Home of the Roundball Poets
Xaivian Lee is a 6-foot-3 sophomore guard at Princeton from Toronto who did his prep years at the Perkiomen School in Pennsburg, Pa. Lee recently sat down with Ivy Hoops Online for an interview at Jadwin Gym:
Princeton women’s basketball dominated its in-state rivals Wednesday night, casting aside the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 66-55, at Jadwin Gymnasium.
Ivy Hoops Online contributor George “Toothless Tiger” Clark recaps and reflects on Princeton men’s basketball improving to 9-0 with an 81-70 win over Drexel at Jadwin Gym Tuesday night:
Audio PlayerMatt Allocco, for the win!#MakeShots | #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/Op2L3w1dfF
— Princeton Men’s Basketball (@PrincetonMBB) December 2, 2023
Princeton men’s basketball shook off an 11-point deficit with under four minutes to play to notch an unforgettable win over Furman at Jadwin Gym Saturday and improve to 8-0 on the season. Listen to Princeton coach Mitch Henderson, senior guard Matt Allocco and sophomore forward Caden Pierce reflect on the comeback win at their postgame press conference:
Listen to Ivy Hoops Online contributor George Clark break down the improbable victory:
Audio PlayerEditor’s note: Princeton men’s basketball cemented a 6-0 start with an 80-66 win over Northeastern at Jadwin Gym Saturday. Ivy Hoops Online contributor George “Toothless Tiger” Clark brings us the audio of the postgame press conference featuring Princeton coach Mitch Henderson, senior guard Matt Allocco and sophomore guard Xaivian Lee. Lee notched 30 points on 11-for-21 shooting, six rebounds and four assists, while Allocco posted 18 points on 6-for-13 shooting and six assists.
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Anyone thinking this might be the year to topple the Princeton women’s basketball team from its perch atop the Ivy League standings received a rude but familiar awakening on Monday night when yet another phenom took center stage in the Tigers’ season opener against the Duquesne Dukes. Princeton won a seesaw affair, 65-57, at Jadwin Gym, powered by sophomore sensation Madison St. Rose’s career-high 26 points on 9-for-18 shooting.
It was déjà vu all over again for Princeton. A year ago, the Tigers were coming off another successful campaign having won a second straight Ivy League title and toppled a power-five opponent – Kentucky – in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Although the Tigers were considered a favorite to repeat, there were questions about who could fill the very large shoes of graduated senior Abby Meyers, who had led the team in scoring and was voted Ivy League Player of the Year.
Coming off an appearance in the Sweet 16 in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, Princeton men’s basketball has announced its schedule for the upcoming season. The Tigers will play a slate of 13 nonconference games against Rutgers, Hofstra, Duquesne, Monmouth, Old Dominion, Northeastern, Bucknell, Furman, Drexel, St. Joseph’s, Bryn Athyn, Delaware Valley and Delaware. Princeton’s 14-game Ivy League schedule begins on Jan. 6, 2024, at home against Harvard.
Here are three thoughts about the schedule and opponents awaiting the two-time defending Ivy League champions:
The Princeton men’s and women’s basketball teams did more than punch tickets for the NCAA Tournament by winning championships at the Ivy League Tournament over the weekend. They also made history for the university and the Ivy League.
By winning both the men’s and women’s regular season and tournament titles, Princeton became the first school in Ivy League history to win four conference basketball championships in the same season. It’s a record that may be tied someday, but it can never be broken.
As the Princeton basketball community basks in the glory of this unparalleled success, here are three reflections from the perspective of a long-time follower and admirer of Princeton basketball:
Our George “Toothless Tiger” Clark recaps Princeton’s 74-65 win over Yale at Jadwin Gym to punch a ticket to the NCAA Tournament:
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Since the 95th Academy Award airs Sunday night, here are my choices for the Ivy Madness Oscars from day two of the Ivy League Tournament: