LISTEN: Princeton men’s basketball’s postgame press conference after 77-70 loss to Yale

Ivy Hoops Online correspondent George “Toothless Tiger” Clark brings us Princeton’s press conference after a 77-70 home loss for Princeton (14-6, 3-2 Ivy) to Yale (12-6, 5-0) Friday evening:

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Yale and Princeton: This era’s Ivy League men’s basketball duopoly

I am old enough to remember the Princeton-Penn hegemony in Ivy hoops.

We’re talking 1965-2015. That’s 50 years. That’s a long time. Names like Carril, Dunphy, Bradley, Petrie, Calhoun and many, many more.

Tommy Amaker entered in 2007 and assisted in disrupting the world order. In 2010, Cornell made a run to the Sweet 16.

Since then, it has been mostly Yale and Princeton.

And the rivalry is very heated.

James Jones and Mitch Henderson could not be more different, personally and stylistically. But since 2016, their hegemony is crystal clear.

Yale has gone 88-28 and Princeton 85-31 in the Ivy regular season. Yale has won three Ivy League tourneys and Princeton two. They have each won two NCAA tourney games.

Little to separate them, but Yale has won 11 out of the last 14.

Princeton and Yale have, as a duo, separated from the pack.

This year, Yale sits atop the Ivy standings at 4-0. Princeton is 3-1 after a home loss to Cornell.

Yale has a league-leading NET ranking of 79 and a KenPom ranking of 75. Princeton sits at 130 and 137, respectively.

“I’m excited about the opportunity,” Yale coach James Jones. “That’s what college basketball is all about.”

And he is correct. The 5 p.m. start at Jadwin Gym will be televised by ESPN2.

Keys to the game:

  • Yale senior guard John Poulakidas shooting from long range.
  • Princeton senior guard Blake Peters making three-plus treys.
  • Yale senior guard Bez Mbeng not picking up two quick fouls guarding Princeton junior guard Xaivian Lee.
  • Princeton being able to rebound with Yale, especially on the offensive glass. How vocal an expected sold-out crowd is at Jadwin.

LISTEN: Cornell men’s basketball outlasts Princeton, 85-76

Ivy Hoops Online correspondent George “Toothless Tiger” Clark recaps an 85-76 win for Cornell (11-6, 3-1 Ivy) over Princeton (14-5, 3-1) at Jadwin Gym Saturday:

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LISTEN: How Princeton men’s basketball completed another comeback to clip Columbia, 71-67

Ivy Hoops Online correspondent George “Toothless Tiger” Clark reflects on a 71-67 comeback win to remember for Princeton (14-4, 3-0 Ivy) over Columbia (11-5, 0-3) at Jadwin Gym Monday:

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Princeton men’s basketball survives Harvard, 68-64

Princeton and Harvard tip off at Lavietes Pavilion on Jan. 11, 2025 in what became a 68-64 win for the Tigers over the Crimson. (Ray Curren | Ivy Hoops Online)

BOSTON – There were plenty of mistakes, their shooting was inconsistent, and closing the game out was a mess. But in the end, it was a 68-64 road victory for Princeton over Harvard to open Ivy League play Saturday afternoon.

The Tigers will gladly take it and be on their way.

“The league is so even this year. Even this game, next weekend at Dartmouth, it’s going to be hard. On the margins, that’s where we’ve been really trying to get better,” Princeton coach Mitch Henderson said. “I think it’s kind of going to be whomever is needed on a night that’s going to get us through.”

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LISTEN: Sizing up Princeton men’s basketball stands as Ivy League play nears

Ivy Hoops Online correspondent George “Toothless Tiger” Clark reflects on Princeton men’s basketball’s 10-4 start to the 2024-25 season with Ivy League play slated to start on Jan. 11 at Harvard:

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LISTEN: Princeton men’s basketball musters 71-67 win over Monmouth

Ivy Hoops Online correspondent George “Toothless Tiger” Clark reflects on a 71-67 victory for Princeton (8-4) over Monmouth (1-10) at Jadwin Gym Tuesday night:

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LISTEN: Reflections on Princeton men’s basketball’s 69-63 loss at Furman

Ivy Hoops Online correspondent George “Toothless Tiger” Clark recaps and reflects on a 69-63 loss for Princeton men’s basketball (7-4) at Furman (9-1) Saturday:

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LISTEN: Reflection on Princeton men’s basketball’s 77-69 win over Saint Joseph’s

Ivy Hoops Online contributor George “Toothless Tiger” Clark reflects on a 77-69 win for Princeton men’s basketball over Saint Joseph’s at Hagan Arena Tuesday night that yielded the first triple-double in program history, courtesy of junior guard Xaivian Lee:

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LISTEN: Sizing up Princeton men’s basketball after a 6-3 start

Ivy Hoops Online contributor George “Toothless Tiger” Clark takes stock of where Princeton men’s basketball stands after a 6-3 start replete with white-knuckle finishes and newly emerging linchpins:

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