Richard Kent

Q&A with Yale women’s basketball coach Dalila Eshe

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Dalila Eshe (Yale Athletics)

Ivy Hoops Online recently caught up with fifth-year Yale women’s basketball coach Dalila Eshe on a wide range of topics:

Ivy Hoops Online: Can you give us a preview of your out-of-conference scheduling and some insight into your scheduling philosophy?

Dalila Eshe: My philosophy around nonconference scheduling has evolved over the last few years. We always want to challenge our team, but we also have to balance several important factors. We try to give our players an opportunity to play close to home at some point during their four years, and we’re mindful of the academic calendar – particularly when they have to manage midterms or other demanding course work. We always prioritize regional games during the week whenever possible to minimize missed class time and travel demands. Ultimately, the goal is to build a balanced schedule that challenges our players appropriately, prepares us for Ivy League play and supports their overall experience as student-athletes.

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Q&A with Yale men’s basketball coach James Jones

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Yale men’s basketball coach James Jones is pictured in this undated photo. (James Jones’ X page)

Ivy Hoops Online recently caught up with veteran Yale men’s basketball coach James Jones to discuss summer developments and the upcoming season.

Ivy Hoops Online: You obviously planned to have Isaac Celiscar and Samson Aletan on your team in ’26-27 when you recruited them a few years back. What is it like without them? (Editor’s note: Celiscar, a rising junior, signed with Baylor after a Second Team All-Ivy selection in 2025-26. Aletan signed with Providence after three years at Yale and leading the Bulldogs in blocks and field-goal percentage in 2025-26.) 

James Jones: You can’t compensate for juniors and seniors. The transfer rules are different for us (Ivies). Hard to replace a junior and a senior.

IHO: Do you look at the [transfer] portal now more than previously?

JJ: Not really, because I never think that any of our guys will be leaving. It is also so hard to get a player into our school and to get one who is willing to pay to win a championship.

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How Yale men’s basketball edged Penn sans Nick Townsend

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No Nick Townsend. No problem.

Yale men’s basketball had sophomore forward Isaac Celiscar and senior forward Casey Simmons, and that duo powered Yale to a 74-70 win over surging Penn at John J. Lee Amphitheater Saturday afternoon.

With the win, Yale (21-4, 9-2 Ivy) clinched a bid to the Ivy League Tournament.

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Yale men’s basketball wins overtime thriller at Harvard

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Few sporting events live up to their billing. Yale-Harvard did and more Saturday night, as the Bulldogs edged Harvard, 76-75, in overtime in a game at Lavietes Pavilion which offered more theatrics than most Broadway plays.

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Harvard women’s basketball edges Yale on the road

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Harvard women’s basketball overcame a 32-point outing by Yale sophomore guard Ciniya Moore and held the Bulldogs at bay, 70-62, at John J. Lee Amphitheater Friday night, powered by a winning performance from Crimson junior guard Karlee White.

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Yale men’s basketball escapes Howard

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Yale men’s basketball played its first February out-of-conference game since 1957 Monday night.

The result was memorable: an 87-81 overtime defeat of Howard at The Burr in Washington.

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Yale men”s basketball survives Brown scare

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Yale men’s basketball averted disaster by outscoring Brown 22-5 to end their game and defeat the Bears at John J. Lee Amphitheater, 81-69, Friday night.

“Really tough, gritty win by the team tonight” Yale coach James Jones said. “Brown had us down and out three times in the game.”

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