Friend of IHO and author Richard Kent– whose basketball work includes Big East Confidential and Lady Vols and UConn: The Greatest Rivalry— sat down this week with Yale head coach James Jones to chat about next season for the Bulldogs. Some of the highlights from their conversation are below.
Richard Kent: The Ivy will be tough next year. Can you envision two NCAA bids?
James Jones: That will be tough, but could happen if two teams tie and have a playoff. We will certainly have some strong teams who will be in the postseason.
RK: Any defections or losses from this year’s team next season?
JJ: Well, Brandon Sherrod is taking a year off to sing and travel with the Whiffenpoofs. He will be back after that.
RK: I hear that Jeremiah Kreisberg is leaving?
JJ: He has no eligibility left at Yale and chose Northwestern over Vanderbilt. Lots of schools were interested in him.
RK: Will he play there in your opinion?
JJ: I am told at least 10 mpg. He was, of course, injured all of last year.
RK: Any surprise team in the Ivy next year?
JJ: Dartmouth will be better. They return Gabas Maldunas who was injured.
RK: What does your out-of-conference schedule look like?
JJ: We are at UConn, Florida, and Vanderbilt.
RK: What is the toughest League gym outside of Yale?
JJ: Columbia is very tough, so are Harvard and Jadwin.
RK: Will you get any help from any incoming frosh?
JJ: Makai Mason out of Hotchkiss is a point guard and a shooter as well. He will play.
RK: How tough is it to deal with the admissions office at Yale?
JJ: I understand it after all these years, so it is not that difficult to figure out.
RK: Who are your biggest recruiting rivals out of conference?
JJ: We run into Stanford, Northwestern and Notre Dame a lot.