Picking up where it left off in mid-March, tournament champion Penn was selected first in the Ivy League men’s basketball preseason poll that was released on Oct. 13.
Penn received 11 first-place votes from the 21-person media panel and a total of 157 points.
Harvard, which finished the regular season in second place, earned the second slot on the 2026-27 list on the strength of seven first-place votes and 146 overall points.
Despite losing its entire starting lineup, two-time regular season champion Yale was selected for third with two first-place votes and 133 points.
Princeton, which returns 16 of 17 players from last year’s fifth-place edition, secured the final space in the upper division with 99 points and a single first-place vote.
Five straight appearances in Ivy Madness wasn’t good enough for the panel to keep Cornell in the top half, and the Big Red ended up in fifth place with 82 points.
The sixth, seventh and eighth spots went to Columbia (69 points), Brown (42) and Dartmouth (30), respectively.
Following the release of the poll, the Ivy League and the Field of 68 partnered for the conference’s annual Media Day. For the second straight season, Jeff Goodman and Rob Dauster moderated the conversation with all the teams and the league’s executive director.
1. Penn (18-12, 9-5 Ivy League): Coach Fran McCaffery (second season at Penn & 31st overall)
- Key Returns: TJ Power – senior forward (16.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.4 apg, First Team All-Ivy), Michael Zanoni – senior guard/forward (11.8 ppg), AJ Levine – junior guard (8.2 ppg, 4.0 apg)
- Key Graduation Losses: Ethan Roberts – guard (16.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg, Second Team All-Ivy)
- Transfers In: Notre Dame’s Sir Mohammed – junior guard (5.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg), Cal Tech’s Dorian Glogovac – sophomore guard (23.6 ppg)
- Transfers Out: Boston University’s Michelangelo Oberti – junior center (1.8 ppg, 1.2 rpg), Holy Cross’ Bradyn Foster – junior forward (0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg), Saint Anselm’s Alex Massung – redshirt sophomore guard (1.7 ppg, 0.6 rpg)
- Key Offensive Stats (per KenPom): 3 PT FG% (No. 12), 2 PT FG% (No. 340), FT% (No. 285), Rebound Rate (No. 200), 3 PT FG Rate (No. 264), FT Rate (No. 212), Turnover Rate (No. 89)
- Key Defensive Stats: 3 PT FG% (No. 73), 2 PT FG% (No. 296), FT% (No. 3), Rebound Rate (No. 221), 3 PT FG Rate (No. 190), FT Rate (No. ), No. 28), Turnover Rate (No. 131)
- Key Media Day Takeaways
- McCaffery feels this is the deepest team he’s ever had.
- Power can shoot the three, play the post and handle the ball like a point guard. When he’s playing well, that confidence spreads to the whole team.
- Levine’s transformation on both sides of the ball in the second half of last year was a key factor in Penn making and winning the Ivy League Tournament, and he’s still currently playing at that same level.
2. Harvard (17-12, 10-4): Coach Tommy Amaker (20th season at Harvard & 30th overall)
- Key Returns: Robert Hinton – junior guard (16.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.1 apg, First Team All-Ivy), Tey Barbour – junior guard (13.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg), Thomas Batties II – senior forward (12.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, Second Team All-Ivy)
- Key Graduation Losses: Chandler Pigge – guard (12.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, Second Team All-Ivy)
- Transfers In: none
- Transfers Out: none
- Key Offensive Stats: 3 PT FG% (No. 134), 2 PT FG% (No. 87), FT% (No. 1), Rebound Rate (No. 302), 3 PT FG Rate (No. 167), FT Rate (No. 359), Turnover Rate (No. 233)
- Key Defensive Stats: 3 PT FG% (No. 94), 2 PT FG% (No. 156), FT% (No. 178), Rebound Rate (No. 69), 3 PT FG Rate (No. 156), FT Rate (No. 16), Turnover Rate (No. 142)
- Key Media Day Takeaways
- Amaker likes the growth of his program and has the good fortune that his current upperclassmen have decided to embrace the four-year experience at Harvard.
- Batties feels the team needs to bring more fire to every game than it did last year.
3. Yale (24-7, 11-3): Coach James Jones (28th season at Yale & 28th overall)
- Key Returns: Trevor Mullin – senior guard (11.5 ppg, 2.8 apg), Riley Fox – junior forward (10.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg), Jordan Braithwaite – junior guard (6.6 ppg)
- Key Graduation Losses: Nick Townsend – forward (16.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, Player of the Year, First Team All-Ivy), Casey Simmons – guard (10.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, Defensive Player of the Year, Honorable Mention All-Ivy)
- Transfers In: Washington Univ. in St. Louis’ Connor May – junior forward (17.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg),
- Transfers Out: Baylor’s Isaac Celiscar – junior forward (13.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg, Second Team All-Ivy) , Providence’s Samsom Aletan – senior center (7.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
- Key Offensive Stats: 3 PT FG% (No. 3), 2 PT FG% (No. 98), FT% (No. 100), Rebound Rate (No. 62), 3 PT FG Rate (No. 248), FT Rate (No. 172), Turnover Rate (No. 20)
- Key Defensive Stats: 3 PT FG% (No. 250), 2 PT FG% (No. 133), FT% (No. 216), Rebound Rate (No. 147), 3 PT FG Rate (No. 335), FT Rate (No. 19), Turnover Rate (No. 203)
- Key Media Day Takeaways
- The Bulldogs have won a regular season and/or Ivy tournament title in each of the last seven seasons.
