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Princeton University Athletics
Men's Basketball Welcomes Colgate to Jadwin for Season Opener
November 19, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 19, 2003
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The Princeton men's basketball team has been picked to win the Ivy League title by several preseason publications. In the early season, however, the Tigers will spend a good deal of their time at Jadwin Gym playing the best the Patriot League has to offer.
The first test is Colgate, which helps the Tigers open the 104th season of Princeton men's basketball Friday night at Jadwin (WPRB-FM 103.3, GoPrincetonTigers.com). The Raiders, who finished 9-5 in Patriot League play last season (14-14 overall), were picked third in that league's Preseason Poll and are the only PL team to return two all-league selections, seniors Howard Blue and Mark Linebaugh.
The Tigers, who are opening the season with a home game for the first time since the 1994-95 season, return three starters themselves in co-captains Ed Persia and Judson Wallace and junior Will Venable. Wallace was an honorable mention All-Ivy pick as a sophomore, averaging nearly 18 points per game over the final eight games of the season, while Persia led the team with 48 three-pointers in 2002-03. Venable averaged 10.6 points per game while starting 26 games last season.
Princeton and Colgate haven't played since the 1988-89 season. In addition to Friday's game, the Tigers play Patriot League favorite Holy Cross next Friday at Jadwin (7:30 p.m.) and host Lafayette, chosen to finish second in that league, Dec. 22. Tickets for Friday's game against Colgate are only $2 as part of a special promotion by the Princeton Department of Athletics.
Note of the Day
The Tradition Continues - The 104th season of Princeton men's basketball begins tonight when the Tigers host Colgate at Jadwin Gym. In each of the past 17 years, the Tigers have finished the season with at least 16 victories.
Seven More Things You Can't Live Without
On the Home Front - Princeton opens the season with a home game for the first time since 1994-95 and plays consecutive home games to open the season for the first time since 1989-90.
More From the Home Front - After opening the season with two home games in seven days, Princeton plays at home just twice in its next 10 games after that.
Patriot Games - The Tigers' first three home games this season come against the teams picked to finish first (Holy Cross), second (Lafayette) and third (Colgate) in the Patriot League's Preseason Poll.
For Starters... - Princeton doesn't have a player on its 2003-04 roster that has started every game of any one single season, but it does have six returning players who have started at least eight total games during their careers.
Youth is Served -Seven freshmen are listed on the Princeton roster at the beginning of the 2003-04 season. The Tiger roster hasn't featured that many freshmen since the 1998-99 season, when there were also seven.
Shooting Stars -Princeton averaged 66.5 points per game last season, its highest per-game scoring average in a season since the 1974-75 team averaged 68.2 points per game on the way to finishing 22-8 overall and winning the NIT.
On Schedule -In its first 12 games this season, Princeton plays six teams (Holy Cross, UC Irvine, Fresno State, Duke, Oklahoma, Minnesota) that won at least 19 games last season.
More Princeton Notes & Anecdotes
The Injury Report - Andre Logan will miss the early part of the 2003-04 season after tearing tendons in his right hand in an on-campus incident Oct. 18. Judson Wallace is probable to play against Colgate despite a back strain suffered in practice three weeks ago.
Poll Position - The Tigers were picked to finish in a tie for second place in the Ivy League standings in the league's preseason media poll released last week. Princeton did receive five of the 16 first-place votes.
By the Numbers - Three Princeton returning players have switched numbers from last season. Konrad Wysocki now wears No. 1 after wearing No. 34 his first three years. Scott Greenman is wearing No. 3 this season after wearing No. 15 as a freshman. Jon Berger is No. 11 this year; he was No. 32 in 2002-03.
Charging to the Wire - The Tigers finished 12-4 in their final 16 games of the 2002-03 season after beginning the year 4-7 through the first 11 games.
From Way Downtown... - Princeton has made at least one three-point shot in every game since the rule came into effect for the 1986-87 season, a span of 466 games.
More From Way Downtown... - Ed Persia enters the 2003-04 season ninth all-time at Princeton with 110 three-pointers. If he were to repeat his 48 three-pointers from 2002-03, he would finish fifth all-time behind Brian Earl, Sean Jackson, Gabe Lewullis and Sydney Johnson.
More from the Arc - Ed Persia led the Tigers with 48 three-pointers and a .403 three-point percentage last season. 119 of Persia's 174 field-goal attempts (68 percent) came from three-point range.
Miracle Man - Ed Persia hit an 80-foot desperation shot at the regulation buzzer to give Princeton a 60-57 victory over Monmouth on Dec. 3 of last season.
