.png&width=24&type=webp)
Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Men's Basketball Returns From Layoff, Visits 2006 MAAC Regular Season Champ Manhattan
November 21, 2006 | Men's Basketball
The pre-Thanksgiving challenges for the Princeton men's basketball team are two-fold Wednesday night at Manhattan. One is to simply get back into game mode after a nine-day layoff, while the other is to perform well against yet another quality opponent.
The Tigers and Jaspers will meet for the first time since 1998 Wednesday at Draddy Gymnasium in Riverdale, N.Y. (WBUD-AM 1260, GoPrincetonTigers.com), and each team will look to make it three wins in four games to start the season.
After finishing 2-1 at the season-opening BCA Classic Nov. 10-12, Princeton spent most of the last week-and-a-half on the practice floor, save for an Orange & Black scrimmage held at Jadwin Gym following Saturday's football game. The Tigers won their final two games at the tournament, against VMI and Alabama A&M, and enter Wednesday's game looking for their first three-game winning streak since early February of last season.
Manhattan (2-1) is playing its fourth straight home game to start the season. The Jaspers defeated Hofstra in overtime on Saturday at Draddy Gymnasium, getting a putback with less than two seconds left in the game for a 79-77 win.
Princeton junior forward Kyle Koncz was named to the Ivy League Honor Roll on Monday after averaging 15 points per game in Princeton's three games at the BCA Classic. Koncz made 10 of his 20 three-point shots in the three games and had 19 points in the win over Alabama A&M.
Princeton and Manhattan have been two of the most successful programs in the metropolitan area in the last two decades. Either the Tigers, the Jaspers or both teams have reached NCAA or NIT postseason play 17 out of the last 18 years.
The Tigers will play at Lafayette next Tuesday before heading to Milwaukee to participate in Marquette's Blue & Gold Classic Dec. 1 and 2.
FACT OF THE DAY
They Deserved A Break Princeton has not played in 10 days entering Wednesday night's game against Manhattan. The Tigers played three games in a span of less than 48 hours at the BCA Classic Nov. 10-12.
EIGHT MORE THINGS YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW
In Case You Forgot... Princeton finished 2-1 at the BCA Classic, defeating VMI and Alabama A&M after falling to Loyola Chicago. The Tigers finished in fifth place in the eight-team season-opening event.
Pulling a 180 Princeton has won 11 of its last 15 games dating back to last season. The Tigers had lost 12 of their previous 15 games prior to that stretch.
Non-Conference Call Princeton has two non-conference wins this season; the Tigers had two non-league wins all of last season.
I'm Honored Junior forward Kyle Koncz was named to the BCA Classic All-Tournament Team. He made 10 of 20 three-point shots and averaged 15 points per game at the tournament.
Iron Man Freshman point guard Marcus Schroeder played 118 of a possible 120 minutes at the BCA Classic for Princeton. Schroeder had 15 assists and just six turnovers in the three games.
Inside and Outside Princeton has taken 69 of its 134 shots this season (51%) from three-point range. Manhattan has taken 46 of its 159 shots this season (29%) from behind the arc.
Seasons of Success Either Princeton, Manhattan or both teams have reached NCAA or NIT postseason play in 17 of the last 18 seasons.
Attacking The MAAC Princeton is playing both the 2006 MAAC regular-season champion (Manhattan) and 2006 MAAC tournament champion (Iona) this season.
MORE TIDBITS TO BEGIN 2006-07
Up the Turnpike The Tigers have a 14-1 all-time record against Manhattan. Today's game is just the seventh game between the schools since 1978 and the first since 1998.
Road Warriors Princeton will play its first seven games in 2006-07 either on the road or at a neutral site. The Tigers' first home game this season is Dec. 6 against Lehigh.
Lid Lifters Princeton played in an exempt season-opening tournament for the third straight year. The Tigers were in the NIT Season Tip-Off in 2005 and the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in 2004.
To The Nines The Tigers averaged nine three-pointers per game at the BCA Classic and are averaging more than eight three-pointers per game in their last 15 games dating back to last season.
The 60's Princeton has won 35 of its last 37 games (2003-present) in which it has scored 60 or more points in regulation (1-0 this season, 5-1 in 2005-06, 10-1 in 2004-05 and 19-0 in 2003-04).
Wait 'Til Next Year! Princeton will play in the Maui Invitational in November 2007 along with Duke, Illinois, Oklahoma State, Arizona State, LSU, Marquette and host Chaminade.
TEAM NOTES & ANECDOTES
Injury Report Junior guard Matt Sargeant has a hairline fracture in his left pinkie and is out for up to two weeks. Senior forward Luke Owings missed two weeks of practice after suffering an ankle sprain Oct. 23 but returned to start each of Princeton's first three games.
