The numbers: 1-5, 166th RPI, 292nd Sagarin, 241st Pomeroy
The recent results: lost 64-40 at Northwestern (11/21), lost 62-54 vs. Army (11/25)
The upcoming schedule: at Wagner (11/28), Quinnipiac (12/2), at Rhode Island (12/5)

Offense foundering
Nearing the quarter mark of the season, the Bears haven’t fared well in Craig Robinson’s offense. The numbers are ugly. Brown is posting an offensive efficiency of just 0.80, which ranks 316th nationally. The Bears are shooting a frigid 36.3 percent overall and 25.5 percent from outside the arc. They aren’t getting many second chances either, ranking 305th in Division I with 24.2-percent offensive rebounding. However, the most alarming figure is the 26.8 percent of Brown possessions that end in a turnover.

Using the stripe
One thing Brown has going for it offensively so far is a knack for getting to the free throw line. The Bears have the 39th-best free throw rate in the nation and trail only Harvard in the Ivy League with a free throw attempt every 2.93 possessions. Brown has scored 28.9 percent of its points at the line, which is more than all but 10 teams nationally. The Princeton offense traditionally isn’t known for generating trips to the line, so this supplements the anecdotal evidence that Robinson isn’t running the original recipe Tiger offense.

Some familiar hallmarks
Lest anyone think Robinson has strayed dramatically from the system he played in under Pete Carril in the 80s, a look at the numbers reveals some telltale signs of the Princeton offense. First of all, Brown plays at one of the slowest paces around, averaging just 59.1 possessions per contest. Secondly, nearly 40 percent (38.4 percent, to be specific) of field goal attempts are coming from beyond the arc. Finally — and most impressively — the Bears have recorded assists on 73.0 percent of their field goals. Only seven teams in Division I have higher assist percentages.

Zone defense doing its job
Robinson’s zone defense has been able to keep his team in some games against major conference opposition, including a respectable loss in the season opener at Michigan State and the shocking upset at Providence. Brown is forcing a lot of turnovers, with opponents giving back the ball on 27.4 of their possessions — the 39th-best figure in Division I. The Bears are coming up with a good number of steals, ranking 51st in the nation with a 12.9-percent steal rate.

Injury report
Help may soon be on the way, as a pair of wings — and two of the better shooters on the team — should be returning in the coming weeks from injuries. Damon Huffman revealed at halftime of the Navy game that the knee injury he suffered in the opener was to the MCL — not the ACL as originally feared — and that he was hoping to return by the holidays. Meanwhile, Chris Skrelja has been sidelined with a stress fracture, but the sophomore also is expected back before the calendar turns over to 2007.

Statistical odds and ends
– No Bear has a scoring average in double figures. Keenan Jeppesen is the high point man at 9.8 per game.

– Forwards Nathan Eads and Scott Friske have been the two most efficient scorers for Brown, with both players over 1.20 points per weighted shot.

– Mark McAndrew has attempted 25 three-pointers and 10 two-point field goals. Big man Mark MacDonald has attempted 11 of his 18 shots from behind the arc. Even Sam Manhanga has gotten into the act, launching five three-pointers after attempting just one the previous two seasons combined.

– Manhanga never has been a big assist guy, as evidenced by his 11 career assists in 609 minutes entering this season. That hasn’t changed in the new scheme, as the senior has yet to record an assist in 80 minutes on the court this year.

– Impressively, Brown opponents have a combined 22-10 record so far this season. Providence’s defeat at the hands of the Bears is the Friars’ only loss this season, while Michigan State is 6-1.