Regular Season Play To Conclude For Men's Basketball At Penn

Saturday, March 9

Philadelphia, Pa.

6:00 PM

Princeton University

Penn

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Regular Season Play To Conclude For Men's Basketball At Penn

March 07, 2024 | Men's Basketball

Game 27: Princeton (23-3, 11-2) vs. Penn (11-17, 3-11) – 6 p.m., 3/9
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PRINCETON, N.J. – The Princeton University men's basketball team is set to wrap up its regular season at 6 p.m. inside the Palestra on Mar. 9 against the University of Pennsylvania.

Potential Three-Peat
Should the Tigers defeat the Quakers, Princeton would clinch at least a share of the Ivy League Championship. If Brown were to defeat Yale, the Tigers would the title outright. A regular season championship would be the Tigers' third-straight and 30th total, while it would be the program's fourth under Mitch Henderson.

Receiving Votes
Princeton received three votes in the Mar. 4 Association Press (AP) Poll. The Tigers have received votes in both polls through the season and received 35 votes in the Dec. 4 AP Poll along with 38 votes in the Dec. 4 USA Today Coaches Poll. The 2023-24 season marks the first time the Tigers have received votes since 1997-98, when Princeton ended the season ranked No. 8.

Princeton To The NBA
Tosan Evbuomwan '23 signed a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons on Feb. 23 is the only Ivy League player currently on an NBA roster. Previously, he signed a 10-day contract with the Pistons on Feb. 13. On Jan. 30, Evbuomwan signed a 10-day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies and on Feb. 4 against the Boston Celtics, he recorded a game-high 12 rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes.

Ivy Madness Bound
After taking down Harvard on Feb. 23, the Tigers clinched a spot in the 2024 Ivy League Tournament. Princeton has now clinched a spot in Ivy Madness six times in its seven years of existence as the Tigers clinched in 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

One Of The Nation's Top Winning Percentages
The Tigers' winning percentage of 88.5 ranks No. 6 in all of NCAA Division I men's basketball. Princeton is also one of six teams remaining with just three losses in the 2023-24 season.

Another 20 Win Season
With Princeton's win at Harvard on Feb. 23, it secured a 20-win season for the third-straight season. The victory mark Mitch Henderson's seventh season with at least 20 victories.

National Notice
The Tigers rank No. 17 in the RPI. Princeton also checked in at No. 8 in the first NET rankings of the 2023-24 season announced on Dec. 3. Currently, the Tigers rank No. 51 in the NET Rankings.

Undefeated At Home
The Tigers ended the regular season with a perfect 12-0 record at home. Princeton is one of 13 teams to not lose at home during the regular season in 2023-24.

Fortress Jadwin
Princeton has always been tough at home, especially since the 2021-22 season as the Tigers have won 90.2% of their games and compiled a 37-4 record.

Road Warriors
Princeton's winning percentage on the road of 76.9% ranks eighth in the nation.

Sold Out
The Tigers' home games against Penn on Feb. 10 and Cornell on Mar. 2 were both sell outs. This season accounted for three out of the top five largest Jadwin crowds of the past twenty years and four out of the top nine.

A Historic Accomplishment
With 81-70 its victory over Drexel on Dec. 5, Princeton moved to 9-0 and tied its best start in school history. The Tigers also started 9-0 in 1919-20 and 1914-15.

A 15-Year First
The Tigers were the first DI team in the last 15 years to start 5-0 with four road wins.

Seven Games. Seven Venues. Seven Wins.
Each of the Tigers' first seven wins of the season took place in different venues. Princeton was the only team in the nation to win its first seven games in such fashion.

Taking Care Of The Ball
The Tigers lead the nation in least turnovers-per-game (8.3) and turnover percentage of (12.1%), which is turnovers divided by possessions. Princeton also ranks seventh in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (1.75).

Accurate From The Line
The Tigers have been one of best free throw shooting teams so far in 2023-24, currently shooting 81.22% which ranks second in the nation.

Efficient Offense
Princeton's two-point percentage of 56.5 ranks 16th in the nation. The Tigers' adjusted offensive efficiency of 116.8 also ranks 30th nationally. Raw offensive efficiency is points scored per 100 offensive possessions. The adjusted version adjusts for the quality of opposing defenses, the site of each game, and when each game was played (recent games get more weight.) Princeton's effective field goal percentage of 54.2 also ranks 38th nationally.

Drillers
The Tigers rank 10th in the nation in three pointers-per-game (10.2).

Get Stops
Princeton's scoring defense (64.4) currently ranks 17th nationally.

Success Against The Quakers
Princeton has won 10-straight over Penn, with the most recent contest between the two programs being a 77-70 Tiger victory inside Jadwin Gymnasium.

