palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32803
Reg: 11-21-04
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12-21-16 04:20 PM - Post#216374
Solstice time---shortest day of the year, and no basketball due to finals and the holidays. I don't think anyone expected the top teams in the League to struggle as much as they have but in looking at schedules, it is clear that Harvard, Yale and Princeton have noticeably improved the quality of their out of conference schedules. Yale has played Washington, Pitt and Virginia on the road, Harvard has played Stanford, BC and 3 A-10 teams, and Princeton has played Cal,VCU, St, Joe's and a very tough Monmouth team. Penn appears to be significantly improved but that is from a pretty low starting point, Columbia appears to have taken a major step backwards and while Brown is 7-5, that appears to be due to having among the easiest schedules in history, including 2 non-Division 1 games. Cornell and Dartmouth are struggling. Harvard appears to be the hottest team right now, but no one has shown any likelihood of winning the League regular season title in a runaway. Unless Columbia takes a turn for the better, the four I would predict for that tournament are Yale, Harvard, Princeton and Penn. We'll know a bit more after the Jan 7 league games.
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GoBigGreenBasketball
Masters Student
Posts: 806
Age: 52
Reg: 05-19-16
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 Re: Where We Stand As Winter Starts
12-21-16 05:17 PM - Post#216377
In response to palestra38
You are kind to say Dartmouth is struggling. Before the LIU-Brooklyn W, the pitchfork tines were getting sharpened and the torches getting doused in oil. But, We're all good now. We're about to go on a winning streak and get that 4th spot in the tourney!!!
| "...no excuses - only results!†|
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palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32803
Reg: 11-21-04
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Re: Where We Stand As Winter Starts
12-21-16 05:50 PM - Post#216379
In response to GoBigGreenBasketball
You guys shouldn't have fired the best game coach in the conference. May have been a crusty guy the AD wasn't comfortable with but he knew how to win with less talent and had recruited the best freshman in the league last year.
Good luck though---I hear that beating LIU generally means you'll win the conference. : )
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Silver Maple
Postdoc
Posts: 3770
Loc: Westfield, New Jersey
Reg: 11-23-04
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12-21-16 07:04 PM - Post#216385
In response to palestra38
I seem to recall that Penn once had a very successful head basketball coach who was pushed out by an AD who couldn't keep his own ego in his pants. It's good to learn to from your mistakes, but it's even better to learn from somebody else's.
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Go Green
PhD Student
Posts: 1145
Age: 52
Reg: 04-22-10
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Re: Where We Stand As Winter Starts
01-01-17 10:31 AM - Post#217143
In response to palestra38
You guys shouldn't have fired the best game coach in the conference.
Check out Dartmouth's last play in the UNH game. Pretty well-designed, if you ask me.
Not saying that Cormier wasn't the best game coach. But Dartmouth fans feeling better about McLaughlin's abilities the past two weeks.
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2691
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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01-01-17 12:36 PM - Post#217146
In response to Go Green
Looking to be an exciting season. Thus far, top 4 seem to have established themselves with competition tightening.
Best team (Princeton, 7-6, KP #70) has lost two top players and hasn't developed a remedy for its weakness (the 5), while losing two best scorers and rebounders from each of last two seasons.
Yale (6-5, #108) lost its (the?) best player (Mason) but impressive freshman class and rebounding still have Yale around KenPom 100. Getting better as Bruner gets into the mix.
Harvard (6-4, #133) stumbled to 1-4 while sorting out its large freshman class, but seems to have settled in, winning 5 in a row, including best league win at #40 Houston. Big test at #91 Vermont tomorrow. Maybe with Yale, team with most potential to continue improving.
Penn (6-5, #152) looks to be the favorite for the 4th tournament spot as as Brodeur has provided the needed inside presence and transfers are contributing.
Columbia (4-7, #238) lost Castlin, and has been inconsistent under new coach. Where is Meisner?
Cornell (3-10, #260) has been decimated by injuries inside (Onourah, Abdul Raoof), but superior guard play has kept the Big Red competitive.
Brown (9-6, #273) wins, but against very weak competition. Good shooting, size issues.
Dartmouth (2-10, #293), after losing 9 straight, seems to have righted the ship around core of Boudreaux, Smith and Wright.
Looking forward to a havoc filled season, with potential league champion at 10-4. Scheduling suggests Harvard could jump to league lead at 4-0 (even with 3 games on the road) before hosting any of the other three projected top four when Penn and Princeton come to Cambridge on March 3/4. Other top 3 (YPP) face off against each other in January. Of course, all this gets tossed out when four teams reset March 11/12 for the tournament.
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Go Green
PhD Student
Posts: 1145
Age: 52
Reg: 04-22-10
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01-01-17 01:06 PM - Post#217148
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
Dartmouth (2-10,
We're 3-9.
And 3-0 in the last three games.
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2691
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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01-01-17 01:15 PM - Post#217149
In response to Go Green
Thanks!
I thought so, but I used ESPN Ivy Rankings which still lists Dartmouth at 2-10
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SRP
Postdoc
Posts: 4910
Reg: 02-04-06
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Where We Stand As Winter Starts
01-01-17 05:42 PM - Post#217159
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
Princeton's center issues may be coming around. The competition wasn't stellar but Brennan and Miller looked much more aggressive and fluid. Acid test one coming up against Brodeur.
Edited by SRP on 01-01-17 05:42 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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penn nation
Professor
Posts: 21193
Reg: 12-02-04
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01-01-17 05:57 PM - Post#217160
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
I'd love to see Penn invited to a post-season tourney, which is something that was tough to envision at all a few months ago.
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bradley
PhD Student
Posts: 1842
Age: 74
Reg: 01-15-16
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Re: Where We Stand As Winter Starts
01-03-17 02:44 PM - Post#217255
In response to palestra38
It would be somewhat ironic if four IL teams separate themselves from the other four teams in the initial IL tournament year. Fortunately, there is usually a surprise team(s) going up or down which would make the regular season more interesting. If you are accurate as to your analysis, four teams will be playing for seeding purposes for the IL tournament in order decide the ultimate league representative over two days in March.
If so, Penn might have a home-court advantage at the grand old Palestra. May help the younger teams as they should mature during the course of the season.
"Let the Games Begin".
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