- They’ll overcome the loss of four starters by relying on the program’s “next man up” mentality.
- Jones feels as long as his players play Yale basketball (defending, rebounding, sharing), they’ll be fine.
4. Princeton (9-20, 5-9): Head Coach Mitch Henderson (16th season at Princeton & 16th overall)
- Key Returns: Dalen Davis – senior guard (14.7 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Ivy), Jackson Hicke – senior guard (15.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.4 apg), Malik Abdullahi – junior forward (9.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
- Key Graduation Losses: none
- Transfers In: none
- Transfers Out: none
- Key Offensive Stats: 3 PT FG% (No. 177), 2 PT FG% (No. 296), FT% (No. 91), Rebound Rate (No. 287), 3 PT FG Rate (No. 79), FT Rate (No. 192), Turnover Rate (No. 211)
- Key Defensive Stats: 3 PT FG% (No. 36), 2 PT FG% (No. 324), FT% (No. 189), Rebound Rate (No. 82), 3 PT FG Rate (No. 251), FT Rate (No. 152), Turnover Rate (No. 328)
- Key Media Day Takeaways
- Princeton is one of two teams in the nation not to lose any players to graduation or have any transfers, in or out.
- Having a more experienced team, including five seniors, should help in a senior-driven league.
- The Tigers lost 10 games by five points or fewer last season. The coach feels that winning is a learned skill and the lessons from those close defeats should help them get more victories this year.
5. Cornell (15-13, 8-6): Coach: Jon Jaques (third season at Cornell & third overall)
- Key Returns: Jacob Beccles – senior guard (7.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg), Kaspar Sepp – senior forward (4.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Anthony Nimani – junior guard (5.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg)
- Key Graduation Losses: Jake Fiegen – guard (17.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg, First Team All-Ivy), Cooper Noard – guard (18.2 ppg, Second Team All-Ivy), Adam Hinton – guard (12.5 ppg)
- Transfers In: Citrus College’s JJ Sanchez – sophomore guard (12.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.4 apg), Lock Haven’s Luke Kennevan – sophomore guard (10.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.5 apg)
- Transfers Out: Wagner’s AJ Rodriguez – redshirt sophomore guard/forward (DNP)
- Key Offensive Stats: 3 PT FG% (No. 13), 2 PT FG% (No. 9), FT% (No. 137), Rebound Rate (No. 192), 3 PT FG Rate (No. 8), FT Rate (No. 303), Turnover Rate (No. 139)
- Key Defensive Stats: 3 PT FG% (No. 349), 2 PT FG% (No. 320), FT% (No. 139), Rebound Rate (No. 189), 3 PT FG Rate (No. 143), FT Rate (No. 244), Turnover Rate (No. 280)
- Key Media Day Takeaways
- With Cornell’s offensive system in place, new players step up every year. As a result, the Big Red aren’t worried that the loss of seven seniors will affect production.
- There will still be a focus on the three but less than the past, since it’s shown to be a problem in games where the deep ball isn’t falling.
- The coach is looking for improved defense and quick adaption of first-years to the team’s unique style (fast pace, deep roster) for a successful season.
6. Columbia (16-12, 5-9): Coach: Kevin Hovde (second season at Columbia & second overall)
- Key Returns: Connor Igoe – sophomore forward (8.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, Rookie of the Year), Miles Franklin – sophomore guard (9.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg), Mason Ritter – junior forward (7.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg)
- Key Graduation Losses: Kenny Noland – guard (17.1 ppg, 3.6 apg, Second Team All-Ivy), Zine Eddine Bedri – forward (12.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg), Blair Thompson – guard (11.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
- Transfers In: San Jose State’s Douglas Langford – sophomore forward (1.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
- Transfers Out: Northwestern’s Ryan Soulis – junior forward (5.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg),
- Key Offensive Stats: 3 PT FG% (No. 57), 2 PT FG% (No. 116), FT% (No. 265), Rebound Rate (No. 24), 3 PT FG Rate (No. 221), FT Rate (No. 337), Turnover Rate (No. 337)
- Key Defensive Stats: 3 PT FG% (No. 258), 2 PT FG% (No. 109), FT% (No. 306), Rebound Rate (No. 42), 3 PT FG Rate (No. 79), FT Rate (No. 140), Turnover Rate (No. 288)
- Key Media Day Takeaways
- Hovde wants his team to have a physical, hard-playing identity.
