The 2007-08 season begins for the Ivy League today when five Ivy teams take the court in venues across the country. Unlike past years where we’ve seen a staggered start with some teams playing in early season tournaments and others playing their openers a week later, all eight Ivies will play games this weekend. Here’s a rundown of Friday’s games, as well as some links to follow all the action.
Brown at Eastern Michigan – noon ET
Live stats | Brown audio | Eastern Michigan audio
Brown draws the honor of tipping off the season for the league with a road game at Eastern Michigan. The Eagles went 13-19 last season, finishing 209th in the Pomeroy Ratings. Picked fourth in the six-team MAC West Division in the preseason poll, Eastern Michigan won an exhibition game 76-56 against Division II Northwood back on October 31. Interestingly, the projected Brown lineup contains only the two senior guards, with Scott Friske starting with Chris Skrelja and Mark MacDonald in a three-man frontcourt. This is the second year in a row that Brown has played in Michigan, with Friske and Damon Huffman both products of The Great Lake State. Since Pomeroy’s predictions don’t exist for season debuts, Eastern Michigan is favored by 5.5 at home.
Fordham at Columbia – 7pm ET (YES Network)
Live stats | Fordham audio | Columbia audio
The Lions play their only home game this month against fellow New York City school Fordham. The Rams are coming off an 18-12 season in which they tied for fourth in the Atlantic 10 at 10-6 and finished 138th in the Pomeroy Ratings. Fordham was picked to finish fourth again in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll, with center Bryant Dunston named to the Preseason All-Atlantic 10 First Team. The Rams won an exhibition game against Division II University of the District of Columbia 64-54 back on November 3. The two schools last met three years ago at Rose Hill, with the Lions suffering a narrow 61-57 defeat. Columbia is a 4.5-point underdog at home tonight.
Drexel at Penn – 7pm ET
Live stats | Penn video | Penn audio
Despite its recent success, Drexel hasn’t beaten Penn at The Palestra since 2003, so it will be looking to change that tonight. The Dragons went 23-9 last season and wound up fourth in the CAA at 13-15 and 84th in the Pomeroy Ratings, settling for an NIT bid. Both teams are trying to rebound from some heavy graduation losses, so play might be uneven. The Quakers may have trouble stopping Preseason First-Team All-CAA pick Frank Elegar in the middle for Drexel, who was picked fourth in the CAA preseason poll. Penn is a three-point underdog against its University City rival.
Dartmouth at Air Force – 8pm ET
Gametracker | Air Force audio
The Big Green will try to become the first non-conference opponent to win at Clune Arena since 2001 — a span of 34 games. Air Force made the NIT semifinals last year, finishing with a 26-9 mark and tying for third in the Mountain West at 10-6 and ending up 22nd in the Pomeroy Ratings. However, gradation hit hard, and the Falcons were picked next to last under new coach Jeff Reynolds in the Mountain West preseason poll. The games in the Air Force Classic will be a homecoming for native Coloradoans Elgin Fitzgerald and Robbie Pride — with Fitzgerald actually hailing from Colorado Springs. With the Falcons favored by 14 in their fortress, the consolation game is looking likely for the Big Green.
Harvard at Stanford – 10pm ET
Gametracker | Stanford audio
Tommy Amaker makes his debut on the Crimson bench tonight under difficult circumstances against 23rd-ranked Stanford at Maples Pavilion. The Cardinal returns nearly everyone from a team that went 18-13 last season and earned an NCAA bid after a 10-8 sixth-place finish in the Pac-10. The conference’s preseason poll predicted an improvement of one spot by Stanford in a loaded Pac-10. The game will have added meaning for Palo Alto native Jeremy Lin, who should be starting in Harvard’s backcourt. His cheering section probably won’t have much to get excited about, as the Crimson is a 23-point road underdog.
