Princeton basketball’s unselfishness gives them a legit chance to win a game in the Big Dance.
With a difficult schedule that featured games against BYU, Lehigh, VCU and Cal, Princeton began the season just 2-4. They kept all four games relatively close but were unable to pull off valuable wins that could’ve resulted in multiple top 50 victories for their resume.
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The Tigers don’t have the numbers to pull off an at-large bid but they are the heavy favorite to win the first iteration of the Ivy League Conference Tournament. And if they do win the league tournament over teams like Harvard, Yale, and Columbia, Princeton is a threat to win a game or two in March Madness.
Why? This team is legitimately good. After watching them up close in their 64-45 win over Columbia on Friday night on the Upper West Side, I can say that no four or five seed will want to play the Tigers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
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Mitch Henderson’s team is unselfish as they average 14.3 assists per game and move the ball around the perimeter with ease. They don’t take bad shots and their defensive energy on the perimeter is impressive, limiting ball penetration and open shots.
They have four players averaging over 10 points per game, including Devin Cannady their leading scorer. Cannady is a sharp-shooter from the perimeter and a player who rarely, if ever, turns the ball over.
But the Tigers’ offensive attack doesn’t end there.
Spencer Weisz is the quarterback and the do-it-all floor leader, as the guard is averaging 11.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists per game and 1.5 steals per game. He always plays under control and is shooting a solid 41 percent from the field and 37 percent from beyond the arc.
Beyond Weisz, Steven Cook and Myles Stephens give Princeton versatility on offense as both players are shooting the ball well from the perimeter (Cook at 44 percent and Stephens at 39) and have the ability to play both inside and out. They are also both very athletic and aggressive on the offensive glass, allowing the team to snag second chance opportunities.
Princeton is not all that deep (imagine if they still had Hans Brase and Henry Caruso who are out for the season with injuries) but they do bring a 6’4″ guard, Amir Bell, off the bench and play low possession games that allow them to keep their stamina high.
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With three games remaining in league play (Cornell, @ Harvard and @ Dartmouth), the Tigers could very well finish 14-0 in league play. That sets them up for what should be a nice run through the Ivy League Tournament and a spot in the grandest event of all.