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Princeton University Athletics
Tigers, Penn Battle in a Familiar Place: Atop the Ivy Standings
February 13, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 13, 2006
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When two teams enter a game each on four-game winning streaks, it's obvious that the game will feature two teams that are playing well.
But aside from that certainty, there are mostly questions surrounding the 213th meeting between Princeton and Penn in men's basketball, which tips off Tuesday night at 8 p.m. at The Palestra in Philadelphia (TV-CN8, Radio-WHWH-AM, GoPrincetonTigers.com).
Can Princeton do what no other Ivy team has done, beat the Quakers, and pull into a first-place tie after the first half of the league season? Can anyone stay in hailing distance of the Quakers, who have won their first six league games by an average of 24 points? Will the game go to overtime, as the last two meetings between the teams at the Palestra have done?
While no one knows for sure, one other thing is certain. There will be a packed house in the building, and one of the best rivalries in college sports will be buzzing with the top two teams in the Ivy League standings on the court.
Princeton (7-12, 5-1 Ivy) won in dramatic fashion at Harvard thanks to Noah Savage and held on at Dartmouth thanks to some late-game free-throw shooting. The Tigers' four-game winning streak is their longest since early last season.
Penn (14-6, 6-0 Ivy) has not only won four in a row but also eight of its last nine and 11 of its last 13. Ivy League Player of the Week Ibby Jaaber has been simply outstanding in Ivy League play, averaging 18.5 points, 3.5 assists and four steals per game and shooting nearly 70% from the field. The Tigers have been shooting well themselves throughout their winning streak, connecting on better than 42% of their three-point shots in that time.
The Quakers have won seven of the last eight games in the series. Only twice in the last 15 seasons has there been a split in the season series (1998-99 and 2003-04).
FACT OF THE DAY
Still Standing Princeton and Penn haven't met this late in the season within a game of each other in the league standings since 2002, when the Quakers defeated the Tigers in the final game of the regular season to set up a three-way Ivy playoff.
EIGHT MORE THINGS YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW
Winning Numbers Princeton is shooting 38 for 90 from three-point range (42%) and 42 for 52 from the foul line (80.8%) during its current four-game winning streak. The Tigers have shot 40% or better from the field in five straight games after doing that just five times in their first 14 games.
More Winning Numbers Princeton has committed fewer than 10 turnovers in three consecutive games. The Tigers have 50 assists and just 35 turnovers during their current four-game winning streak.
Drive for Five Princeton's four-game winning streak is its longest since early last season. The Tigers last won five straight in 2003-04, when they won their final nine games of the regular season.
The 50's Princeton is 7-0 this season when scoring 51 points or more and 0-12 when scoring 50 points or less.
Well Played Princeton won at The Palestra two years ago and led Penn by 18 points with 7:35 left at The Palestra last season before the Quakers made a late-game comeback and won in overtime.
Close Calls Each of the last two Princeton-Penn games at the Palestra has gone to overtime.
Just to Remind You... Either Princeton, or Penn, or both teams have won the Ivy League championship in each of the last 17 seasons.
Turnarounds Princeton finished 4-11 in non-conference games in 1979-80, but finished 11-3 in Ivy League play to tie for the league title before losing to Penn by one point in an Ivy playoff game.
MORE THINGS TO KNOW Justin Time 6-4 junior Justin Conway has started each of Princeton's last five games at center. Conway is the second shortest player in Princeton's starting five.
Helping Out Justin Conway had six assists in Princeton's win at Dartmouth, the most assists by a Princeton player this season.
The New Guy Justin Conway is averaging 29.8 minutes per game in Princeton's last five games. Conway had played one career minute, and none this season, prior to a game Jan. 29 at Davidson.
The Downtown Train Princeton has attempted 434 three-point shots and 366 two-point shots this season. The Tigers have made 154 three-pointers and 153 two-point shots.
More From Downtown Princeton has scored more than 50% of its points this season via the three-point shot (462 of 921).
TEAM NOTES & ANECDOTES
Injury Report Both Geoff Kestler, who had bursitis in his right hip, and Matt Sargeant, who had a groin injury, have returned to practice and are now dressed for games. Alex Okafor has been limited by tendon injury in his right hand suffered in practice Dec. 16.
541 & 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 541 straight games.
