Ivy League Notebook
by Jason Haslam
Cryin’ Lions
For Colombia it has been more than just an inauspicious start. They dropped their season opener 60-36 to Rutgers, committing 27 turnovers, and no Lion was able to notch double-digits in scoring. “We took a whipping,” said Lion coach Armond Hill,”but it’s how you respond after the whipping that matters most. I am not disappointed.” The Lions next two games had similar results, losing 66-37 to Boston University, and falling to Binghamton 70-42. Through the first three games they failed to register a scorer in double figures. Something needed to give.
The Lions knew this season would be difficult without Craig Austin, former Ivy League MVP who graduated, but the season has just started and things can’t seem to get any worse. Starting center Chris Wiedemann who is beset with an injury has not returned to the lineup since their season-opener.
The Lions fell to 0-4 after dropping a 61-47 decision against Bucknell, but they finally showed some signs of life offensively. Jeremiah Boswell scored 20 points on 5-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc and Mario McCottery had 15 points and 16 rebounds in the loss. Overall the Lions still lack the talent and depth, and most importantly the absence of the senior leadership.
Coming off an 11-17 campaign loaded with seniors, they underachieved failing to challenge for the Ivy League crown. Now with the loss of those seniors, Hill must exercise patience as the Lions must approach their progress with baby steps. Wiedemann’s return is urgent and can only help this bedraggled team.
Road Quakers
Prior to the opening of the season, Penn was deemed the best team in Philadelphia, a title usually reserved for, Temple, St.Joseph’s or Villanova. The Quakers somehow lost their first game of the season to their unassuming next-door neighbor, Drexel 71-62 at the Palestra on Monday night. The Quakers opened the season with an easy win over Penn St. and figured to roll past a team like the Dragons, who play in the Colonial Athletic Association.
In the game, the Quakers shot just 9-for-31 from behind the arc and the interior game of Koko Archibong and Jeff Schiffner shot a combined 3-for-10 from the field totaling 11 points. Archibong had only one rebound in 27 minutes of play.
The loss also comes in the wake of an eight day break for the Quakers, who don’t play again until December 3rd at Delaware. Moreover, with a difficult non-conference schedule the Quakers still must face Temple, then go on the road against Villanova, Colorado, Providence, and USC. Quaker coach Fran Dunphy will now get to see how well his squad responds from a long layoff and disappointing loss.
OU Too Much For Tigers
In a tough early-season game at Oklahoma, Princeton’s slow paced strategy did very little against the rugged Ebi Ere and the rest of the Sooners. Ere dominated with 27 points seven rebounds, and six assists. The loss put the Tigers at 1-1 who had scrapped by Western Michigan 62-59 in the first round of the Sooner Invitational for their first win of the season the night before.
Andre Logan had 16 points and Spencer Gloger 15 for the Tigers, but the Sooners led 44-29 at the half and never looked back as they shot 53 percent and Ere a preseason All-American candidate could not be contained.
“He’s a player, there’s no other way to put it.” Princeton coach John Thompson Jr. said,” There’s not too many facets of his game where you can’t say he’s at least good at it.”
No Worries in New Haven
The Yale Bulldogs have opened up their season with two losses at Oklahoma St. and at Wake Forest, two programs that are not necessarily dominating, but formidable in their own right. However, the slow start should not faze the Bulldogs. They are expected to challenge for the Ivy League title and have returned all five starters from last year.
With eight of their first nine games being played away, the Bulldogs will go into conference with the toughest part of the schedule behind them. If they manage a .500 record they should be fine going into Ivy League play
