If you said that Cornell men’s basketball would score 105 points on Miami, an Elite 8 team from last season, you would have thought the Big Red would win, right?
You’d be wrong.
Unfortunately for Cornell, it couldn’t come up with enough stops, as the Hurricanes scored 107 in a track-meet victory over the Big Red in Coral Gables, Fla.
It’s a bittersweet outcome for Cornell. Now at 7-2, the Big Red only have losses to Boston College and Miami of the ACC – and both were by two points. And with former Big Red head coach Bill Courtney serving as an associate coach for the Hurricanes, a victory would’ve meant even more – especially to the fans.
But most importantly, despite the loss, the game proves that the Big Red are legitimate and exposes the team’s weaknesses. After all, the Hurricanes were the best team Cornell will face this season.
Scoring 105 on an ACC team is no joke. According to KenPom, Miami is 98th in adjusted defensive efficiency nationally. The Hurricanes had only allowed more than 70 points one other time this season – an 88-70 loss to Maryland.
And Courtney was always a defense-focused coach. He preached his defensive mentality over his six seasons on East Hill.
Individually, Greg Dolan scoring 19 points is significant. Dolan showed elite shot-making and ball distribution skills, also registering six assists. Cornell would not have come close to winning without him.
Nazir Williams, Chris Manon, Sean Hansen and Max Watson also finished in double figures for the visitors. Watson’s play has been impressive this season. Making the switch from junior college to Division l, the Brigham City, Utah native has averaged 8.4 points per game and connected on 50% of his three-pointers.
Several players are stepping up each night offensively. Sure, with a No. 266 adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom, the defense has room for improvement. But this Cornell team seems to live and die with the offense.
So far, it’s worked. But with a challenge against Syracuse looming, the Big Red will need to tighten things up if they want a chance to win.
Ivy League play is around the corner, and it’s critical Cornell plays its best ball when true winter comes. It’ll take a gritty team to emerge out of the Ivy and make the NCAA Tournament. The Big Red have what it takes offensively.
The question is, will the defense hold? Regardless, these guys seem legit.