Ivy Hoops Online

Brown men shouldn’t be too down after missing Ivy League Tournament

March 9, 2020 by Mike Tony

Brown just missed out on an Ivy League Tournament berth for the second straight year this weekend, again getting edged out by Penn for the tourney’s No. 4 seed despite an impressive road sweep of Harvard and Dartmouth. And as coach Mike Martin indicated on Twitter after the loss, letdowns like this really sting.

2nite was 1 of the hardest post game talks I’ve ever had. We had just swept a tough r

oad trip + did it with grit, toughness, and togetherness- I was so proud of our team. But then we learned the news that it wasn’t enough. Hurting for our players – I’m lucky to be their coach.

— Mike Martin (@mmartinbrown) March 8, 2020

Cornell women put up good fight but fall to No. 21/No. 17 Princeton

March 8, 2020 by Nathan Solomon

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell Big Red put up a good fight, but the Princeton Tigers pulled away in the second half for a 69-50 victory, marking their 26th win of the season.

“I’m proud of them,” said Cornell coach Dayna Smith about her team. “I’m proud of the effort we played with today. We talked about worrying about us and what we can accomplish and execute, and we did that. Princeton is a phenomenal team. They’re going to do some great things down the stretch here.”

The Big Red (10-16, 3-11 Ivy) starting five consisted of all starters, and a sixth senior, Laura Bagwell-Katalinich, came off the bench. The six seniors combined for 48 of Cornell’s 50 points, as they got the majority of the minutes.

Princeton men falter versus Cornell, but Tiger senior class still shines

March 8, 2020 by Toothless Tiger

The final regular season game followed a great storyline. One of my favorite coaches spurred his team to its best offensive showing of the season, 60% shooting from the field, 64% from deep, five players in double figures and 85 points in a win. The problem for me is the favorite coach is Brian Earl, skipper of the Cornell Big Red, who masterminded a terrific game plan in the 85-82 Cornell victory.

Although the Tigers mounted a heroic late comeback effort, make no mistake about it: This was a convincing and highly deserved win by the visitors from high above Cayuga’s waters.

For Tiger fans the highlight of the evening was the more emotional than usual senior night sendoff to three great Tigers: Richmond Aririguzoh, Jose Morales and Will Gladson.

Yale men get swept by Harvard

March 8, 2020 by Richard Kent

You know the adage. It has been uttered hundreds of times by countless college coaches and scribes.

It is tough to beat a team three times in a season.

That has to be a mantra for Yale heading into a week of practice before Ivy Madness.

Penn men cruise over Columbia to take No. 4 seed in Ivy Madness as AJ Brodeur makes history

March 7, 2020 by Rob Browne

Penn senior forward AJ Brodeur set three program records in his final game at the Palestra as the Quakers easily dispatched Columbia, 85-65, on a historic night at the Palestra to earn the No. 4 seed in the Ivy League Tournament.

The Red & Blue (16-11, 8-6 Ivy) nabbed their fourth straight Ivy League Tournament berth, knocking Brown (also 8-6 in Ivy play) on the strength of a Brodeur triple-double: 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Penn split the season series with Brown but held the second tiebreaker, a better record against league top seed Yale.

Brodeur’s triple-double was the first in program history, a feat that followed two more records from the Northborough, Mass. native.

With the game well in hand in the second half, the focus became whether Brodeur would pass Ernie Beck ’53 to become the all-time leading scorer.

Penn women shut down Columbia, 51-36

March 7, 2020 by Palestra Pete

So what really mattered in Saturday’s Penn-Columbia women’s game?

Well, winning meant something, and Penn did that quite comfortably, 51-36, at Columbia.

But both teams were already locked into the Ivy League Tournament next weekend; only the seeding would be affected, and the loss makes Columbia (17-10, 8-6 Ivy) the No. 4 seed with the job nobody really wanted, facing Princeton in the first game Friday. Penn (20-7, 10-4) will be the No. 2 seed and face Yale. Columbia also was looking for a measure of revenge for a tight overtime loss in Philadelphia. Two top contenders for Ivy Rookie of the Year had a chance to show their stuff. And Janiya Clemmons, the Lions’ sole senior, had a sendoff in her last home game for Senior Day.

Report: Bryce Aiken to become graduate transfer

March 7, 2020 by Mike Tony

Bryce Aiken will pursue graduate transfer opportunities, 247Sports reported Saturday.

The news is no shock but indicates that Aiken is looking to use what is left of his college eligibility rather than starting a professional career.

Aiken played only seven games this season due to a foot injury that happened on Dec. 21, missing the final 18 games of the regular season. Aiken is expected to get a medical redshirt for this past season and will graduate from Harvard in the spring, according to 247Sports.

The Ivy League does not grants redshirts or allow graduate students to play athletics.

Aiken averaged 16.8 points, 2.7 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game in 65 career contests for the Crimson, establishing himself as one of the league’s most dynamic scorers when healthy. Aiken missed 31 games his sophomore and junior seasons due to injury.

No. 21/No. 17 Princeton women defeat Columbia as Alarie and Littlefield make history

March 7, 2020 by Mike Tony

Princeton (AP No. 21, Coaches No. 17) pulled off another patented second-half runaway at Levien Gym Friday night and made history in the process.

The Tigers looked like they could be in for their first real fight of Ivy League play as the Lions trimmed their lead to 36-31 1:56 into the third quarter.

But Princeton outscored Columbia 19-8 the rest of the quarter en route to a 77-52 win to stay unbeaten in conference action.

Princeton men roll over Columbia amid coronavirus threat

March 7, 2020 by Toothless Tiger

The mood in Jadwin Gymnasium last evening as the Tigers squared off against the Columbia Lions was different than usual, almost subdued. Perhaps it was the miserable weather, or perhaps it was the prospect of a meaningless game against the cellar-dwelling Lions.

In reality, the distracted atmosphere in the building was the product of the minute-by-minute developing story of the nationwide spread of the coronavirus, which has now reached the east coast and central New Jersey.

Penn men defeat Cornell, 78-64, control Ivy Madness destiny

March 7, 2020 by Rob Browne

After four months and 26 games, Penn’s chance at making its fourth straight Ivy Madness appearance now comes down to one final contest.

Following a closely matched 24 minutes, the Quakers used a 12-4 run, punctuated by back-to-back threes from Ryan Betley and Jordan Dingle, to create separation from Cornell and cruise to a 78-64 victory on Friday night.