 26 offensive boards, the Richmond Spiders (13-13) picked up their fifth win in Atlantic 10 play on Tuesday night, defeating La Salle 62-53. Sophmore guard Kevin Anderson had a career-best 28 on a variety of silken mid-range jumpers.
It was my long-overdue first opportunity to see Richmond play in person since former Princeton standout Chris Mooney had taken the program’s reins in 2005.
La Salle (14-11) was coming off a win over Big 5 rival St. Joe’s on Valentine’s Day and Richmond had lost five of their previous six, but watching the two teams’ body language as the game unfolded, you would have thought that the Spiders were the team entering Tuesday’s contest with momentum.
Richmond opened the game on a 14-4 run, and survived a strong La Salle push to start the second half before answering with a decisive 15-2 tear to retake control.
“I was very pleased with how we played,” said Mooney after the win. “Kevin Anderson was tremendous throughout the game. Coming in I thought if we got killed on the offensive backboard, we would have a long night and we did get killed on the offensive backboard, but we were able to survive it.”
The inability to grab rebounds was the Spiders’ biggest flaw. La Salle had more offensive boards (15) than Richmond had total rebounds (13) in the first half.
By switching defenses repeatedly, La Salle was never able to find their comfort level on offense. I was impressed that the Spiders went to a spread 2-3 zone when La Salle’s begoggled big man Vernon Goodridge was on the bench. The zone would have allowed Goodridge to thrive in the center of the paint, so Mooney saved this D only for times when Goodridge was off the floor.
It was interesting to hear Mooney talk about the way he thought about his different zones and how they could be effective against La Salle’s personnel. The Explorers were 2-14 from outside against Richmond, 1-10 in the second half, which allowed Mooney to adjust the defense further.
“They didn’t shoot the ball well from three,” Mooney recognized. “When any team is playing defense, but especially us, if [our opponent] is not shooting well, if we can take that extra step off of their guy, that is a big step. All of a sudden you’re not giving up as much penetration, you’re not giving up as much creativity because you’re able to cut that offensive player off.”
Their creativity sapped, La Salle had just two options – crash the boards and continue to force jumpers on the perimeter. The Explorers shot 6-32 in the first half (18.8%) and 28.1% for the game.
Some of Richmond’s offensive sets would be familiar to Princeton fans. There were multiple dribble handoffs and bounce passes to the elbow that started cutters in motion, but Richmond used passes from the wing diagonal to the top on the key to set up drives and pull-up jumpers for Anderson in a way I don’t believe the Tigers utilize.
La Salle scored 10 straight out of the break to erase a five point deficit before Kevin Smith banked one home inside at the 14:49 mark, starting the Richmond response.
While the Spiders also struggled from the three point line (2-12), Richmond’s leading scorer, David Gonzalvez was on target from the top of the arc as Richmond went back in front 41-38 on their first three of the night. Gonzalvez finished with a season-low five points.
Jahron Giddings’ dunk follow, one of 12 offensive boards for Richmond, made it a nine point lead and Ryan Butler - a former Princeton target who has grown to 6’7” since opting for the Spiders - took the lead to 10 with a triple from dead on with 3:33 left, icing the game.
“I thought our aggressiveness increased or improved during the course of the second half,” Mooney said. While the Spiders allowed another 11 offensive boards after intermission, they outrebounded La Salle 19-18 in the second half.
Postgame audio - Coach Sydney Johnson, Zach Finley & Patrick Saunders:
For the next few weeks, Freshman forward Patrick Saunders will remember his first Penn/Princeton game every time he looks in the mirror.
Saunders needed stitches under his right eye following the Tigers' 62-55 overtime loss to Penn, the recipient of an elbow to the face midway through the second half doled out by Quaker Conor Turley.
"It's Princeton/Penn," said Princeton head coach Sydney Johnson. "Maybe sometimes if no one gets hurt it's not a Princeton/Penn game."
The Tigers were the ones hurting at the final buzzer after dropping their fifth straight game to their rivals from Philadelphia.
Despite shooting 4-17 from the field, Tyler Bernardini led all scorers with 18 points, one of three Quakers in double figures. Bernardini was 9-11 at the free throw line.
Starting at forward for the Tigers, Zach Finley recorded Princeton’s first double-double of the season with 12 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Saunders added 11 points, nine rebounds and six blocks off the bench before fouling out.
Penn grabbed 18 offensive rebounds. Princeton committed 20 turnovers.
One night after being out-muscled versus Yale, Princeton suffered through their worst loss at Brown since 1960, falling by 18 to the Bears - who were previously winless in Ivy play. The 61-43 decision was Princeton's fourth straight defeat in Providence and dropped the Tigers into second place behind Cornell in the race for the Ivy League title.
Center Matt Mullery led Brown’s “Iron Six” with 19 points on 8-10 shooting and six assists, one of three Bears in double figures.