Lute Olson Award Mid-Season Watch List
Sophomore Xaivian Lee was named to the Lute Olson National Player of the Year Award mid-season watch list on Jan. 10. The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com.

Lou Henson Award Mid-Season Watch List
Lee and sophomore Caden Pierce were named to the Lou Henson National Player of the Year Award mid-season watch list by College Insider. The Lou Henson Award is presented annually to the top mid-major player in Division I college basketball and honors the former Illinois and New Mexico State head coach who won 775 games in 41 seasons.

Six Weekly Awards For Caden Pierce
Pierce was named Ivy League on Mar. 4, Jan. 2, Dec. 4 and Nov. 13. Hee was also honored as Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA) Player of the Week on Jan. 23 and Dec. 5.

A Historic Performance
Pierce's 26 points and 15 rebounds against Hofstra marked the first time a Princeton player recorded at least 26 points and 15 rebounds since Bob Roma '79 on Dec. 6, 1978, in a 67-65 loss to Seton Hall inside Jadwin Gymnasium. In that game, Roma had 29 points and 18 rebounds.

Rebounding Machine
Pierce's defensive rebound percentage of 27.6 ranks 14th nationally. His 7.46 defensive rebounds-per-game also rank 14th in the nation while his 9.3 rebounds rank 38th.

Top Ten In Everything
Pierce currently ranks second in the Ivy League in rebounding (9.3), fourth in assist/turnover ratio (2.0), fifth in free throw percentage (75.9), seventh in scoring (15.7), seventh in field goal percentage (54.0) and eighth in assists (3.2).

Caden Pierce Double-Double Tracker
With 21 points and 11 rebounds in Princeton's win over Dartmouth on Feb. 24, Pierce recorded his 13th double-double of the season and the 20th of his career.

Double-Digit Rebounds
When Pierce grabs at least 10 rebounds, Princeton is 22-2.

Offensive Leader
Of players who have played a minimum of 40% of the team's minutes and are used on at least 28% of possessions, Lee's offensive rating of 117.9 ranks eighth in the nation.

X-Factor
Lee ranks second in the Ivy League in scoring (17.9), assist/turnover ratio (2.5), third in free throw percentage (82.5%), fourth in assists (3.7), eighth in rebounding (5.8) and tenth in three-point field goals per game (1.9).

A Second Ivy Player of the Week Honor For Lee
Lee was named Ivy League Player of the Week on Jan. 8 and Nov. 27.

Offensive X-Plosion
With two 30-point games in 2023-24, Lee became the first Tiger to accomplish the feat since Myles Stephens '19 in the 2017-18 season. Should he have one more 30-point game, he'll become the first Tiger to record three since Brian Taylor '84 in the 1971-72 season when he recorded six. Lee has also scored 20 points or more seven times this season.

Lee's Development
Lee scored 152 points total his freshman season. It took just eight games for Lee to score 195 points in 2023-24. Lee has had five games of at least 20 points in 2023-24.

First 30-Point Game Since 2020
Lee became the first Tiger since Jaelin Llewellyn '22 on Mar. 7, 2020, against Cornell to score 30 points in a game when he recorded 30 in Princeton's win over Northeastern on Nov 25.

A Pair Of Weekly Honors For Matt Allocco
Senior Matt Allocco was named Ivy League Player of the Week on Feb. 19 after averaging 17.0 points on 47.6% shooting from the field, while going 13-for-13 from the free throw line. He also averaged 5.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists along with 2.0 steals. In addition, Allocco played all 40 minutes in both victories and did not commit a single turnover. He was also named Ivy League Player on the Week on Dec. 5.

Leading From The Front
A Second Team All-Ivy honoree in 2022-23, Allocco is averaging 12.7 points-per-game. He ranks third in the Ivy League in assist/turnover ratio (2.5), sixth in assists (3.3) , sixth in three-point percentage (41.9) and ninth in field goal percentage (50.7).

A Career Night For Mush
In Princeton's win over Dartmouth on Jan. 15, Allocco led the way with a game and career-high 25 points on 8-for-14 shooting from the field, 5-for-6 shooting from three and 4-for-4 shooting from the free throw line. His five made three-pointers were a career-high and in addition, Allocco handed out a game-high five assists.

MVP Mush
Allocco was named MVP of the Jersey Jam after finishing with 21 points on 9-for-13 shooting and nine rebounds.

Mush Milestone Watch
Allocco drilled his 100th career three-pointer on Feb. 24 in the Tigers' victory at Dartmouth. He now has 104 career makes from three.

