JadwinGeorge
Senior
Posts: 357
Age: 75
Reg: 12-04-15
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02-08-16 08:54 AM - Post#201151
Weekend fallout reflected in KenPom ratings. Yale jumps to #57, Tigers rise three spots to #70, Columbia drops three to #118. Significantly, KenPom projects a one point Tiger win over the Lions Saturday, suggesting at the very least a nailbiter of the first order. A loss to the Lions narrows the Tigers' path to the title considerably, placing our destiny in someone else's hands. Winning out guarantees at least a playoff on a neutral court. Dillon Gym perhaps?
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umbrellaman
Masters Student
Posts: 469
Reg: 11-21-04
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Re: Cornell/Columbia 02-08-16 11:52 AM - Post#201162
In response to JadwinGeorge
I suppose that's correct, but the way I see it, Yale has merely held serve by beating Columbia and Princeton at Yale. Losing at Columbia would mean Yale would still have to do something Princeton could not, beat Columbia at Levien.
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TigerFan
PhD Student
Posts: 1871
Reg: 11-21-04
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Re: Cornell/Columbia 02-08-16 04:55 PM - Post#201192
In response to umbrellaman
The Tigers need to split this weekend, win their remaining home games and defeat Dartmouth and Harvard on the road. A sweep this weekend would put them in solid position. One or more of the top three will lose to one or more of the bottom 5 (and Harvard is going to make some noise if and when they get healthy--I have to believe that Harvard will get up for Yale the way Penn plays its best against Princeton). I think this race will go right down to the wire.
Go Tigers!
Edited by TigerFan on 02-08-16 04:57 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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bradley
PhD Student
Posts: 1842
Age: 74
Reg: 01-15-16
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Re: Cornell/Columbia 02-08-16 10:37 PM - Post#201212
In response to JadwinGeorge
I agree with your assessment that the Columbia game this weekend makes the loser of the game face a severe uphill battle to win the Ivy Crown. The winner would still have to beat Yale at home which will not be an easy task and a win this weekend may only get you into a playoff with Yale. With Yale beating Columbia and Princeton at home, they are realistically and unfortunately in the driver's seat.
It would make good sense that Yale, Princeton and/or Columbia lose a game to one of the other 5 teams but it is a risky proposition to bank on Yale losing to one of those five teams. So far, Columbia has dodged two bullets and Princeton one. Maybe, it is time for Yale to face a significant challenge although they have pretty much dominated everyone although the Tigers gave them the stiffest test.
It should be a toss up game Saturday night at Levien with the winner probably having greater composure and determination. If Princeton plays well the rest of the way but does not win the Ivy Crown, is a NIT bid a possibility based on their win/lost record and KenPom rating? Let's hope that they win it all. It is hard to believe that the Tigers will be even stronger next year.
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gokinsmen
Postdoc
Posts: 3634
Reg: 02-06-10
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Cornell/Columbia 02-08-16 10:59 PM - Post#201214
In response to bradley
Forget the split. This is an absolute must-sweep weekend after the painful loss to Yale.
Momentum and confidence are so important in league play, and Yale is now in the driver's seat. Even at home, I see us as the clear underdog in the Yale rematch. It's obviously a tall order, but we need to stay undefeated outside of that game to have a chance at the title.
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IvyBballFan
Masters Student
Posts: 479
Age: 77
Loc: Central Florida
Reg: 11-19-09
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Re: Cornell/Columbia 02-09-16 12:31 AM - Post#201218
In response to bradley
It is hard to believe that the Tigers will be even stronger next year.
I don't know about this conclusion.
The top eight Tigers from this year's team (Caruso, Cannady, Weisz, Bell, Cook, Miller, Brennan, and Stephens) are back next year. Four will be seniors. Hopefully, add Brase to make a fifth quality senior.
Both Yale and Columbia graduate four senior starters. Harvard loses Okolie and Cummins, and probably Steeves, all of whom start.
Based on returnees, the Tigers appear to have a lot of potential to make a title run in 2016-17.
But enough. We've got plenty of unfinished business still to tend to this year.
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2685
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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Re: Cornell/Columbia 02-09-16 01:08 AM - Post#201219
In response to IvyBballFan
I don't think you get Harvard.
Harvard gets Siyani Chambers back plus the 10th ranked recruiting class in the nation.
Returning Siyani and Zena is starting with the best point guard and center in the league, some good shooters (Johnson, McCarthy and Miller), and the "Kentucky" of Ivy League incoming freshmen. Harvard opens the season in China against Stanford. Apparently the NCAA and the networks see what you are missing.
Having said that - Harvard and Princeton will be an exciting two team duel new year. Some are suggesting it could be a two bid year as both could be Top 50.
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1LotteryPick1969
Postdoc
Posts: 2260
Age: 73
Loc: Sandy, Utah
Reg: 11-21-04
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Re: Cornell/Columbia 02-09-16 07:50 AM - Post#201222
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
Siyani is automatically the best point guard in the league?
Perhaps, but I personally like Bell just as much, and with Cannady to spell him or at times play along side him, I don't think we give anything away at that position.
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bradley
PhD Student
Posts: 1842
Age: 74
Reg: 01-15-16
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Re: Cornell/Columbia 02-09-16 11:46 AM - Post#201225
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
I have little doubt that Harvard has several excellent incoming freshmen next season. It also appears that Yale, based on ratings, has a very good incoming class. Harvard will have the benefit of Chambers and Zena vs. Yale only having Mason.
