Penn men’s coach Steve Donahue noted Penn’s “interesting path” to the Ivy League Tournament, which included a 0-3 start to league play for the second time in three seasons, Antonio Woods noted he’ll shoulder the burden of guarding Bryce Aiken, and AJ Brodeur said that it may be more difficult to play Ivy teams than Big 5 teams because the Ivies know the Red & Blue so well and are more prepared to face them.
Yale men’s coach James Jones said Yale will have “loads of friends and family here” at the John J. Lee Amphitheater, senior guard Alex Copeland said he’s improved because his confidence level has improved, and senior forward Blake Reynolds said the home crowd at JLA “really helps us.”
Princeton men’s coach Mitch Henderson said he has never had a player in 20 years inspire him as much as junior center Richmond Aririguzoh. “Every game he gets better. We are lucky to have him in our lives. He is a special person,” Henderson said. Henderson also noted the difficulty of playing without Devin Cannady and having to make in-season adjustments.
Princeton women’s coach Courtney Banghart touted the importance of her team’s seniors and called two-time Ivy Player of the Year Bella Alarie a “special” player.
Alarie said the Tigers faced “a lot of adversity with injuries” this season, alluding to her own injury that caused her to miss the start of the season. “We have sustained excellence in this program,” Alarie said. “We have people before us who paved the way.”