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Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Tigers Visit Monmouth In 2007 Finale
December 29, 2007 | Men's Basketball
The final Princeton men's basketball game of 2007 comes Sunday afternoon on the road, but not far from home, as the Tigers play Monmouth for the 13th time in the past 17 seasons. Game time at Boylan Gym is 4 p.m., with free live audio available at GoPrincetonTigers.com.
The Tigers (2-9) played last Saturday at Marshall, then scattered throughout the country for the holiday before returning to campus for several days of preparation for Monmouth (2-10), which lost at Lehigh 56-39 Friday night.
Princeton made a nice comeback effort against the Thundering Herd, shooting 68% in the second half after falling behind by 10 at halftime, but ended up on the short end of a 66-60 score. Four Tigers scored in double figures, including 10 points apiece off the bench from Kevin Steuerer and Michael Strittmatter.
The Tigers have nine wins in 12 games all-time against the Hawks. Monmouth won the last meeting, at Jadwin Gym in 2005, but Princeton has won each of the last two meetings at Boylan Gym.
TODAY'S TIP-IN...
Filling It Up Princeton is shooting a combined 52% from the field (45 for 87) in its last two games. The Tigers had not shot 50% from the field in a game in their previous 30 games prior to the last two games, against Manhattan and Marshall.
LAYUPS...
The Inside Scoop Princeton is shooting 66% on two-point shots (33 for 50) in its last two games.
Playing the Percentages Princeton made 68% of its second-half shots at Marshall in its last game eight days ago. The Tigers were 15 for 22 from the field in the second half of that game.
Reserve Report Kevin Steuerer and Michael Strittmatter combined for 20 points and seven assists off the bench for Princeton at Marshall. The duo combined to shoot 8 for 13 from the field in that game.
Doubling Up Four players scored in double figures for Princeton at Marshall. Princeton's last game with four 10-point scorers came in a win over Columbia last February.
Showing Balance All five of Princeton's starters have led the team in scoring in at least one game this season. Four of the five starters have led the team in scoring at least twice.
On The Road Again Sunday's game is Princeton's fifth road game in its last six games. The Tigers played their first six games this year either at home or at a neutral site at the Maui Invitational.
Something In Common Princeton plays Lehigh on the road in its next game Jan. 6. Monmouth played at Lehigh two nights ago, falling 56-39.
THE MID-RANGE GAME...
588 & 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 588 straight games.
Last Time Around Princeton won at Monmouth 56-52 in its last visit to Boylan Gym in 2004. The Tigers equalled a team record by shooting a perfect 18 for 18 from the foul line in that game.
The Time Before That Princeton won at Monmouth 60-57 in 2002 when Ed Persia '04 made a desperation shot from approximately 80 feet away at the regulation buzzer.
Winning Numbers Princeton is 4-1 all-time at Monmouth and 9-3 overall against the Hawks since the series began in 1991.
A Lid On It Monmouth defeated Princeton at Jadwin Gym in 2005. The 62 combined points between the teams were the fewest in Division I since the introduction of the three-point line in 1986.
Alma Maters Both Princeton head coach Sydney Johnson (1997) and Monmouth head coach Dave Calloway (1991) are graduates of their respective schools.
FROM WAY DOWNTOWN...
Remembering VBK The Tigers are wearing a “VBK” patch on their uniforms 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.
Up The Charts Noah Savage is now 10th all-time at Princeton with 125 career three-pointers. Kyle Koncz is now 11th all-time with 123 three-pointers. Next up on the list are C.J. Chapman '01 and Scott Greenman '06, each of whom finished with 139 career three-pointers.
Aloha & Mahalo Princeton was the first Ivy League team to play in the Maui Invitational.
The Jadwin Effect Princeton has won 90 of its last 119 games at Jadwin Gym (76%), including 63 of its last 78 Ivy League home games in that time.
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 Head coach 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
Bombs Away Kyle Koncz has made at least three three-point shots 15 times in 37 games in the past two seasons. He had three “threes” at Marshall last Saturday.
More Bombs Away Kyle Koncz made a team-high 51 three-point shots last year. He had four or more three-pointers in a game six times in 26 games.
Toughing It Out Kyle Koncz did not practice after Jan. 1 last season due to a stress fracture in his foot but still played in 26 games and led the Tigers in scoring.
For Starters... Noah Savage has started 70 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 76% career shooter from the free-throw line.
It's About Experience Noah Savage has played in 92 of 93 games in his career at Princeton.
Swatting Them Zach Finley's seven blocks against Chaminade were the most by a Princeton player since Chris Young had seven against Xavier on Dec. 27, 1999.
Record Breaker Zach Finley's seven blocked shots against Chaminade set a Maui Invitational record for blocks in a game.
A Perfect 10 Zach Finley made his first 10 shots in Princeton's season-opening win against Central Connecticut at Jadwin Gym Nov. 11.
Gunning It 6-3 Lincoln Gunn had his first career “double-double” at Rutgers with 13 points and 10 rebounds. His previous career high in rebounds in a game was six.
Double Trouble Lincoln Gunn has five double-figure scoring games this season.
Return To Paradise Lincoln Gunn served as a ballboy while attending the Maui Invitational several times as a child while growing up in California.
Devil Of A Game Marcus Schroeder's season-high 12 points led Princeton against Arizona State. He also had four rebounds in that game.
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.
On Guard Matt Sargeant has made seven three-point shots in 15 attempts this season and 15 of 30 shots overall (50%) in 11 games.
Land O'Lake Sophomore Nick Lake has averaged eight minutes per game in eight games this season. He did not play as a freshman or in the first two games this 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.
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.