Princeton Tigers (17-11 overall, 10-4 league)
Projected starting five:
Sr. G T.J. Bray
Jr. G Clay Wilson
Jr. F Denton Koon
So. F Hans Brase
Sr. F Will Barrett
Important departures:
F Ian Hummer (16.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.3 spg) is the only full-time starter gone from last season’s team, although part-time starting G Brendan Connolly (3.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg) has also departed.
Returning:
63.3 percent of scoring and 57.1 percent of rebounding
Additions:
Fr. F Henry Caruso
Fr. F Steven Cook
Fr. C Pete Miller
Fr. F Hashim Moore
Fr. G Khyan Rayner
Fr. F Spencer Weisz
Schedule Highlights:
The Tigers have six home games in non-league play, featuring visits from Patriot League contender Lafayette and George Mason. The biggest road games are at Butler, Rutgers and Penn State, all of which are winnable games. They also play Pacific and Portland at the South Point Holiday Hoops Classic in Las Vegas. They get tested right away in Ivy League play, as the first three games are all on the road and none will be easy: Penn, Harvard and Dartmouth. Later, they play four straight at home as part of a season-ending stretch with five of seven in Jadwin Gymnasium.
Projected finish and outlook:
In any normal year, this Princeton team would have some people pick them to win and not look crazy for it. The Tigers have a solid veteran crew that should absorb the loss of Hummer far better than just about any other team in the league would, and he’s not a small loss. Barrett is highly skilled and has steadily developed, and now it’s his time to shine up front. Koon and Brase, the latter of whom had a good freshman season, help solidify that unit along with some depth that will get a boost from freshmen. Bray and Wilson lead the perimeter, and they also get senior Jimmy Sherburne back after missing last season due to injury. If someone emerges to provide depth there they should be better off. Bray is one of the league’s best players and yet can still be considered underrated as well. The toughest challenge will be getting past Harvard, and while they have had success against the Crimson in Jadwin Gym this year will be a little tougher.
