The numbers: 14-3 overall, 0-0 Ivy, 32nd RPI, 47th Sagarin, 69th Pomeroy
The recent results: defeated Bryant 75-49 (1/2), lost to Kansas 71-66 (1/6), defeated South Dakota 71-65 (1/8), defeated Clarkson 82-37 (1/11)
The upcoming schedule: vs. Columbia (1/16), at Columbia (1/23), vs. Dartmouth (1/29)
Key Non-Conference Wins: at Alabama 71-67 (11/14), vs. Vermont 67-59 (11/28), vs. Davidson 91-88 OT (12/20), at St. John’s 71-66 (12/21), at LaSalle 78-75 (12/29)
The Big Three
While the Big Red has gotten great contributions from two of the members of the big three, Ryan Wittman and Jeff Foote, the third member of the triumvirate, Louis Dale, has struggled. Wittman has scored 20 points or more in seven different games, while Foote has grabbed double-digit rebounds in seven different contests as well. While Dale has had some solid performances (14 points, nine boards and nine assists against Toledo; 24 points against UMass), he had an incredibly disappointing December with a dropoff of production offensively and an injury that held him out of three games.
The Other Two
Guards Chris Wroblewski and Geoff Reeves round out the top five in scoring for Cornell and do so quite efficiently. Wroblewski is shooting 43 percent from three and Reeves is connecting on 49 percent of his shots from deep. Reeves’ 135 offensive rating is almost unbelievable, though his status as almost an exclusive three point shooter makes his value somewhat more limited than the amazing offensive rating would suggest. Wroblewski’s 116 offensive rating is highly impressive, but especially so for a fourth or fifth option.
Forward March
Forward Alex Tyler has seen limited action this season after sustaining an injury at the end of November. In his absence, Mark Coury and Jon Jaques have anchored the power forward position in his absence, not necessarily providing a huge offensive boost, but contributing strongly on the defensive end. If Tyler can return to his previous level of output, the Big Red will become incredibly deep at the power forward position.
Team health report
Tyler and Dale have missed action with injuries recently, though both are expected to be able to go in Ivy play. Otherwise, the Big Red is pretty healthy.
Odds & ends
– Cornell’s non-conference RPI and SOS have dropped a bit recently to 53 and 141, respectively. The Big Red has an 0-2 record against the top 25 and a 2-1 record against the RPI 51-100 teams. Cornell also has an impressive 6-0 record against 101-150 RPI opponents.
– The Big Red’s 14 non-conference wins, 12 against Division I opponents, are the most in the Ivies this season.
– Cornell’s 42.2 percent shooting from three is sixth nationally and its 76.0 percent shooting from the stripe is 15th in the nation.
