Half the Ivies are in action today, so someone should definitely end the league-wide six-game losing streak that dropped the overall record to 22-27. With Brown probably an underdog at Binghamton and Princeton favored over Wyoming only in Vegas, a sweep will be tough. 3-1 would be a good day, 2-2 is far more likely.
Today’s action
Harvard (5-2) at Lehigh (3-6) – 1:00 pm
Assuming Brian Cusworth isn’t able to go, Harvard’s edge is diminished, but this is a game the Crimson should still take, even on the road. The Mountain Hawks are 3-6, with two wins coming over winless Coppin State and Stony Brook and the third over non-Division I Eastern. Lehigh is 0-2 against the Ivy League this year, giving Princeton its only win of the year 64-54 back on November 20 before falling 57-53 at Cornell last weekend. The game should feature a contrast in styles of play, with Harvard favoring an up-tempo game and Lehigh looking to slow it down. The Mountain Hawks have had problems putting the ball in the bucket so far this year, ranking 297th in effective field goal percentage and 312th in offensive efficiency. One thing Lehigh has done well is keep opponents off the free throw line, and with the game on the road, Harvard probably can’t count on stepping to the line as much as it is used to doing.
Brown (1-5) at Binghamton (1-5)- 1:00 pm
One of these two teams is going to pick up its second win of the season today. Former Cornell coach Al Walker’s Bearcats were picked to finish fourth in the Ameria East preseason poll, but got off to an 0-5 start before picking up a 64-56 victory last weekend in Brooklyn over St. Francis. Both teams have had offensive problems, with Brown ranking 326th nationally in offensive efficiency and Binghamton not much better at 296th. In both cases the offensive problems have been due primarily to poor shooting, with both teams ranking among the 20 worst teams in Division I in effective field goal shooting.
Lafayette (4-4) at Columbia (5-2) – 2:00 pm
The Lions will be looking to rebound from Tuesday’s uncompetitive loss at Wagner, while visiting Lafayette will be looking to move to 3-0 against the Ivy League on the season. The Leopards put the defensive clamps on Princeton and Cornell, winning 57-46 at Princeton and 57-43 over the Big Red in Easton. The first team into the 50s may win this one, due to Columbia’s desire to slow it down and Lafayette’s defensive prowess. A win for Columbia would send them into the exam break 6-2 and would give the Lions wins against two teams that beat its travel partner, Cornell.
Wyoming (4-3) at Princeton (1-4) – 7:30 pm
The Tigers play their second straight tough home game when Wyoming goes on the road for just the second time this season. It’s tough to know what to make of the Cowboys so far. They lost in overtime to 7-1 UNC-Wilmington and fell by 4 to Southern Illinois on their home floor and lost by 16 points at Washington State in their only away game. Wyoming’s four wins have all come at home, and only a nine-point win over Charlotte is the least bit impressive. The other three victories have come against 1-6 Alabama State, 0-9 Northern Colorado, and Division II Colorado-Colorado Springs. The Tigers are a 1.5-point favorite at home in what should be a low-scoring affair, as both teams are in the bottom 100 in offensive efficiency and Wyoming is in the top 100 in defense. Look for a parade of Cowboys to the free throw line, as Wyoming gets 30.9 percent of its offense from the stripe — more than anyone else in the country — while only nine teams allow free throws at a higher rate than Princeton. In last year’s double-overtime loss in Laramie, the Tigers were on the wrong end of a 45-15 free throw disparity.