Martini In The Middle
Senior Zach Martini has provided valuable senior leadership for the Tigers, averaging 7.7 points and 3.5 rebounds. Martini has made multiple three-pointers in 13 different games this season.

Blake P3ters
Junior Blake Peters made his 100th career three-pointer in the Tigers' win at Brown on Feb. 3, and now sits on 115 career made threes. Peters 2.2 three-pointers-per-game ranks seventh in the Ivy League. In the Tigers' win over Columbia on Mar. 1, Peters scored a season-high 17 points and made five three-pointers.

Career Night For Dalen Davis
Against Columbia on Mar. 1, freshman Dalen Davis had a career-high 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the field and 4-for-6 shooting from three while also recording three steals. Davis' points, made field goals, made three-pointers and steals were all career-highs.

A Two-Time Ivy Rookie Of The Week
Davis was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week on Mar. 4 Dec. 10. In the two wins before his Mar. 4 honor, Davis averaged 12.5 points on 58.8% shooting from the field and 62.5% shooting from three.

Power Five Wins
Since Mitch Henderson took over as Tigers' head coach in the 2011-12 season, the Tigers' 11 power five wins are the most of any Ivy program. In 2023 the Tigers took down Rutgers, Missouri Arizona and in 2021 Oregon State and South Carolina. The 2018 season saw Princeton defeat Arizona State while in 2017 the Tigers overcame USC. In 2013 the Tigers earned victories over Penn State and Rutgers, and in 2011 Florida State and Rutgers fell to Princeton.

Run It Back
The Tigers are coming off a historic 2022-23 season that saw the team become the fourth No. 15 seed to make the Sweet Sixteen and win the Ivy League Tournament and Regular Season Championships, along with the London Basketball Classic. The Tigers defeated a pair of nationally-ranked opponents (No. 8 Arizona & No. 23 Missouri), became the 11th No. 15 seed to beat a No. 2 seed after taking down Arizona 58-55 in the in the NCAA Tournament Round 64, and earned the largest ever margin of victory for a No. 15 seed thanks to a 78-63 win over Mizzou in the Round of 32.

The Athletic Pierce Family
Greg Pierce, Caden's father, played football at Northwestern and Stephanie Pierce, his mother, played volleyball at Northwestern. Alec Pierce, his brother, is a wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts and was a second round pick in the 2022 NFL draft who played at University of Cincinnati. Pierce's other brother, Justin Pierce (brother) played three years of college basketball at William and Mary, graduated in three years and transferred to University of North Carolina for final year and played under Roy Williams, now plays professional basketball overseas.

Lee Leads The Canadian U19 Team
Xaivian Lee represented Canada over the summer in Hungary at the FIBA U19 World Cup. He averaged 14.1 points-per-game from the field along with 3.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds. Overall, Lee ranked 14th in scoring at the FIBA U19 World Cup.

Welcome, Luke Gore
Luke Gore joins the Tigers' coaching staff as an assistant coach in 2023-24. Gore joins the Tigers from Wichita State, where he served as the Director of Basketball Operations since April 2023. Prior to that, he was on staff at Valparaiso for 21 years, rising to Associate Head Coach in 2016. Gore served as an assistant coach from 2003 – 2016 and an administrative assistant from 2002 – 2003. During his time with the Beacons, Gore helped guide the program to 387 victories including a school record 30 wins in 2016. He led them to three NCAA Tournament appearances and four NIT appearances along with seven conference championships and three conference tournament titles.

The Newcomers
The Tigers welcome five freshmen in 2023-24; Dalen Davis, Jackson Hicke, Jacob Huggins, Derek Sangster and Ryan Duncan.

Princeton Alumni
Five alums are doing grad years at other institutions due to an Ivy rule that does not allow student-athletes to compete for a fifth year in the conference. Ryan Langborg '23 is at Northwestern, Keeshawn Kellman '23 at Florida Gulf Coast, Jacob O'Connell '23 at Merrimack, Konrad Kiszka '23 at NYU and Jaelin Llewellyn '22 at Michigan.

#PrincetonPros
10 Princeton men's basketball alumni are currently playing professional basketball. Tosan Evbuomwan '23 (Detroit Pistons), Devin Cannady '20 (Birmingham Squadron), Ethan Wright '22 (CSM Tárgu Jiu), Ryan Schwieger '21 (Rasta Vechta), Richmond Aririguzoh '20 (Rasta Vechta), Myles Stephens '19 (Dolomiti Energia Trento), Amir Bell '18 (Anwil Wloclawek), Spencer Weisz '17 (Hapoel Haifa), Henry Caruso '17 (Élan Chalon), and Ian Hummer '13 (Osaka Evessa).