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Princeton University Athletics
Tigers Host Holy Cross in Thanksgiving Weekend Showdown
November 26, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 26, 2003
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After a 22-year hiatus in the series, the Princeton-Holy Cross men's basketball rivalry resumed four seasons ago. And after three nailbiters in the last three seasons, it's too bad fans had to wait that long between meetings.
Last season, the Crusaders' Jave Meade hit the second of two free throws with four seconds left to give Holy Cross a 55-54 win in Worcester, Mass. Two seasons ago, at Jadwin Gym, the Tigers made six free throws in the final 25 seconds to salt away a hard-fought 52-50 win. Three years ago, at the Hart Center, Ahmed El-Nokali made two free throws with 15 seconds left to give Princeton a 47-46 win in a game where neither team had more than a five-point lead at any point.
And it's not just about a rivalry, it's also about success. Either Princeton or Holy Cross or both teams have reached the NCAA tournament in six of the past eight seasons. The Crusaders have won three straight Patriot League titles, while the Tigers have won or shared the Ivy League title in two of head coach John Thompson's three seasons.
Both teams have also started well in 2003-04. The Tigers defeated Colgate last Friday, 73-64, behind a career-high 28 points from Judson Wallace and 63 percent shooting as a team from the field. Holy Cross improved to 2-0 Tuesday night, holding off Harvard 67-59 behind 13 points, eight assists and eight rebounds from Meade. NOTE OF THE DAY
It Might be Tight -The last three Princeton-Holy Cross games have been decided by one point (55-54 Holy Cross win last year), two points (52-50 Princeton win in 2001-02) and one point (47-46 Princeton win in 2000-01).
SEVEN MORE THINGS YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT
Wonderful Wallace - Judson Wallace is averaging 22 points per game in his last six games dating back to Feb. 28 of last season. Wallace averaged 5.5 points per game in 42 career games before that.
Center of Attention - Judson Wallace is shooting 46 for 81 from the field (56.8%) in his last six games dating back to Feb. 28 of last season. Wallace shot 43.9% (83 for 189) from the field in 42 career games before that.
Right from the Tip - Princeton made seven of its first nine shots and 12 of its first 18 shots against Colgate last Friday. The Tigers also had assists on 12 of their 15 first-half field goals.
Shooting for Two - The Tigers shot 31 two-point shots and 12 three-point shots in their win over Colgate last Friday. Over the past three seasons, Princeton has averaged nearly 23 three-point attempts per game.
Keepin' it on the Down Low... - Neither Princeton nor Holy Cross has scored more than 55 points in the four meetings between the teams since the series resumed during the 1999-2000 season.
On Schedule - Beginning with today's game against Holy Cross (26-5 in 2002-03), four of Princeton's next six games come against teams that won 20 or more games last season. UC Irvine and Fresno State each won 20 games a year ago, while Duke had 26 wins.
Playing for the Postseason - Either Princeton or Holy Cross or both teams have reached the NCAA tournament in six of the past eight seasons.
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. Konrad Wysocki started and played 23 minutes against Colgate despite spraining an ankle in practice three days earlier.
Travelin' Men - Princeton plays its next five games away from Jadwin Gym (four on the road, one neutral-site game) before hosting Lafayette Dec. 22.
Point Men - Princeton's 73 points against Colgate Friday were its most in a season-opening game against a Division I team in 25 years.
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 two weeks ago. Princeton did receive five of the 16 first-place votes in the poll.
The Man in Charge - John Thompson needs just one victory to become the seventh coach in the 104-year history of Princeton basketball to reach the 50-win plateau.
The Streak Continues! - 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 467 games.
More From Way Downtown... - Ed Persia ranks ninth all-time at Princeton with 111 three-pointers. He needs 10 three-point shots to pass Mike Bechtold and move into eighth place on the all-time list.
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 fellow senior Konrad Wysocki) in his final year of eligibility.
Lucky 28 - Judson Wallace's 28 points against Colgate were the most by a Princeton player since Ray Robins scored 28 against Cornell on Feb. 2, 2002.
Wow, Wallace! - Judson Wallace scored 23 points against Yale last Feb. 28, had 24 points at Brown the next night, scored 23 points against Cornell March 7 and had 22 points against Penn in the season finale at Jadwin Gym March 11.
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.
A 50-50 Proposition - Konrad Wysocki is shooting 157 for 307 from the field (51.1 percent) for his career. Wysocki shot 5 for 7 from the field against Colgate last Friday.
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 had a second knee surgery and 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 shot a perfect 4 for 4 from the field and 4 for 4 from the line against Colgate. Venable also had three assists, a blocked shot and a steal.
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 is an outfielder 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 started and played 32 minutes against Colgate after averaging just over 10 minutes per game in 20 appearances as a freshman.
Bombs Away - Scott Greenman is shooting 12 for 29 (41.4%) from three-point range for his career. Greenman was 2 for 4 from beyond the arc against Colgate.
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.
A Legacy Player - Luke Owings had two assists, a block and a steal against Colgate Friday. Owings attended the same high school as Princeton head coach John Thompson and assistant coach Robert Burke.
Two-Way Player - Patrick Ekeruo (pronounced e-CARE-oh) played 15 minutes and had two rebounds against Colgate in his first collegiate game. Ekeruo was the salutatorian of his graduating class at Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward, Calif.
The Emperor Maximilian - Max Schafer was one of three Princeton freshmen to see action against Colgate, playing 11 minutes. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Television Stars - Princeton will appear on either live or tape-delayed television 15 times this season. Two games (Duke, Oklahoma) will be televised nationally, while seven others will appear on regional cable networks.