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Princeton University Athletics
Must See BB
December 11, 2000 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 11, 2000
Princeton vs. Rutgers
The site Jadwin Gym * Princeton, N.J.
The date Thursday, Dec. 14, 2000 *?7:30 p.m.
Radio/TV WHWH AM 1350, www.goprincetontigers.com, WPRB FM 103.3/RCN, CN8
The records Princeton: 3-3, Rutgers: 5-2
The coaches Princeton: John Thompson (first season, 3-3, Rutgers: Kevin Bannon (19th season, 329-197
The series Princeton leads 71-34
Last meeting Princeton defeated Rutgers 66-60 (OT) * Dec. 12, 1999
Probable Princeton Starters
F 23 Mike Bechtold ( Jr., 6-6, 190, Lebanon, Pa.) 15.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg
F 21 Eugene Baah ( Jr., 6-5, 195, New York, N.Y.) 4.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg
C 33 Nate Walton ( Sr., 6-7, 215, San Diego, Calif.) 9.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg
G 10 Ed Persia (Fr., 6-1, 180, Beaumont, Texas) 7.2 ppg, 1.0 rpg G 22 C.J. Chapman (Sr., 6-1, 170, Aurora, Colo.) 10.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg
Bench mark -- Princeton currently has eight players averaging at least 20 minutes per game. Princeton has never had more than seven players average at least 20 minutes per game for a full season since minutes began to be kept in the 1970s.
More bench -- Princeton used nine players in its win over Xavier. It was the first time Princetoin used more than eight players in a game decided by six points or fewer since a 48-46 win over Monmouth on Dec. 14, 1996.
Three for all -- Princeton has made more three-point baskets (64) than two-point baskets (57).
In case you forgot -- Princeton made 20 two-point baskets (on 35 attempts) and two three-point baskets (one 10 attempts) in a 66-60 overtime win over Rutgers a year ago.
More forgot -- Mason Rocca and Chris Young combined for 39 points and 20 rebounds in Princeton's win over Rutgers a year ago.
No place like road -- The visiting team has won three straight and four of the last five games in the Princeton-Rutgers series.
No place like home -- Princeton plays its second home game after hosting Xavier Saturday night. Those are Princeton's only two home games in the first 59 days of the season.
Hi, neighbor -- Princeton and Rutgers have met at least once every season since 1926-27 except for 1943-44 and 1995-96.
More neighbor -- Princeton and Rutgers may meet twice in two weeks. In addition to the game at Jadwin Gym, Princeton and Rutgers could also meet in either the consolation or championship game at the Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden Dec. 27 (in the opening round Dec. 26, Princeton faces Penn State and Rutgers faces Hofstra).
Last neighbor -- Princeton and Rutgers meet for the 105th time. Princeton has played Rutgers more than any other non-Ivy League opponent.
The glass menagerie -- Since the Duke game, Princeton is 3-0 when it is outrebounded and 0-2 when it outrebounds its opponent.
Close shaves -- The average margin of Princeton's three wins has been 4.3 points. The average margin of defeat of Princeton's three losses has been 17.7.
Sold on Bechtold -- Mike Bechtold's career-high coming into this season was 12 points. He has had at least 12 points in every game this season.
More Bechtold -- Mike Bechtold is averaging 15.3 points per game, which would be the highest single-season total by a Princeton player since Kit Mueller averaged 15.8 in 1988-89.
Mad bomber -- C.J. Chapman has attempted 37 three-point shots and four two-point shots.
More bombers -- The four Princeton players to start every game (C.J. Chapman, Mike Bechtold, Eugene Baah, Ed Persia) have combined for 126 three-point attempts and 35 two-point attempts.
Welcome back -- Ahmed El-Nokali, who missed the first five games after undergoing surgery to repair a tendon in his groin in October, played 25 minutes and scored 10 points against Xavier.
Windex -- All of Princeton's players combined have 33 offensive rebounds, Rashod Kent of Rutgers has 32 offensive rebounds.