- There are no specific goals or number of wins needed. The focus is on the process instead of game-by-game results.
- The Lions’ goals are to control the backboard on both ends and win the turnover battle, so they can take more shots than their opponents. Even if the shots aren’t falling, taking more shots will allow them to put up more points and win games on a consistent basis.
7. Brown (9-18, 3-11): Coach Eric Reveno (first season at Brown & 11th overall)
- Key Returns: Adrian Uchidiuno – senior guard (9.1 ppg), Jeremiah Jenkins – junior guard (8.2 ppg, 3.9 rpb, 5.2 apg), N’famara Dabo – senior forward (7.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
- Key Graduation Losses: Landon Lewis – forward (16.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg, First Team All-Ivy)
- Transfers In: Bowdoin’s Ray Cuevas – junior guard (22.2 ppg, 4.4 rpb, 2.6 apg)
- Transfers Out: none
- Key Offensive Stats: 3 PT FG% (No. 338), 2 PT FG% (No. 243), FT% (No. 316), Rebound Rate (No. 236), 3 PT FG Rate (No. 244), FT Rate (No. 342), Turnover Rate (No. 336)
- Key Defensive Stats: 3 PT FG% (No. 157), 2 PT FG% (No. 204), FT% (No. 343), Rebound Rate (No. 263), 3 PT FG Rate (No. 297), FT Rate (No. 253), Turnover Rate (No. 62)
- Key Media Day Takeaways
- Reveno didn’t take much time to study his players, since he feels he learns more about them through their actual play on the court.
- Reveno had no playbook for the team to learn. He’s introducing things slowly to get a feel for where their strengths are.
- The first-year Brown head coach wants his guys to run and get easy baskets in transition. Since they had such a high turnover rate, he also wants them to be more disciplined and do a better job taking care of the ball.
8. Dartmouth (11-16, 5-9): Head Coach: Brett MacConnell (first season at Dartmouth & first overall)
- Key Returns: Cameron McNamee – junior guard (6.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg), Nikola Abusara – junior guard (5.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg),
- Key Graduation Losses: Brandon Mitchell-Day – forward (12.1 ppg, 9.0 rpg, Honorable Mention All-Ivy), Jayden Williams – forward (11.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
- Transfers In: Colby’s Dan Civello – senior center (18.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.0 apg), Niagara’s Landon Williams – redshirt sophomore guard (5.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
- Transfers Out: Seton Hall’s Kareem Thomas – junior guard (15.9 ppg), University of Pacific’s Connor Amundsen – junior guard (9.5 ppg, 3.7 apg)
- Key Offensive Stats: 3 PT FG% (No. 51), 2 PT FG% (No. 271), FT% (No. 119), Rebound Rate (No. 346), 3 PT FG Rate (No. 22), FT Rate (No. 103), Turnover Rate (No. 250)
- Key Defensive Stats: 3 PT FG% (No. 234), 2 PT FG% (No. 248), FT% (No. 120), Rebound Rate (No. 148), 3 PT FG Rate (No. 173), FT Rate (No. 80), Turnover Rate (No. 340)
- Key Media Day Takeaways:
- Since Dartmouth has a late start in mid-September, the former Princeton associate coach was still learning about his new team.
- Losing all five starters from last year’s team (three to graduation, two to transfer) provides plenty of opportunities up and down the roster.
- Former Columbia and current Stanford head coach Kyle Smith has introduced the Smith Cup, which will go to the Ivy coach from his coaching tree (MacConnell, Reveno, Hovde, Jaques) whose team has the best record at the end of the year.
Bonus – Ivy League executive director Robin Harris (18th season in charge of the Ivy League)
- Key Media Day Takeaways
- The Ivy League did not consider shifting away from its four-year model to allow graduate students, now that players can play for five years.
- The league and its eight presidents continue to support “legitimate and real” NIL opportunities, because they’ve always supported entrepreneurial students. However, they do not support what the executive director called external “fake” or “pay-for-play” NIL.
- Harris was on the fence about the increase to 76 NCAA Tournament bids. This change should benefit the women, since the league regularly is receiving multiple bids. On the men’s side, she’s confident multiple bids will happen, but not immediately. Until that happens, it’s possible there will be years where the qualifying men’s team will end up playing in the Opening Round.
- The Ivy League athletic directors have met with “seasoned veterans who are very well versed in Division I at the highest levels,” and the consistent theme from those meetings was the conference has an approach that is truly valued and will have a place in Division I moving forward. After these conversations, the athletic directors felt now is the time to double down on the conference’s model and preserve what is special about it. They’ll modernize, evolve and adjust, but they don’t feel they need to make wholesale change.