Kareem Maddox had 10 points and six rebounds for the Tigers in defeat.
Brown combined timely outside shooting with high/low sets from the free throw line that allowed their big men to camp out deep in the lane for close, quality looks at the basket.
"We may have lost some confidence defensively, and that seemed to play out this weekend," said Princeton head coach Sydney Johnson. "Hopefully we can bounce back from that."
Postgame audio - Coach Sydney Johnson & Douglas Davis:
The opening possession was a harbinger of the rest of the night.
After winning the opening tip from Princeton forward Kareem Maddox, Yale's Ross Morin got the ball inside and missed at point blank range, his shot was rebounded under the basket by the smallest player on the floor, 5'9" Bulldog Chris Andrews.
An undaunted Morin missed again, but this time Yale center Garrett Fiddler took the ball away as it went up for grabs. The action stuck down at the far end of the John J. Lee Amphitheater, Alex Zampier was off the mark for three. Morin snatched his second board, but still could not score in the paint, Fiddler controlling before the ball went out of bounds off Princeton.
Morin passed out to Andrews just inside the three point line for a jumper over an oncoming Marcus Schroeder, which opened the scoring and ended a sixty second stretch with the ball continuously in Yale's hands.
Those four offensive rebounds were a quarter of the 16 the Bulldogs would grab as they overpowered Princeton inside on their way to a 60-48 victory, sending the Tigers to defeat for the first time in five Ivy contests.
"It was a physical game," said Princeton head coach Sydney Johnson. "The physicality seemed to favor them."
Postgame audio - Coach Sydney Johnson, Pawel Buczak, Dan Mavraides & Marcus Schroeder:
On Friday night, Princeton finished their decisive victory over Cornell by not permitting the Big Red to score a field goal in the final 7:05 of the second half.
The Tigers picked right up where they left off on the defensive end Saturday against Columbia, as the Lions went the first 9:05 of the game without a point.
A decisive defensive effort by Princeton's big men shut down Columbia in the post and the Tigers cruised to a surprisingly easy 63-35 win, the team's seventh straight.
It was Princeton's largest margin of victory over a D-I opponent since 2003, when the Tigers defeated UMBC, 76-43.
The combined lockdown of Cornell and Columbia (76 combined points) totalled the fewest points allowed over an Ivy weekend versus Princeton since 1984, also against the Big Red and Lions (71 combined points).
"We were very attentive [on defense]," said Princeton head coach Sydney Johnson. "We really knew that we were going to have to lock in. We were emotionally up for the game and that was important, especially following last night."
Backup center Zach Finley scored 11 points in 14 minutes to lead the Tigers, reaching double figures for the first time this season.
No Columbia player finished with more than two field goals.
As this site has inched closer and closer to its 1,000th post, I've wanted to find something special to share to mark the occasion. And here it is! From the March 17, 1989 WPRB broadcast of the Princeton/Georgetown NCAA Tournament game, interviews with senior captain Bob Scrabis and head coach Pete Carril. Both were taped between Selection Sunday and the Tigers' trip to Providence. I do not believe either has been re-aired since the original transmission.
Bob Scrabis interview:
Coach Pete Carril interview:
With 20 years of hindsight, it is fascinating to hear the discussion with both men of the Ivy League's chance of losing its automatic tournament bid, or the possibility that Carril would leave Princeton after the 1988-89 season was over.
Also from the same tape, enjoy a detailed, well-researched review of Princeton's prior NCAA tournament appearances (starts a few sentences in).
"The Most Significant Princeton Tigers NCAA Contests":
In addition to the above archived audio, I wanted to take a moment and share 10 posts out of the previous 999 on princetonbasketball.com that are worth highlighting, especially if you are new to the site or are a member that hasn't taken the time to explore our archives.
Audio of the entire 1965 NCAA consolation game against Wichita State in which Bill Bradley scored a tournament-record 58 points.
42 years later, I had the chance to sit down with Senator Bradley for a one-on-one interview.
Two buzzer beaters, five years apart. Video of Kyle Wente (2001) and Noah Savage (2006) hitting game-winners at Cambridge.
The story about how Georgetown coach John Thompson III drew up "forward/center" to beat Vanderbilt in the 2007 NCAA Tournament is one of my favorite pieces I've written for the site.
More uncovered audio - 17 seconds from the end of the Princeton/UCLA game, as Steve Goodrich finds a cutting Gabe Lewullis.
Having the opportunity to interview Chris Young after his first major league win at Fenway Park and then again after he made his Yankee Stadium debut remains a personal highlight.
Bringing back Seniors on a Stick in March 2008 was something I wish I had done sooner.
This one isn't Princeton-related, but I am proud of the photo essay I shot of a trip to the Paramount Theater in Brooklyn to see LIU play before that unique gym was closed.
Want to see/hear finds like the above? Want to be the best-informed fan in the stands? Become a member and give us the opportunity to continue to archive images, sounds and footage that might have otherwise been unavailable.