Foul ball -- Princeton has been outscored by an average of 8.5 points per game at the foul line.
More fouls -- Princeton has attempted 65 foul shots, its opponents have made 99 foul shots.
Last fouls -- Princeton has attempted exactly 100 more three-pointers than foul shots (165-65).
Long range thinking -- Mike Bechtold is on pace for 87 three-pointers, which would be tied with Brian Earl (1997-98) for the second highest single-season in Princeton history. Sean Jackson (1990-91) holds the record with 95.
More long range -- Princeton is on pace for 277 three-pointers and 715 three-point attempts. The school single-season record are 265 made and 681 attempted, both set in the 1997-98 season.
DQ'd -- Princeton has had a player foul out eight times in the first six games. Princeton had a player foul out 12 times in 30 games a year ago.
Going downtown -- Princeton has made at least seven three-pointers in every game this season and at least 12 in three games.
Can you spare a dime? -- Nate Walton, Princeton's center, leads the team in assists.
Say Wente -- Sophomore Kyle Wente is averaging 4.5 points, 2.0 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 25.5 minutes per game this year. His totals for last year were three points, three rebounds, two assists and 18 minutes.
Logan's run -- Andre Logan is tied for the team lead in offensive rebounds despite being seventh in minutes played.
More Logan -- Andre Logan is shooting 51.7% from the field.
Heating up -- Ed Persia has made nine of his last 17 three-point shots.
Swish -- Mike Bechtold was a 42.7% shooter from the field his first two years, he is shooting 54.4% from the field this year.
Ball control -- Princeton's starting backcourt of Ed Persia and C.J. Chapman has 21 turnovers in 364 minutes.
D-plus -- Princeton has led the nation in scoring defense each of the last 12 years. The play's the thing -- Princeton has had seven players play in each of the first six games. A year ago, Princeton had four players play in every game, two years ago Princeton had three players play in every game.
Size matters -- The average height of Princeton's starting five in the final game of last year was 6' 7". The average height of Princeton's starting five this season is 6' 4".
Moving up the charts -- C.J. Chapman has 107 career three-pointers, seventh-best all-time at Princeton. Chapman needs 35 to tie Chris Mooney for sixth.
Senior citizen -- Nate Walton is the first Princeton player ever to appear in five different seasons. Walton played five games of the 1998-99 season before having surgery on his foot. He elected to withdraw from school for the year, and he returned last year as a junior.
More senior -- Nate Walton has played with 35 different teammates during his time at Princeton.
Krug update -- Chris Krug has decided to take a leave of absence from the Princeton basketball team for personal reasons.
Where'd everybody go? -- Between Aug. 31 and the start of the season, Princeton basketball lost all of the following: Bill Carmody (head coach went to Northwestern, Ahmed El-Nokali ( injured point guard), Spencer Gloger (three-point specialist transfered to UCLA), Chris Krug (projected starting center took leave of absence from team), Ray Robins (10.5 point-per-game starter took year off from school) and Chris Young (All-America center signed professional baseball contract and is ineligible for basketball under Ivy rules).
Bench mark -- Princeton's coaching staff of 1999-2000 featured three men who are now Division I head coaches: John Thompson (Princeton), Bill Carmody (now at Northwestern), Joe Scott (now at Air Force).
In case you didn't realize -- Chris Young, an honorable mention All-America last year, started every game the last two years. He was on pace to finish his career second in scoring at Princeton behind Bill Bradley, as well as first in blocked shots, second in assists and fourth in rebounds. Young, also an All-America in baseball as a pitcher (he led Division I with a 1.05 ERA last spring), was a third round pick of the Pirates.
A league of their own -- Princeton has won seven Ivy League championships in the last 12 years.
Triple play -- Princeton has made at least one three-pointer in every game since the rule was enacted for the 1986-87 season.
A march to madness -- Princeton has been to the postseason each of the last five years, the longest such streak in school history.