Men's Basketball: Rolling cagers visit Pittsburgh

The Tigers (20-11 overall, 10-4 Ivy League) are led by a talented group of players, headlined by junior forward Ian Hummer, who is averaging 16.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Senior guard Doug Davis provides veteran leadership and experience to this team that cannot be quantified. He ranks second on the team with 13.5 points per game. Additionally, players like sophomore guard T.J. Bray, junior forward Mack Darrow and senior forward Patrick Saunders have put together impressive seasons.

Princeton is on a hot streak right now, having won nine of its last 10 games.

“I think we’re playing our best basketball of the season,” Hummer said. “If people were to compare us to the way we were playing in the beginning of the season, they would see a completely different team. I think we have really stepped up our game offensively and defensively, and with a few guys really stepping up, we have a very good thing going.”

The Tigers’ last win came in the first round of the CBI at Evansville, by a surprisingly high score of 95-86. Davis scored a career-high 31 points in the game, while Hummer added 18, Saunders had 13 and Mack Darrow added 12 to round out an impressive offensive performance.

Princeton’s main focus, however, is not on its recent success. It is squarely on the Pittsburgh Panthers (18-16, 5-13 Big East), whom the Tigers will face on Monday night in Pittsburgh. The Panthers have had an uncharacteristically poor season this year, winning only five conference games and failing to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001. The Panthers have been one of the most successful Division I basketball teams of the last decade, accumulating two No. 1-seeds in the NCAA Tournament and producing great players. Even these Panthers, weaker than those before them, will not be an easy matchup for the Tigers.

“Anytime you go up against a Big East team, you’re in for a battle,” Hummer said. “They are extremely talented and with the amount of size they have, they pose challenges for any team.”

Despite its poor season, this Pitt team still has experience and firepower, including senior guard Ashton Gibbs and senior forward Nasir Robinson, two players who have been mainstays on the college basketball landscape for several years.

One very important aspect of this game to look out for will be how Pitt responds to the style of offense Princeton runs, which is unique and unlike anything most non-conference opponents have ever seen.

“To win this game, I think we just have to play our style of game,” Hummer added. “For most teams, the Princeton offense is something they have never seen before. In all, if we just compete the way we have been recently, we have a very good chance of winning the game.”

Regardless of Monday’s outcome, the 2011-12 campaign cannot be seen as a disappointment. No matter what expectations may have been, the men’s basketball team has advanced to the postseason and is playing its best basketball to date.

“With the season drawing to a close, the thing I’m most happy with has to be the fact that we’re playing in the postseason,” Hummer said. “While it may not be exactly what we were hoping for, I’m happy that the seniors get to play a few more games before their Princeton careers come to an end.”

Princeton will face Pitt at 7 p.m. on Monday with the winner advancing to the CBI semifinals.