The Princeton/Harvard match up will be interesting as it will test the theory of pure young talent, if the ratings are reasonably correct, vs. experience. Although it is possible that both teams could get a NCAA bid, I doubt it unless the team that does not win the Ivy Crown has an excellent record against a strong non-conference schedule.
If Princeton has a strong season next year, I would not be totally surprised if Mitch takes another heading coaching job. If so, Brian Earl might be offered the Tiger head coach postion.
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1LotteryPick1969
Postdoc
Posts: 2260
Age: 73
Loc: Sandy, Utah
Reg: 11-21-04
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Re: Cornell/Columbia 02-09-16 05:29 PM - Post#201256
In response to bradley
If Princeton has a strong season next year, I would not be totally surprised if Mitch takes another heading coaching job. If so, Brian Earl might be offered the Tiger head coach postion.
I would think the recent performances of Brennan, Johnson and Scott would diminish interest in Princeton grads as coaches.
On the other hand, Henderson's uptempo style might set him apart.
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puband09
Masters Student
Posts: 782
Reg: 12-19-09
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Re: Cornell/Columbia 02-09-16 07:35 PM - Post#201262
In response to bradley
We were TOLD that, unlike previous hires, MH had some staying power. I guess dolla makes you holla tho.
I hear David Blatt is available.
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2685
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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Re: Cornell/Columbia 02-09-16 07:47 PM - Post#201263
In response to 1LotteryPick1969
Siyani was pre-season All Ivy.
I've seen every team play (all but Yale and Brown in person) and do believe that Siyani would be First Team All Ivy. There are some fine shooting guards and I don't mean to slight anyone, but I haven't seen any PG's I'd swap him for. He's a proven winner but it would be up to Harvard's performance to influence voting. On that point, I believe Harvard could be 5-1 or 6-0 if Siyani, Zena and Evan were healthy. My view on that has already been explained elsewhere.
Regardless, they are not healthy and Harvard is 1-5, which is why we were talking about next year!
Edited by HARVARDDADGRAD on 02-09-16 07:48 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Tiger69
Postdoc
Posts: 2801
Reg: 11-23-04
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Re: Cornell/Columbia 02-09-16 08:29 PM - Post#201264
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
harvard, with all its incoming talent, plus Chambers, returning from a year off, will have a lot of work to do to assemble all the parts of a potentially strong team. Who knows how long that will take? And, what guarantees are there that Chambers will be fully recovered or won't be a little rusty after a year off? It may take a good part of next season before Amaker has a smoothly functioning unit.
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sparman
PhD Student
Posts: 1339
Reg: 12-08-04
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Cornell/Columbia 02-09-16 08:42 PM - Post#201265
In response to Tiger69
So we've managed to turn a thread about PU and its upcoming weekend versus the C's into a thread about Harvard next year, because it's, you know, always about Harvard, even when you may think it's not.
Edited by sparman on 02-09-16 08:42 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2685
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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02-09-16 08:48 PM - Post#201266
In response to sparman
Hey, it's all I have left!
See you next year ....
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Old Bear
Postdoc
Posts: 3988
Reg: 11-23-04
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Cornell/Columbia 02-09-16 09:22 PM - Post#201267
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
Best PG this year, I'd say Bell and Blackmon, but it's still too early.
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SRP
Postdoc
Posts: 4894
Reg: 02-04-06
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02-09-16 10:49 PM - Post#201272
In response to Old Bear
Getting back to the Cs this weekend, a sweep is both doable and hugely important. I don't think the Lions can hold up that well in man defense against the Tigers, especially Rosenberg but also at a couple of other spots. Attacking on D and speeding up the game will also help get Columbia out of its comfort zone.
Inattention against Cornell could be costly, but this year's addition of the team has been really good about winning the games they're supposed to. Unlike past PU teams, this one doesn't mind playing more briskly, so Big Red pressure shouldn't be too big of a deal.
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thelaird
Freshman
Posts: 33
Age: 66
Reg: 12-08-15
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02-10-16 01:47 AM - Post#201282
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
Hey Harvaaard... We can read and respond to your posts after March all the way till next November... what about the upstate C game, I think this team won't do the "look ahead" dance that has happened in the past. I really think Mitch has got a team of his choosing that has fully bought into his program.
As the the old Raiders ( a team which I actually hate being a Steelers fan) used to say, "just win, baby".
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JadwinGeorge
Senior
Posts: 357
Age: 75
Reg: 12-04-15
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02-10-16 12:25 PM - Post#201290
In response to thelaird
The Tigers can't win the title this weekend, but they can lose it. Same goes for Columbia. We've played some good games against the Lions in NYC under Mitch. We need another this week, for sure. I just can't get over how well Cannady and Stephens have fit into this team. The Tigers' record right now is what it projected to be when the schedule was announced. The surprises, to me, have occurred in four of the wins. Penn and Liberty much closer than I assumed, Bucknell and Lafayette unexpected blowouts.
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SomeGuy
Professor
Posts: 6391
Reg: 11-22-04
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Re: Cornell/Columbia 02-10-16 01:00 PM - Post#201292
In response to Old Bear
I'm not sure how we can leave Makai Mason off this list. To me, he's pretty clearly been the best point guard in the league this year. He's a lot more likely to be first team all-Ivy than either Blackmon or Bell.
I'd take whoever you want to call the point guard for Columbia too, though Lo and Mullins operate in more of a combo guard kind of way. They don't matter for discussing next year, of course.
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