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Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Tigers Host Iona Looking For 2-0 Start To 2007-08
November 13, 2007 | Men's Basketball
Princeton looks for a 2-0 start and some continued momentum heading into its historic trip to Maui when its hosts Iona Wednesday night at Jadwin Gym at 7:30. Free live audio and subscription live streaming video for the game will be available at GoPrincetonTigers.com.
The Tigers, who defeated Central Connecticut 59-57 in their season opener Sunday in the debut of head coach Sydney Johnson '97, are looking for their first 2-0 start since the 2003-04 season. Princeton got a career-best 22 points from Zach Finley in the win over CCSU, as the sophomore center made his first 10 shots to help the Tigers come back from an eight-point halftime deficit.
Iona, under first-year head coach Kevin Willard, lost at Robert Morris 72-66 in its season opener last Saturday. Willard, the son of Holy Cross coach Ralph Willard, comes to Iona after six seasons on Rick Pitino's staff at Louisville.
Princeton, which has never lost to Iona in five all-time meetings, earned a 57-46 win against the Gaels in New Rochelle, N.Y., last season. The Tigers made 10 of 22 three-point shots in that game.
For those who can't see Wednesday night's game at Jadwin Gym, all three of Princeton's games in Maui will be nationally televised. Monday's opener against Duke (9 p.m. ET) is on ESPN2, while the Tigers' final two games at the tournament will be televised by ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU depending on Princeton's results.
Arizona State, Illinois, Marquette, LSU, Oklahoma State and host Chaminade are the other teams in the EA Sports Maui Invitational field. The winner of the Princeton-Duke game plays the winner of the Arizona State-Illinois game in a Tuesday semifinal (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), while the losing teams from those games play at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday (ESPNU).
TODAY'S TIP-IN...
Two In A Row Princeton last opened the season with two straight home games in 2003-04, getting victories over Colgate and Holy Cross. Holy Cross is coached by Ralph Willard, father of first-year Iona coach Kevin Willard.
LAYUPS...
Drive For Six Princeton is 5-0 all-time against Iona. The Gaels last visited Jadwin Gym in January 1992, a 68-51 Princeton win.
Non-Conference Call Princeton is 10-5 in its last 15 non-conference games.
A Zach Attack Zach Finley made his first 10 shots from the field Sunday against Central Connecticut. On his only miss, he grabbed the offensive rebound, was fouled and made both free-throw attempts.
Thanks For The Help Princeton had assists on 16 of its 22 baskets against Central Connecticut, including 14 of its 17 field goals in the second half.
Thanks For The Help 2 Six of the nine Princeton players who played against Central Connecticut had at least two assists.
In the Beginning... Princeton plays its first six games this season either at home or at a neutral site. The Tigers played their first seven games last year on the road or at neutral sites.
Destination, Maui The Tigers leave Friday morning for Hawaii and the 2007 EA Sports Maui Invitational. Princeton plays Duke in the first round next Mon., Nov. 19 (9 p.m., ESPN2).
THE MID-RANGE GAME...
On The Defensive Princeton led NCAA Division I in scoring defense in 2006-07, allowing just 53.3 points per game. The Tigers allowed just 28 points in a win over Rice.
Numbers Game Princeton had 70 more assists, 13 fewer turnovers and 47 more steals than its opponents in 2006-07.
578 & 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 for the 1986-87 season. The Tigers have now made at least one three-pointer in 578 straight games.
A Season To Remember Sydney Johnson was an assistant coach at Georgetown for three seasons. He helped the Hoyas reach the NCAA Final Four and finish with a 30-7 record in 2006-07.
The History Books Sydney Johnson is Princeton's all-time leader in steals (169) and ranks fifth all-time at Princeton in both three-pointers (162) and assists (280).
Tiger Pride Assistant coaches Brian Earl '99 and Scott Greenman '06 also played for Princeton. Earl was the 1999 Ivy League Player of the Year, while Greenman was a 2006 first-team All-Ivy selection.
FROM WAY DOWNTOWN...
Remembering VBK Princeton will wear a “VBK” patch on its uniform in 2007-08 in honor of former Princeton coach Butch van Breda Kolff, who passed away in August. van Breda Kolff led the Tigers to the 1965 Final Four and had a 103-31 record in five seasons at Princeton.
The 60's Princeton has won 36 of its last 38 games (2003-04 to present) in which it has scored 60 or more points in regulation time.
