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!
Pete Carril is having mixed feelings about his new job.
The Princeton Athletic Department is counting down the Top 40 Moments In Jadwin Gym History this week. Here's 31 through 40.
Princeton recruiting news - Will Barrett scored 12 of his 16 points in the first half of Central Bucks South's win over Pennridge and Brendan Connolly went for 32 in a two point double overtime loss.
...to be followed by "Thursday News - Results" later tonight.
Mack Darrow had a monster night, scoring 28 of his team's 47 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in Barrington's two point win over Palatine.
Another future Tiger, Will Barrett, had 26 points in Central Bucks South's conference victory over North Penn.
Darrow and Barrett weren't the only Princeton recruits to record strong showings. Jimmy Sherburne went for 17 as the Whitefish Bay Blue Devils improved to 9-1 with a 62-48 win over Port Washington. Matching up with Pittsburgh recruit Talib Zanna, Ian Hummer had 17 points and nine boards. Gonzaga picked up a 67-41 victory over one of the DC area's best, Bishop McNamara.
Deja vu all over again. Dan Mavraides was named to the Honor Roll of the latest Ivy Weekly Basketball Awards.
Town Topics has a story about Princeton's win over Lehigh.
The Sacramento Bee reports on Pete Carril's return to the Kings.
John Thompson Jr. said on his radio show late last week that his son's team needs some "thugs" to help with the Hoyas' rebounding woes.
Princeton rises to 12th place in the new Schuylkill 16.
Now I understand what Coach Carril was muttering about last night at Jadwin when he said he was leaving town for a few weeks...
SACRAMENTO, CA, January 8, 2009 ---- The Sacramento Kings today announced that former Kings assistant coach Pete Carril will return to the organization as a Basketball Development Consultant according to Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie.
“We’re really excited to have Pete come back and join us as a consultant to assist Kenny (Natt) in all areas of individual player and team development,” said Petrie. “He’s really excited about rejoining the club and adding some of his experience and understanding of the game. I look forward to seeing him back here.”
One of the most respected men in basketball, Carril spent 10 seasons with the Kings as an assistant coach, specializing in individual player development and offensive schemes.
“Coach Carril brings a lot of winning experience and knowledge about basketball in general,” explained Kings’ Head Coach Kenny Natt. “As a young head coach, I will be able to utilize his experience and knowledge about getting the best out of our players. I’m looking forward to his input. It’s exactly what I need at this point.”
In a crowning achievement to his legendary collegiate coaching career, Carril was rewarded with an induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on September 29, 1997. After coaching 30 years in the NCAA ranks, Carril joined the Kings prior to the 1996-97 campaign. His addition to the Kings' coaching staff reunited him with Petrie, whom he coached at Princeton from 1968-70.
The winningest coach in Ivy League history (525-273, .658 winning percentage), Carril's career at Princeton included 13 conference titles, 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, and just one losing season. Prior to his retirement following the 1996 NCAA Tournament, he was the only active NCAA Division I head coach to reach the 500-victory plateau without athletic scholarships.
In his final season as head coach at Princeton, he led the Tigers to the Ivy League Championship with a 22-7 record. In one of the most thrilling moments of the 1996 NCAA Tournament, Carril's Tigers upset defending champion UCLA in the first round, 43-41, on a signature Carril-designed backdoor layup with only 3.8 seconds remaining in the game.
Carril played collegiately at Lafayette College under Head Coach Butch Van Breda Kolff. Following his graduation from Lafayette in 1952, Carril began his coaching career at the high school level where he stayed for 12 years. He went on to become head coach at Lehigh University for one season before beginning his stay at Princeton in 1967.
Dick Vitale is thrilled Pete Carril will have the floor at Jadwin named after him.
Princeton recruit Ian Hummer impressed with 16 points and nine rebounds in Gonzaga's victory over Baltimore St. Frances Academy in the Cancer Research Basketball Classic.
Georgetown (10-2) was topped by Pitt, 70-54. The Panthers outrebounded the Hoyas 46-21.
Around the Ivy League: Cornell (8-6) made a school record 18 three pointers in a 99-45 drubbing of Ursinus. Yale (3-9) had their way with MIT, 86-63. Army defeated Dartmouth (2-10) for the second time this season.
Dartmouth vs. Cal - 4:00 pm ET - Golden Bear Classic
...and we're back. Hope you had good, safe, happy and healthy holidays!
Video of a postgame interview with Princeton recruit Ian Hummer after Gonzaga defeated Good Counsel, 80-76 in OT. There are game highlights on the site as well.
Pete Carril is the subject of a short Q&A in the Sacramento Bee.
Finally, here's a feature on my recently-completed 24-Hour Holiday Radio Show from Friday's Trenton Times.
FIU vs. Georgetown - 7:30 pm ET
SMU vs. Northwestern - 8:00 pm ET - bigtennetwork.com
First the banners in the rafters, and now something else long-overdue! Princeton will name the floor at Jadwin Gym "Carril Court" in honor of Pete Carril, who stood on the sidelines at Princeton for 29 seasons. There will be ceremony on February 21st when the Tigers host Dartmouth.
Doug Davis made the Honor Roll of the new Ivy Weekly Basketball Awards.
In addition to the Oscar De La Hoya piece I posted yesterday, a number of other Sean Gregory videos have been posted on Time Magazine's YouTube page. The one-on-one with Lebron James package, I've linked to previously, but I had never seen the above interview with Coach Carril about the Princeton/UCLA game, full of still photos that were also new to these eyes.
A slideshow from Georgetown's open practice on Friday afternoon for Hoya Hoop Club members. Notice Coach Carril in the background of several of the shots, taking everything in.
Couldn't make it to last night's dinner honoring Bill Bradley and Dick Kazmaier? I know, neither could we. Thankfully, our photographer, Stephen Goldsmith was able to attend and submit the following photo essay. Lots of familiar Princeton basketball faces - past, present and future were at Jadwin as #42 was retired across all Tiger sports. If you went, please share your memories of the event in our comments. Thanks so much to Stephen for his excellent work!
Reporters were invited to the first practices of the season at Northwestern and Oregon State. Some interesting observations of both schools' coaches in these two articles.
Princeton recruit Jimmy Sherburne tells the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel why he decided to play basketball for the Tigers.
Georgetown recruit Nate Lubick is profiled by the Milford Daily News.
Samford head coach Jimmy Tillette explains how hard it was to initially get Princeton's coaches to teach him about their offense.
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