Princeton prepared for this season secure in the knowledge that, for once, its best player was returning for another campaign in the orange and black. But, with the announcement that senior big man Hans Brase is out for the year with a torn ACL, the five-year trend continues. Tiger fans are relieved to learn that Hans will spend a fifth year in Jadwin in the 2016-17 season. The Tigers will present a senior-laden quintet next year, as Brase will be joined by Pete Miller, Steven Cook and Spencer Weisz.
Princeton senior forward Hans Brase out for 2015-16 season with torn ACL
Princeton Athletics announced Saturday night that senior forward and co-captain Hans Brase will miss the 2015-16 season with a torn ACL and return for his senior season in 2016-17.
This is a huge blow for the Tigers, as Brase was the team’s second-leading scorer and leading rebounder in each of the past two seasons. Brase notched 11.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists in 31.1 minutes per contest in 2014-15, and scored in double figures in six of 14 conference games a year ago.
Brase’s exit will put pressure on junior forwards Henry Caruso and Pete Miller as well as sophomore forward Alec Brennan in the frontcourt of what has been a balanced offensive attack under coach Mitch Henderson.
Providence tops Harvard, 76-64
What happened: It’d be easy to say Harvard simply ran into the buzzsaw that is likely future NBA Draft lottery pick Kris Dunn, who posted 32 points, six rebounds, two blocks and an incredible eight steals (seven of which came in the first half). But the Crimson’s turnovers – 22 for the game – are what kept them from taking over the game in the first half when the Friars, Dunn included, were struggling to convert at the rim.
What to look for next: Harvard’s halfcourt defense acquitted itself relatively well, even in spite of Dunn’s next-level second half. I expect that defense to continue to strengthen as the season progresses. If freshman guard Corey Johnson can keep up his deep shooting streak – 15 of his 17 points came from downtown – the Crimson will be able to stretch defenses and keep them honest. Junior center Zena Edosomwan got into early foul trouble and missed six of his first seven free throws, only contributing on offense after Dunn had put the game out of reach. Simply put, Harvard needs more offense out of its frontcourt earlier in contests going forward, and that starts with Edosomwan.
The Steve Donahue era begins with Penn finishing
PHILADELPHIA – Eight months since he took the post as the head of Penn basketball, Steve Donahue’s team was up 17 against a Robert Morris squad that returned four starters from last year’s NCAA Tournament squad. Penn had only coughed up the ball five times in the first half. Almost every shot that the Quakers took was within the bounds of Donahue’s system. It was as good as Donahue could have scripted it.
Princeton pulls away from Rider, 64-56
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – Princeton faced off against the tough Rider Broncs Friday night without senior captain Hans Brase, who is expected to anchor the Tigers at both ends of the court. A troublesome knee flared up earlier in the week, sending Brase to the bench on crutches for the season opener. He is expected to return at full strength, but it may be weeks before he can get on the court.
Ivy opening night roundup – A freshman free-for-all
Columbia 107, Kean 62
What happened: This contest between the Lions and Division III Kean was one of several games that kicked off at 11 a.m., thus ushering in the 2015-16 college basketball season. The Light Blue enjoyed the return of senior forward Alex Rosenberg, who brought his physical style of offensive play back instantly after missing last year due to a Jones fracture. Rosenberg posted 10 points and characteristically got to the free throw line early and often (six times, to be exact) before sitting after the Lions clinched the game early. Senior guard Grant Mullins posted 11 points in 16 minutes after missing last season due to injury as well. Freshman guard C.J. Davis impressed later in the game, notching 19 points in 15 minutes.
On the Vine – Nov. 11, 2015
Peter Andrews, Mike Tony, Ian Halpern, George Clark and Sam Tydings come together to preview the start of a new season of Ivy League basketball.
Princeton Season Preview – An Ivy Title There For the Taking
Princeton enters the 2015-16 season riding a wave of high expectations. Last season, the Tiger express was derailed by a 3-8 start, disappointing but not entirely unexpected in view of the preseason loss of senior Denton Koon, from whom great things were anticipated and, clearly, needed. (Koon elected to graduate with his class and will use his fourth year of eligibility at Hofstra.) The Tigers finished on a high note, claiming the last four Ivy contests and third place behind the co-champion Yale Bulldogs and Harvard Crimson. The Tigers’ 9-1 record against all of their Ivy foes other than Harvard and Yale is one of the main reasons for optimism in Jadwin. Another is the return of five starters and six of the first eight in the rotation, while Harvard and Yale lose All-Ivy caliber players not easily replaced.
Reading the Ivy tea leaves – Princeton roundup
T.J. Bray, Princeton basketball ’14: I’m excited to see how the guys continue to grow this year, especially the junior class. With Hans (Brase) being the double-double threat that he is every night, I want to see how Spencer (Weisz), Steve (Cook), and Henry (Caruso) continue to expand their games in new ways. There’s always more nuances you can pick up in the Princeton offense and I think all three will have added something over the summer. I’m also looking forward to seeing how the team comes together defensively. This team has the ability to play hard and smart on that end for 40 minutes at a time. If they can do that consistently, there’s no telling where this team can go.
Clay Wilson, Princeton basketball ’15: I would say I’m most excited to see how the incoming freshmen fit into the equation. We have a lot of talent back from last year and the incoming freshmen were all really impressive on their visits so I’m looking forward to seeing which guys can step in right away and help. I’m also looking forward to see how Hans’s game has improved. He had a good summer here in Germany and I think he could potentially be in the running for Ivy League Player of the Year if he continues to play more inside like he did towards the end of last season. Everyone knows he can shoot the three ball, but I think he is most effective when he is in attack mode and inside the arc. It’s gonna be interesting to see who gets playing time because a lot of guys deserve to play, but there is so much talent and only so many minutes to be had.
Haiku Corner – Princeton season preview edition
His bench is long, his
Options are many, Mitch’s
Time to win is now
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Hans cannot be stopped
So take it inside, big man
Hans & Weisz (not Franz)
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Defense must toughen
On perimeter if a
Crown is soon to come