IVY LEAGUE MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL:
- Penn
- Harvard
- Yale
- Princeton
- Cornell
- Columbia
- Brown
- Dartmouth
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COMMENTS FROM DAVID:
-In a day and time when everything in college basketball seems to be transfer-crazy with well over half of every roster being made up of transfer players, the Ivy League is the one league where teams are able to retain most players from year to year, which probably gives them an advantage right out of the gate. Nearly every team in the conference already knows what their rotations are going to be.
-Penn had an incredible finish to the season, winning nine out of ten before losing in the Round of 64 to Illinois. They finished 3rd in the league, but won the conference tournament and were the hottest team in the conference. With four starters back it is understandable why Penn is the preseason favorites to win the Ivy. Forward TJ Power can score, rebound, and hit from the outside. He is one of the most dangerous players in the conference. Michael Zanoni was another double-digit scorer who can hit from range, and AJ Levine returns to run the point.
-Harvard also has four starters returning and also played really well in conference action, going 10-4 overall before losing in OT to Penn in the conference tournament semifinals. Robert Hinton is one of the better guards in the conference. He averaged over 16ppg a year ago. Thomas Batties II averaged over 12ppg and is a phenomenal outside shooter, and Tey Barbour is a strong perimeter player who can hit from the outside, so the Crimson definitely have some talent and are definitely contenders to win the league.
-Yale clearly appeared to be the best team a year ago, and even though they went 11-3 in regular season play it still felt like they underachieved. Then they lost in the conference tournament title game and despite a solid 24-7 year were left out of the Big Dance. Just one starter returns from last year’s team, so the Bulldogs are starting over. Two seniors who averaged double-figures are back in Trevor Mullin and Riley Fox, both of whom are also good outside shooters. Jordan Brathwaite is another guy who can drill it from deep, so Yale does have a few pieces.
-Princeton struggled last year going just 5-9 in Ivy League play and failing to make the conference tournament, but all five starters are back so that experience should help them some. Seniors Jackson Hicke and Dalen Davis help make up what should be a solid backcourt for the Tigers.
-Cornell went 8-6 in league play last year, which was good enough to get them into the conference tournament. They are losing some key pieces from that team and some guys who played limited roles last year will have to step up this year in order for them to be successful.
-Last year, for the second year in a row, Columbia was amazing at the start of the season going 9-1 to start the year. Also, for the second year in a row, that momentum did not carry over into conference play. They were just 5-9 and did not make the conference tournament. Miles Franklin is a player to watch. He had a solid freshman season a year ago and will likely be a player they depend on this year. The only thing I know about the Lions is if they get off to a great start in November, you do not want to get too excited.
-Brown really struggled last year going just 3-11 in league play. Four starters are back, so that experience should help them improve some, but they just don’t appear to be as solid as the teams at the top of the league.
-Dartmouth will have a completely new starting lineup this year, which is rare for a team in the Ivy League. Brett MacConnell takes over as coach and he has his work cut out for him as he will have to make due with guys who do not have a whole lot of D-1 experience.
