Men's Basketball: Ivy favorites face off

“We know it’s a huge game,” sophomore forward Ian Hummer said. “We’re the top teams in the league, but I think if we just go in there with a level head and we just play our game, don’t get caught up in the hype ... we can pull it out with a victory.”

Princeton battled out two tough wins last weekend, as the Tigers rallied to beat the fast-starting Brown team on Friday before defeating Yale on Saturday. Princeton is 14-4 for the first time since the 1998-99 season, and it is 7-0 at home for the first time since 2000. The Tigers lead the Ancient Eight in field goal percentage and three-point shooting percentage.

“We’ve been in situations — overtime, double overtime — and we’ve been able to pull them out. I think that really shows the character of our team,” Hummer said.

Senior Dan Mavraides and junior Doug Davis lead the Tigers in the backcourt. Their three-point shooting has been key to Princeton’s league-leading mark with Davis ranking second and Mavraides ranking seventh in the Ivy League in triples made.

Down low, Hummer and senior forward Kareem Maddox provide a commanding presence for the Tigers. Hummer leads the team in scoring and is sixth in the league overall in points. Maddox currently leads the Ancient Eight in field goal percentage. With sophomore center Brendan Connolly, junior forward Patrick Saunders and sophomore forward Mack Darrow, Princeton has considerable depth in the frontcourt. The big men look to improve their rebounding after Yale was able to grab several early offensive boards.

“We have to work as a team,” Hummer said. “Some guys screen out while others go to the ball. We just have to hit our man and hit the boards.”

Harvard is currently predicted by most bracket projections, including ESPN’s Joe Lunardi’s, to beat out Princeton for the Ivy crown and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The Crimson has received AP Top 25 votes in the past two weeks, and head coach Tommy Amaker’s program has been receiving much attention in its quest for its first ever tournament appearance.

The Crimson leads the league in scoring defense, scoring margin, defensive rebounding and free-throw percentage, among other statistics. Harvard has lost only three games this season and owns a win over Colorado of the Big 12. Like the Tigers, the Crimson has four players who average double figures. Forward Keith Wright leads the Crimson in scoring and is second in the league in rebounding and field goal percentage. Guard Oliver McNally leads the league in assist-to-turnover ratio and guard Brandyn Curry leads in assists. Guards Laurent Rivard and Christian Webster complete Harvard’s formidable backcourt.

The Tigers host Dartmouth (5-13, 1-3) on Saturday. The Big Green sits near the bottom of the league but remains dangerous, owning a double-digit lead at halftime against Harvard on Jan. 22. Guards Jabari Trotter, R.J. Griffin and David Rufful will play key roles for the Big Green when it visits Jadwin Gymnasium on Saturday.

This weekend is big for the Tigers, who can solidify their position atop the Ivy standings. The Crimson stand in the way on Friday, seeking to do the exact same, while the Big Green comes to Princeton on Saturday in a trap game.

“The whole goal is to win an Ivy League title,” Hummer said. “Whatever predictions, saying who is going to win, I think that’s extra motivation for us. But regardless, we’re going to go into this as one regular game and just have a dogfight.”

Check back before tipoff for our live blog of Friday's big game!