Quite A Streak Princeton had 20 consecutive seasons with a .500 or better record before finishing with a 12-15 record in 2005-06.
552 & Counting Princeton is one of only three Division I teams (Vanderbilt and UNLV are the others) to have made at least one three-point shot in every game since the rule took effect in 1986-87. The Tigers have now made at least one three-pointer in 552 straight games.
On Schedule Princeton could play as many as seven games before Jan. 1 against teams that reached postseason play in 2005-06.
From Downtown Princeton's four returning starters from a year ago combined to shoot 139 of 368 (37.7%) from three-point range last season.
More From Downtown Princeton made 10 or more three-point shots in a game nine times in 27 games last season, including five times in the last 12 games of the season.
Even More From Downtown Princeton took more than 50% of its shots last season (572 of 1123) from three-point range.
Accepting Charity Princeton finished fourth in the nation last season in free-throw percentage as a team, connecting on 77.3% of its free-throw attempts (266 of 344). Saint Joseph's, New Hampshire and Gonzaga finished ahead of the Tigers.
Coach Speak Joe Scott is in his third season as Princeton's head coach and his 11th season overall as a coach for the Tigers. He was an assistant for eight seasons at Princeton from 1992-2000.
More Coach Speak Joe Scott played point guard for the Tigers from 1983-87 and still ranks tied for fifth all-time at Princeton with 144 steals.
Even More Coach Speak Joe Scott was named the Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year in 2004 (at Air Force) and finished fourth in the balloting for Associated Press National Coach of the Year.
Final Coach Speak Assistant coaches Mike Brennan and Howard Levy also played basketball at Princeton for former coach Pete Carril, who was also Scott's head coach.
Branching Out Five Princeton graduates or former Princeton assistant coaches are currently Division I head coaches. (Bill Carmody, Northwestern; Chris Mooney, Richmond; Craig Robinson, Brown; Joe Scott, Princeton; John Thompson, Georgetown).
PLAYER NOTES & ANECDOTES
Captain, My Captain Senior Justin Conway is Princeton's team captain in 2006-07. Conway is a former walk-on to the program who had played one career minute prior to Jan. 29 of last season.
Numbers Game Justin Conway has averaged 9.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 16 games since becoming a starter last January.
More Honors Justin Conway earned honorable mention All-Ivy honors in 2005-06 despite not playing in Princeton's first two league games.
Bombs Away Kyle Koncz has made at least three three-point shots in 12 of his last 25 games.
More Bombs Away 149 of Kyle Koncz's 181 field-goal attempts (82%) the last two seasons have come from three-point range.
Charity Case Kyle Koncz made all nine of his free-throw attempts in Princeton's three games at the BCA Classic Nov. 10-12.
Conference Call Luke Owings earned honorable-mention All-Ivy honors as a junior. He averaged almost 11 points and five rebounds in conference play.
Experience Luke Owings had played in 77 career games entering the 2006-07, 22 more than any other Princeton player entering the season.
Arc Madness Noah Savage needs five three-point shots to move into the top 15 all-time at Princeton and eight three-pointers to reach 100 for his career.
Point Man Noah Savage is Princeton's leading returning scorer from a year ago. He averaged exactly 10 points per game as a sophomore.
Helping Out Marcus Schroeder's seven assists against VMI Nov. 11 were the most by a Princeton player since Will Venable had seven assists against Harvard in March 2005.
Gunn-Er Lincoln Gunn's three-point shot with 33 seconds left gave Princeton a five-point lead against VMI Nov. 11. Gunn took 14 three-pointers in three games at the BCA Classic, making four.
Start Here, Start There Marcus Schroeder and Lincoln Gunn were also the starting backcourt at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif. in 2005-06, leading their team to a 32-1 record and a state title.
Old School Marcus Schroeder and Lincoln Gunn have known each other and played basketball together since elementary school.
Stritt Talk Michael Strittmatter scored a career-high 17 points in Princeton's loss to Loyola Nov. 10. Strittmatter has made 11 of his 17 shots in Princeton's first three games this season.
Buffed Up Edwin Buffmire averaged more than 25 minutes per game off the bench in 2005-06. He shot nearly 50% from the field and led Princeton in blocked shots.
History Lesson Kevin Steuerer's father Mickey was a team captain for the 1975 Princeton team that won the NIT, the only Ivy League team to have won a postseason national tournament.
Related Matters Chris Petrie is the nephew of former Tiger standout and current Sacramento Kings general manager Geoff Petrie. His father, George, is the men's basketball coach at Gettysburg College.