Click around, and I hope to see you tonight at Jadwin!
It wasn't just that they won, though the fact that they won is remarkable unto itself.
It was how they won.
Princeton never trailed on Friday night against Cornell, defeating the defending Ivy League champions 61-41 and ending the Big Red's 19 game conference winning streak.
They won despite getting just two points from their leading scorer, Doug Davis.
They won holding Cornell to four points in the final eight minutes of the game, and not allowing a field goal in the final 7:05.
They won scoring the game's last 10 points.
They won with four players in double figures, starting with center Pawel Buczak, who was on target all three times he rose up from outside, connecting from the top of the arc and both wings. Buczak poured in 15 points on 6-7 shooting. Dan Mavraides added 12 and Kareem Maddox had his most complete game in months, scoring 11, grabbing a game-best seven boards and working with the Tiger frontcourt to limit Cornell to minimal second chances. Marcus Schroeder chipped in 10.
Louis Dale was the only Cornell player in double figures with 12.
"I don't know if we envisioned it quite this way in terms of how the game played out and starting the year 3-0 [in the Ivy League]," said victorious Princeton coach Sydney Johnson, "but we do have a blueprint that was started by a man named Pete Carril and we've all tweaked it in different ways. These young men have embraced the system and they have great chemistry amongst them selves. It is really starting to pay dividends."
While the Tigers improved to 3-0 in conference, Cornell dropped to 4-1.
While working on something big for princetonbasketball.com's 1000th post (we're almost there and I think you'll enjoy it when it goes live in a few days), I happened across a reel-to-reel of Jim Nantz promos for Princeton basketball broadcasts on WPRB.
There are two takes of the longer spot, then single takes of a couple shorter reads.
I'd guess these are from the 1990-91 season. Enjoy.
princetonbasketball.com was founded on April 28th, 1998 in an attempt to provide fans of the Princeton Tigers and Ivy League basketball with the best on-line source for up-to-date news and information. We have since expanded to launch a companion site, Georgetown Basketball News.
As these sites have continued to grow we have increased our coverage to include additional teams with Princeton connections - the Richmond Spiders, Denver Pioneers, Oregon State Beavers, Fairfield Stags and Mercer County Community College Vikings - plus former Tigers playing professional baseball and basketball all over the world. This site is not directly affiliated with the Friends of Princeton Basketball, Princeton University or the Princeton athletic department.
Sun. 11/10 vs. Florida A&M
Sat. 11/16 at Butler
Wed. 11/20 vs. Lafayette
Sat. 11/23 at Rice
Tue. 11/26 vs. George Mason
Sat. 11/30 at Bucknell
Sat. 12/7 vs. FDU
Wed. 12/11 at Rutgers
Sat. 12/14 at Penn State
Fri. 12/20 vs. Portland*
Sat. 12/21 vs. Pacific*
Tue. 12/31 vs. Kent State
Sat. 1/4 at Liberty
Sat. 1/11 at Penn
Sun. 1/26 vs. Kean
Fri. 1/31 at Harvard
Sat. 2/1 at Dartmouth
Fri. 2/7 vs. Columbia
Sat. 2/8 vs. Cornell
Fri. 2/14 at Brown
Sat. 2/15 at Yale
Fri. 2/21 vs. Dartmouth
Sat. 2/22 vs. Harvard
Fri. 2/28 vs. Yale
Sat. 3/1 vs. Brown
Fri. 3/7 at Cornell
Sat. 3/8 at Columbia
Tue. 3/11 vs. Penn
2,503 - B. Bradley, 1962-65
1,625 - I. Hummer, 2009-13
1,550 - D. Davis, 2008-12
1,546 - K. Mueller, 1987-91
1,451 - P. Campbell, 1959-62
1,441 - C. Robinson, 1979-83
1,428 - B. Earl, 1995-99
1,365 - B. Scrabis, 1985-89
1,321 - G. Petrie, 1967-70
1,292 - H. Haabestad, 1952-55
1,277 - G. Lewullis, 1995-99
1,239 - B. Taylor, 1970-72
1,207 - S. Goodrich 1994-98
1,133 - F. Sowinski, 1975-78
1,130 - R. Hielscher, 1991-95
1,122 - C. Thomforde, 1966-69
1,099 - T. Manakas, 1970-73
1,090 - J. Wallace, 2001-05
1,088 - C. Belz, 1956-59
1,079 - B. Hauptfuhrer, 1973-76
1,076 - B. Roma, 1976-79
1,071 - C. Mooney, 1990-94
1,064 - A. Hyland, Jr., 1960-63
1,062 - L. Brangan, 1957-60
1,057 - A. Hill, 1973-76
1,054 - D. Mavraides, 2007-11
1,044 - S. Johnson, 1993-1997
1,031 - J. Hummer, 1967-70
1,010 - W. Venable, 2001-05
