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Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Herd Rolls Into Princeton For Saturday Men's Basketball Showdown
December 14, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Next weekend, in wide release at a theater near you, Marshall University and the town of Huntington, W.Va., will become a lot more famous. This weekend, on Saturday afternoon, the Marshall men's basketball team makes its debut appearance at Jadwin Gym.
The Tigers and Thundering Herd meet at 4 p.m. Saturday as Princeton concludes a three-game homestand. Live video will be available at the TigerZone at GoPrincetonTigers.com, and the audio broadcast will be available on WBUD-AM 1260 and on the web with Dan Loney and Jerry Price.
Princeton (6-3), which plays seven of its next eight games on the road after Saturday, will look to get back on track offensively after shooting a combined 37% from the field and 28% from three-point range in its first two home games, against Lehigh and Rutgers last week.
The Tigers have gotten key contributions from their bench in recent games, particularly from senior Edwin Buffmire and junior Noah Savage. Buffmire tied a career high with 12 points in just 16 minutes against Rutgers, while Savage's dunk ignited a Princeton comeback in the win over Lehigh.
Marshall (3-6) defeated Wright State 79-72 Wednesday in its first home game in nearly a month. The Herd, led by Markel Humphrey's 24 points, outscored the Raiders 57-35 in the second half on the way to erasing a 37-22 halftime deficit.
The teams are meeting for just the second time. The only other meeting came in 1972 in West Virginia.
"We Are Marshall," a feature film starring Matthew McConaughey and Matthew Fox, hits theaters in wide release Dec. 22. The film chronicles the renewal of the Marshall football program following a tragic 1970 plane crash on the team's return trip from East Carolina, a crash that killed all 75 people on board.
FACT OF THE DAY
On the Rebound In Princeton's six victories, the Tigers have outrebounded their opponents by a combined total of 156-146. In their three losses, the Tigers have been outrebounded by a combined total of 101-50.
EIGHT MORE THINGS YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW
Firing Away Princeton has shot 37% from the field and 28% from three-point range in its two home games and 48% from the field and 41% from three-point range in its two away games.
Balancing Act With 12 points against Rutgers, Edwin Buffmire became the sixth Princeton player in nine games this season to lead the Tigers in scoring in a game.
Yin & Yang Princeton has averaged fewer than 39 field-goal attempts per game this season. Marshall enters Saturday's game averaging nearly 59 field-goal attempts per game.
The Depths The Tigers have averaged 24 points per game from their reserve players in their last two games. Princeton's bench played 80 of a possible 200 minutes against Rutgers last Saturday.
New Kids Princeton has started three freshmen in each of its last three games. The Tigers' starting lineup in those three games entered this season with a combined total of 59 career starts.
Arc De Triomphe Princeton has attempted 183 three-point shots (20.3 per game) and 165 two-point shots (18.3 per game) this season.
Conference Call Princeton's next two home games come against Conference USA teams. After today, the Tigers will host Rice at Jadwin Gym Jan. 6.
We'll Be Back After today, the Tigers will play seven of their next eight games on the road. The Rice game is Princeton's only home game between Dec. 16 and Feb. 9.
MORE ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF 2006-07
Turnarounds Princeton already has six non-conference wins and could potentially have as many as 11 non-league wins. The Tigers had just two non-conference wins in 2005-06.
On The Defensive The Tigers are ranked third nationally in Division I in scoring defense, allowing their opponents an average of 51.8 points per game.
Accepting Charity Princeton has attempted 150 free throws this season compared to 147 for its opponents. The Tigers last shot more free throws than their opponents in a full season in 1997-98.
Nice To Meet You Marshall is the seventh opponent in Princeton's first 10 games that the Tigers had either never played or had not played this decade prior to this season.
All For Neutrality Princeton played five of its first seven games at neutral sites—three at the BCA Classic at Ohio State Nov. 10-12 and two at Marquette's Blue & Gold Classic Dec. 1-2.
Goin' Back to Old Nassau Princeton played its first seven games away from Jadwin Gym. Today's game is the Tigers' third straight home game.
TEAM NOTES & ANECDOTES
Injury Report Center Justin Conway missed two games due to a torn abdominal muscle but played 20 minutes off the bench against Rutgers. He will likely play against Marshall Saturday.
I'm Honored Lincoln Gunn was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week for games ending Dec. 10. Gunn's 12 second-half points helped Princeton come back to defeat Lehigh Dec. 6.
558 & 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 one of its games since the rule took effect in 1986-87. The Tigers have now made at least one three-pointer in 558 straight games.
The 60's Princeton has won 35 of its last 37 games (2003-04 to present) in which it has scored 60 or more points in regulation time.
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.
From Downtown Princeton's four returning starters from a year ago are shooting 41 for 107 (39%) from three-point range. They combined to shoot 139 of 368 (38%) 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.
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).
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.
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 averaged nine points, four rebounds and three assists in 19 games as a starter from Jan. 29, 2006-Dec. 1, 2006.
More Honors Justin Conway earned honorable mention All-Ivy honors in 2005-06 despite not playing in Princeton's first two Ivy League games.
Bombs Away Kyle Koncz has made at least three three-point shots in 14 of his last 30 games.
Buckets & Buckets Kyle Koncz made at least three three-point shots in each of Princeton's first six games this season.
More Bombs Away 174 of Kyle Koncz's 212 field-goal attempts (82%) the last two seasons have come from three-point range.
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 has played in 86 career games entering today's game, 22 more than any other Princeton player (Noah Savage with 64).
Arc Madness Noah Savage needs four three-point shots to move into the top 15 all-time at Princeton and seven 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.
Iron Man Marcus Schroeder has played all 40 minutes in six of Princeton's nine games and has played 342 of a possible 360 minutes overall.
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.
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 made three second-half three-pointers against Lehigh and also made all three free throws after being fouled while attempting a three-pointer in the second half.
Old School 2 Marcus Schroeder and Lincoln Gunn have known each other and played basketball together since elementary school.
Stritt Talk Michael Strittmatter has made 20 of his 34 shots and 10 of his 15 three-point attempts in Princeton's first nine games this season.
Foul Play Edwin Buffmire has gone to the free throw line 25 times, most on the team, despite averaging just 16 minutes per game, seventh on the team.
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.