Reading the Ivy tea leaves – Dartmouth roundup

Thanks to those who shared their thoughts on their hopes and expectations for the Big Green this season:

Joel McCoy, Dartmouth ’16: I’m really excited to see what this team does with Malik Gill instead of Alex Mitola, I think their ceiling is much higher offensively and defensively with that switch up. Also, the freshman (Evan) Boudreaux looks like he might be a really nice player that can stretch defenses starting at the 5. I think they should compete in the Ivy League if they play more freely and aren’t as overcoached offensively this year as (they have) last few years.

DaVeon Smith, Dartmouth men’s basketball head manager, 2011-13: As a fan of Dartmouth men’s basketball, I have followed the program very closely for the past four years. Based on their performance last year, there is much to be excited about in Hanover. For the first time in years, the team made a postseason tournament and finished in the top half of the Ivy League. Therefore, one cannot resist being excited about how they’ll follow up their performance from last year. Although they have lost some key players in Gabas Maldunas, John Golden and Alex Mitola, returning veterans Malik Gill, Connor Boehm, Tommy Carpenter, and the rest of the team will seek to continue their quest to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1959.  The reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Year Miles Wright will look to build upon an excellent freshman season as well. All of those things combined with a solid recruiting class makes Dartmouth an intriguing team to watch this upcoming season.

Jonathan Gault, former IHO writer: Last year was great, with the Big Green winning the final five Ivy League games to get to the postseason for the first time in 56 years. The Yale game was probably the most exciting thing to happen to Dartmouth basketball since I’ve been alive. I’m worried that without mainstays Gabas Maldunas and Alex Mitola, Dartmouth will take a step back, but the league as a whole seems pretty wide open this year, so hopefully Dartmouth can surprise some people. If Miles Wright, last year’s Ivy Rookie of the Year, can blossom into a team leader and All-Ivy player, the Big Green should challenge for a top-half finish.