With Yale’s victory over Cornell last night, everything seems to be falling into place for the much-awaited rematch with Penn next Friday. But first, both sides still need to handle their business tonight against fifth-place opponents. Elsewhere, a former contender looks to get back on its feet against a hot foe, and two rivals square off with seventh place on the line.
Columbia (13-12, 4-7 Ivy) at Yale (13-11, 9-2 Ivy) – 7:00 pm ET
Gametracker | Columbia audio | WKCR audio | Yale video | Yale audio
The only thing standing between Yale and a 10-2 mark heading into the Penn game is a slumping Columbia squad. The Bulldogs enter the game winners of eight of nine and 5-1 at home in league play, while the Lions have dropped three straight. With James Jones’s record against his younger brother now at 6-1 after Yale’s 85-71 win at Levien Gym earlier this year, history also is on the side of the home team. In that game, Columbia led at the midway point of the first half, only to see the Bulldogs reel off a decisive 18-0 run. The Lions apparently will be without Patrick Foley, who is expected to miss a second-straight game due to illness.
Columbia’s defense has been a big factor in its skid, as the Lions have surrendered at least 1.06 points per possession in four of the last five games. Yale figures to extend that trend, as the Bulldogs boast the league’s most efficient offense at 1.12 points per possession in Ivy play. Yale shot a blistering 60.5 percent from the field and 62.5 percent from three in the first game. Columbia needs to do a much better job of keeping the Bulldogs off the line, as Yale shot 40 free throws in the earlier meeting. The board should be an interesting battle, as the two teams rank first and second in the league in defensive rebounding.
Pomeroy says: Columbia 60, Yale 70
Penn (18-8, 9-1 Ivy) at Dartmouth (9-16, 4-7 Ivy) – 7:00 pm ET
Live stats | Penn audio | Dartmouth video | Dartmouth audio
Penn is coming off a lackluster performance in Friday’s win at Harvard, while Dartmouth is flying high following the program’s first sweep of Princeton in over 60 years. In the game two weeks ago at The Palstra, the Big Green managed to keep things respectable despite missing Leon Pattman. However, Dartmouth ultimately was done in by uncharacteristic turnovers, as the Quakers pulled away late. Penn has won 20 straight games in the series and 10 straight in Hanover — dating back to Dartmouth’s win in the 1995-96 season that snapped the Quakers’ 48-game Ivy winning streak.
In the game in Philadelphia, Dartmouth had early success with second-chance points, until Glen Miller inserted Cameron Lewis, who kept the Big Green off the offensive glass. Dartmouth’s rebounding has improved greatly of late, and it will look to exploit Penn’s primary weakness. Terry Dunn will want to see many fewer mistakes out of his team, to control the tempo by keeping the Quakers from getting out in transition. Dartmouth’s heavy foulding means Penn figures to be shooting a lot of free throws, so the Quakers will need to avoid one of their cold nights at the line to take full advantage.
Pomeroy says: Penn 72, Dartmouth 59
Cornell (14-11, 7-4 Ivy) at Brown (10-16, 5-6 Ivy) – 7:00 pm ET
Live stats | Cornell audio | Brown audio
A week ago Cornell looked like it might be the biggest threat to unseat the Quakers this season, but following losses at Penn and Yale, the Big Red suddenly is facing elimination tonight if both teams ahead of them win. Breaking the two-game mini-skid won’t be an easy task against a Brown squad that gave Cornell problems in Ithaca two weeks ago and has won three straight. Craig Robinson has high expectations for his program, and a win tonight would do wonders for Brown — and would draw the Bears to within a game of the Big Red in the standings. Cornell just needs the win, otherwise all those good vibes going into the Penn game are going to seem like a distant memory.
It’s not a great lineup for Brown, who relies on three-point shooting and free throws for almost all of its offense. Cornell is allowing just 29.1-percent shooting from beyond the arc in Ivy play, and allows free throws at a much lower rate than everyone else in the league. Rebounding has been problematic for the Bears, while the Big Red rebounds at 35.9 percent offensively against Ivy foes on the season. Cornell needs to handle Brown’s trapping defense and avoid turning it over, as it has done too frequently in the league.
Pomeroy says: Cornell 59, Brown 60
Princeton (11-13, 2-8 Ivy) at Harvard (10-15, 3-8 Ivy) – 7:00 pm ET
Live stats | Princeton audio | Harvard video | Harvard audio
Princeton has inflicted more than its share of damage to Harvard over the years, though the Crimson gets a chance to deal a real blow to the Tigers tonight. Joe Scott’s team enters the game in last place at 2-8 in the league, and the next loss will result in the worst Ivy record in school history. Following a 3-3 start, Harvard comes in losers of five straight, while Princeton has managed to split the past two Ivy weekends. Kyle Koncz was able to play significant minutes on Saturday night last weekend for the first time in Ivy play, so his availability tonight will be a big factor for Princeton. The Crimson dropped a double-overtime heartbreaker at Jadwin Gym two weeks ago, uncharacteristically missing a number of free throws late in regulation and the first overtime session.
The game will pit the team team with the highest average tempo (69.7 possessions per 40 minutes for Harvard) against the most deliberate team in the league (52.6 for Princeton). Harvard has been rebounding well offensively, ranking first in the Ivy League offensively at 38.1 percent, while Princeton is dead last in defensive rebounding at just 64.0 perent, so the Tigers will have to keep the Crimson off the boards. Princeton has resorted to fouling defensively quite a bit lately, and Harvard’s 77.0-percent free throw shooting makes it a team you don’t want at the line. Princeton will look to take advantage of Harvard’s league-worst defense, particularly from beyond the arc, where the Crimson is allowing opponents to shoot a very healthy 38.4 percent.
Pomeroy says: Princeton 55, Harvard 58