The 60's Princeton has won 32 of its last 33 games when it scores 60 or more points in regulation. The Tigers are 3-0 this year, were 10-1 last year and 19-0 in 2003-04 when scoring 60 or more points.
Double Digits Princeton made 11 three-pointers against Harvard. It was the seventh time in 19 games this season the Tigers have made at least 10 three-pointers in a game.
Knockin' Em Down Noah Savage's six three-pointers against Brown were the most by a Princeton player since Mike Bechtold made six against Louisville in the 2002 NIT.
Deep Thoughts Noah Savage, Kyle Koncz and Luke Owings have combined to make 101 of 265 three-point attempts this season (38%).
More Deep Thoughts Scott Greenman has made 15 of his 26 (57%) three-point shots in his last five games. He made six of his first 35 three-pointers (17%) in his first 10 games.
Shutdown Mode Princeton led the nation in scoring defense in 2004-05, allowing opponents to score just 54.3 points per game. The Tigers are second in that category this season (54.4 ppg).
Coach Speak Joe Scott is in his second season as Princeton's head coach and his 10th season overall as a Princeton coach. He was an assistant for eight seasons at Princeton from 1992-2000.
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.
Ivy Talk Princeton has won 25 Ivy League championships; Penn has won 23 league crowns. The other six league schools have combined to win nine league championships.
More Ivy Talk Either Princeton (1989-92, 96-98, 01, 04) or Penn (1993-95, 99-00, 02-03, 05) has represented the Ivy League in the NCAA tournament in each of the last 17 seasons.
Paradise Found Princeton is scheduled to play in the Maui Invitational in November 2007 along with Duke, Illinois, Oklahoma State, Arizona State, LSU, Marquette and host Chaminade.
Winning Numbers Princeton became the 14th Division I team to record 1,500 all-time victories early last season. The Tigers currently rank 16th on the all-time list with 1,517 victories in 106 seasons of varsity basketball.
PLAYER NOTES & ANECDOTES
All-Around Player Noah Savage leads the Tigers in scoring, three-pointers and free throws and is second on the team in assists.
Big Shot Noah Savage's baseline jumper with 0.2 seconds remaining on the clock gave Princeton a 60-59 win at Harvard Friday.
Start Me Up Noah Savage is the only current Princeton player to started every game of his career. Savage has started all 47 career games.
Distance Learning Scott Greenman now has 125 career three-pointers, ninth all-time at Princeton. C.J. Chapman '01 is next on the Princeton list with 139 three-pointers.
Experience Scott Greenman has started 70 of the last 71 games in which he has played. He missed four games this season due to a back injury.
Taking Care of It Scott Greenman has 132 assists and 84 turnovers over the past three seasons. He has a team-high 37 assists (and just 22 turnovers) this year.
Bombs Away Kyle Koncz has made at least three three-point shots in eight of Princeton's last 14 games.
Career Night Kyle Koncz had six three-pointers and a career-high 20 points in Princeton's win at Harvard Friday.
Taking His Shots Luke Owings is a 51% career shooter from the field overall and a 43% career shooter from beyond the three-point arc.
Head of the Class Luke Owings was the valedictorian of his high school class at Gonzaga College Prep in Washington, D.C.
Doing Just Fine Justin Conway is averaging 5.4 pionts and 3.4 rebounds per game since entering the starting lineup Jan. 29 at Davidson.
Stritt Talk Michael Strittmatter made three-point shots on consecutive possessions for Princeton Friday against Yale, turning a 40-37 deficit into a 43-40 lead midway through the second half.
In the Buff Edwin Buffmire had a career-best three blocked shots in Princeton's win against Yale. Buffmire also had eight points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Point Man Edwin Buffmire averaged 9.2 points per game in five consecutive starts for Princeton beginning Dec. 28.
Quick Starts Geoff Kestler started each of Princeton's first nine games. Kestler had a season-high eight points against Colgate Dec. 3 and played 18 minutes off the bench at Rutgers.
New Kid on the Block Sophomore Kevin Steuerer averaged 32 minutes per game in a six-game stretch from Dec. 6 through Dec. 28. Steuerer had played three career minutes prior to that.
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.
Alexander Was Great Alex Okafor's three-point play with 4:03 left in overtime gave Princeton the lead against Columbia Jan. 13. Okafor has averaged 12 minutes in 15 games this year and is averaging 1.5 rebounds per game.