I'm Your Captain - Ed Persia is a Tiger co-captain this season along with junior Judson Wallace. Persia is one of just two Princeton players (along with Konrad Wysocki) in his final year of eligibility.
Straight to the Point - Judson Wallace scored 142 points in the final eight games of the 2002-03 season after scoring 142 points in the first 18 games of the season.
20-20 Vision - Judson Wallace scored 22 or more points four times in Princeton's final five games of the 2002-03 season. Wallace shot 13 for 21 (62 percent) from three-point range in those four games and just 15 for 54 (28 percent) from beyond the arc in his other 22 games combined.
I'm Honored - Judson Wallace earned honorable mention All-Ivy honors in 2002-03. He is Princeton's lone returning All-Ivy player from last season.
Back in Action - Judson Wallace did not participate in Princeton's controlled scrimmage against Georgetown Nov. 9 for precautionary reasons due to a back strain suffered in practice earlier in that week.
A 50-50 Proposition - Konrad Wysocki is shooting 152 for 300 from the field (50.7 percent) for his career.
Special K - Konrad Wysocki was the Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2000-01. Wysocki averaged 5.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game that season in helping the Tigers to the NCAA tournament.
From Across the Pond - Konrad Wysocki was born in Poland, and his family lives in Germany. Wysocki attended high school in the United States for two years at Greensboro Country Day School in North Carolina.
All about Andre - Andre Logan played in just three games last year before ending his season prematurely due to knee problems. Logan withdrew from school for the second semester, so he has two years of eligibility remaining entering this year.
Filling It Up - Andre Logan was leading Princeton in scoring in 2001-02 (9.3 ppg) before tearing a knee ligament in Princeton's Ivy League opener at Harvard on Jan. 11, 2002.
Tournament Tested - Andre Logan is one of three current Princeton players (along with Konrad Wysocki and Ed Persia) to have played in the NCAA tournament. Logan scored eight points as a freshman in Princeton's loss to North Carolina in the 2001 NCAA first round.
More From the Hardwood...
Where There's A Will... - Will Venable scored in double figures 15 times in 26 games as a sophomore. He is the only returning Princeton player from last season to have averaged better than 30 minutes per game last year.
Two-Stepping - Will Venable shot 57% on two-point shots last season (89 for 157) but connected on just 13 of 57 three-point shots (23%).
From Court to Field - Will Venable also plays outfield for the Ivy League champion Princeton baseball team. Venable played amateur baseball this past summer in California, hitting .460 for the Novato Knicks.
Not Green - Anymore Scott Greenman will likely start Princeton's season-opener against Colgate after averaging just 11 minutes per game in 20 games as a freshman.
Bombs Away - Scott Greenman shot 40% percent from three-point range as a freshman and made five three-point shots in a scrimmage against Georgetown Nov. 9.
Thanks for the Help - Mike Stephens had 10 assists against Ursinus Jan. 27 of last season, the most by a Princeton player since Kit Mueller had 11 against Brown in 1991.
A Fine Vintage - Mike Stephens, a Napa, Calif., native, worked at the Domaine Carneros Winery for 25-30 hours a week as a high school student.
In the Buff - Edwin Buffmire was named the Maricopa County Player of the Year as as a high school senior after averaging 21 points, eight assists and seven rebounds per game.
Two-Way Player - Patrick Ekeruo was the salutatorian of his graduating class at Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward, Calif.
A Legacy Player - Luke Owings attended the same high school (Gonzaga College Prep) as Princeton head coach John Thompson and assistant coach Robert Burke.
The Reynolds Wrap - John Reynolds won a Journalism Award for Excellence in sportswriting from The Greenville News as a junior in high school.
The All-American Boy - Michael Rudoy earned honorable mention All-America honors from Street & Smith's Magazine as a senior in high school at the Latin School of Chicago.
Powerhouse Player - Harrison Schaen won California state championships in 2003 and 2001 at Mater Dei High School and was a four-time all-league selection.
The Emperor Maximilian - Max Schafer averaged 21 points, seven assists and three steals as a senior at De Paul Catholic High School and earned first-team all-New Jersey and all-area honors.
The Man in Charge - John Thompson needs just two victories to become the seventh coach in the 104-year history of Princeton basketball to reach the 50-win plateau.
The Cross Country Team? - Princeton has players from 10 different states and one foreign country (Germany) on its roster. The Tigers have more players from California (four) than from New Jersey (two).
Television Stars - Princeton will appear on either live or tape-delayed television 15 times this season. Two games will be televised nationally, while seven others will appear on regional cable networks.