The Jadwin Effect Princeton enters today's game having won 90 of its last 117 games at Jadwin Gym (77%), including 63 of its last 78 Ivy League home games in that time.
Deep Thoughts Princeton made at least 10 three-point shots five times last season. The Tigers made at least nine three-point shots 11 times in 28 games.
Us Or Them Either Princeton (nine times) or Penn (10 times) has been the Ivy League's NCAA tournament representative in each of the last 19 seasons (1989-2006).
Us Or Them 2 Princeton has won 25 Ivy League titles; Penn has won 25 Ivy championships. The other six Ivy League schools have combined to win 10 league crowns.
Shining Moments Princeton has made 23 NCAA tournament appearances. Only 22 Division I schools had made more appearances than the Tigers entering 2006-07.
Branching Out Six Princeton graduates or former Princeton assistant coaches are currently Division I head coaches. (Bill Carmody, Northwestern; Craig Robinson '83, Brown; Joe Scott '87, Denver; John Thompson '88, Georgetown; Chris Mooney '94, Richmond; Sydney Johnson '97, Princeton).
The Worldwide Leader Princeton will appear on national television on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU at least six times this season.
Princeton In The Pros Two recent Princeton graduates play in Italy's top division. Mason Rocca '00 plays for Napoli and also played for the Italian national team in the 2006 FIBA World Championships, while Judson Wallace '05 plays for Capo D'Orlando after two seasons playing in Germany.
More Princeton in the Pros Former Tiger basketball star Chris Young '02 played in the Major League All-Star game in 2007. The San Diego Padres starting pitcher led the National League in earned run average for much of the 2007 season.
Even More Princeton in the Pros Sydney Johnson played seven seasons of professional basketball in Italy and Spain after graduating from Princeton. His teams won three league championships in those seven seasons.
PLAYER NOTES & ANECDOTES...
Shooting Star Kyle Koncz was averaging 11.5 points per game and shooting 50% from three-point range through 12 games last season before suffering a foot injury in late December.
Bombs Away Kyle Koncz made a team-high 51 three-pointers last season. He had at least three three-point shots 11 times.
The Century Mark Kyle Koncz has made 103 three-point shots in 268 attempts (38%) in 55 games the last three seasons for Princeton.
I'm Honored Kyle Koncz won Princeton's B.F. Bunn Trophy as the team's most valuable player in 2006-07.
It's About Experience Noah Savage has played in 83 of 84 games in his career at Princeton.
Taking His Shots Noah Savage averaged 10 points per game as a sophomore and made a team-high 53 three-point shots.
More Bombs Away Noah Savage has started 60 career games, most of any player on the current Princeton roster.
Playing The Percentages Noah Savage is a 37% career shooter from three-point range and a 78% career shooter from the free-throw line.
Good Company Zach Finley nearly tied Barnes Hauptfuhrer's school record of 11 field goals without a miss with his 10 for 11 performance against CCSU. Kit Mueller '91 shot 8 for 8 from the field three times in his career.
Good Numbers Zach Finley shot 48% from the field last season and led Princeton in blocked shots despite averaging just 13 minutes per game.
Conference Call Marcus Schroeder led Princeton in scoring in Ivy League games last season (7.4 ppg). He also had twice as many assists as turnovers in Ivy League play (43-22).
Gunning It Lincoln Gunn had five three-pointers in a game twice last season, at South Carolina and at home against Harvard.
On Guard Matt Sargeant had three three-point shots against Central Connecticut. Sargeant entered the game with seven three-point shots in 29 career appearances.
Stritt Talk 6-8 Michael Strittmatter made 22 of his 50 three-point attempts last season. He was leading the Ivy League in three-point percentage for much of the season.
History Lesson Kevin Steuerer's father Mickey was a team captain for the 1974-1975 Princeton team that won the National Invitation Tournament, the only Ivy League team to have won a postseason national tournament.
Family Affair Sophomore forward Chris Petrie is the nephew of former Tiger star Geoff Petrie '70 and the son of long-time Gettysburg College coach George Petrie.
The New Guys Princeton has three freshmen on its 2007-08 roster, 6-8 Kareem Maddox and 6-3 Dan Mavraides are California natives, while 6-4 Bobby Foley comes to Princeton from Richmond, Va.
High Riser 6-8 Kareem Maddox, who played 15 minutes in the season opener, was a McDonald's All-America nominee in 2006-07. He was named the Ventura County Player of the Year as a senior.