coreyschucky
11-08-2004, 12:45 PM
From CBSSPORSTLINE.COM
Ivy League preview
By Gregg Doyel
SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Stock Chart
Team Stock
1. Princeton
2. Brown
3. Yale
4. Penn
5. Columbia
6. Harvard
7. Cornell
8. Dartmouth
Stop us if you've heard this before: Princeton is the best team in the -- STOP!
But it won't stop. Princeton again is the best team in the Ivy League, and unlike past seasons when Penn or Brown mounted a challenge, there is no challenger to the Tigers this season.
Judson Wallace, Princeton's leading scorer and rebounder, is back to lead the Tigers.(Getty Images)
That's not a shot at the rest of the league, which will be stronger from top to bottom than it has been in years. But at the top, Princeton also will be stronger than it has been in years -- and Princeton is always pretty darned strong.
Even without drama atop the standings, the Ivy League has had an eventful offseason thanks to coaching turnover, and near turnover -- the debuts of Joe Scott at Princeton and Terry Dunn at Dartmouth and the return of Penn's Fran Dunphy.
Princeton
Top three: C Judson Wallace, G Will Venable, F Andre Logan.
On the rise: It's difficult to improve on a 13-1 record in league play, but Princeton just might do that. A perfect Ivy slate is possible considering the drop-offs in talent at Brown and Yale, and the return of four Princeton starters. Even with the bizarre decision of promising sophomore forward Harrison Schaen not to attend school this season, the only question is at point guard, where 6-foot-4 freshman Matt Sargeant replaces Ed Persia.
Brown
Top three: G Jason Forte, F Luke Ruscoe, F Sam Manhanga.
On the decline: The return of Forte, last season's league MVP, can't completely make up for the graduation of three double-figure scorers from a team that went 10-4 in Ivy play. At 6-7, 230 pounds, Ruscoe has rare size for an Ivy wing, and the return of burly forward Nathan Eads from a Mormon mission will be nice, but the Bears still will finish closer to third than first this season.
Yale
Top three: G Edwin Draughan, C Dominick Martin, G Alex Gamboa.
On the rise: The Bulldogs return the most experienced backcourt in the league in Draughan and Gamboa, seniors who combined to average 21 points and seven assists last season, and Martin is a fabulous Ivy League talent in the post. The program was rocked in the offseason by the death of Josh Hill in a car accident.
Penn
Top three: G Tim Begley, F Mark Zoller, G Ibrahim Jaaber.
On the decline: The Quakers lost three starters, including longtime star Jeff Schiffner, but it could have been worse. They could have lost their coach. Instead, Dunphy turned down the quagmire at La Salle to stay at Penn, where he will be hard-pressed to keep his team in the top three.
Columbia
Top three: F Matt Preston, F Dragutin Kravic, G Dalen Cuff.
On the rise: Last season was no fluke for the Lions, whose turnaround under coach Joe Jones continues this season with another step toward the Ivy's upper tier. Nine of the team's top 10 scorers return, with Preston and Kravic possessing All-Ivy potential.
Harvard
Top three: F Matt Stehle, G Kevin Rogus, G Jason Norman.
On the rise: The Crimson were only 4-23 last season, but they won three of those games in the league and return all five starters plus redshirted 7-footer Brian Cusworth. If that doesn't exactly sound like the makings of something special, it should at least sound like the makings of something less dreary than 4-23.
Cornell
Top three: G Cody Toppert, F Lenny Collins, C Eric Taylor.
On the decline: SportsLine.com is predicting a large drop for the Big Red, which won just 11 games last season (although six came in the league) and must replace Ivy scoring leader Ka'Ron Barnes, who graduated, and power forward Gabe Stephenson, who transferred to Cal Poly. If Cornell is going to prove us wrong, it will be because the 6-6 Collins elevates his game from complementary player to star.
Dartmouth
Top three: G Leon Pattman, G Steve Callahan, C David Gardner.
On the rise: Yes, the Big Green can be considered an improved team from a year ago and still finish last in the league. For one thing, the Ivy will be stronger this season. For another, Dartmouth was 1-13 in league play a year ago. All five starters are back, and the healed knee of the jump-shooting Callahan should open the floor for everyone else.
Accolades
First team
F -- Matt Preston, Columbia
F -- Tim Begley, Penn
C -- Judson Wallace, Princeton
G -- Jason Forte, Brown
G -- Edwin Draughan, Yale
Second team
F -- Matt Stehle, Harvard
F -- Andre Logan, Princeton
C -- Dominick Martin, Yale
G -- Will Venable, Princeton
G -- Cody Toppert, Cornell
Player of the year
Judson Wallace, Princeton
Newcomer of the year
Matt Sargeant, Princeton
Breakthrough player Luke Ruscoe, Brown
Ivy League preview
By Gregg Doyel
SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Stock Chart
Team Stock
1. Princeton
2. Brown
3. Yale
4. Penn
5. Columbia
6. Harvard
7. Cornell
8. Dartmouth
Stop us if you've heard this before: Princeton is the best team in the -- STOP!
But it won't stop. Princeton again is the best team in the Ivy League, and unlike past seasons when Penn or Brown mounted a challenge, there is no challenger to the Tigers this season.
Judson Wallace, Princeton's leading scorer and rebounder, is back to lead the Tigers.(Getty Images)
That's not a shot at the rest of the league, which will be stronger from top to bottom than it has been in years. But at the top, Princeton also will be stronger than it has been in years -- and Princeton is always pretty darned strong.
Even without drama atop the standings, the Ivy League has had an eventful offseason thanks to coaching turnover, and near turnover -- the debuts of Joe Scott at Princeton and Terry Dunn at Dartmouth and the return of Penn's Fran Dunphy.
Princeton
Top three: C Judson Wallace, G Will Venable, F Andre Logan.
On the rise: It's difficult to improve on a 13-1 record in league play, but Princeton just might do that. A perfect Ivy slate is possible considering the drop-offs in talent at Brown and Yale, and the return of four Princeton starters. Even with the bizarre decision of promising sophomore forward Harrison Schaen not to attend school this season, the only question is at point guard, where 6-foot-4 freshman Matt Sargeant replaces Ed Persia.
Brown
Top three: G Jason Forte, F Luke Ruscoe, F Sam Manhanga.
On the decline: The return of Forte, last season's league MVP, can't completely make up for the graduation of three double-figure scorers from a team that went 10-4 in Ivy play. At 6-7, 230 pounds, Ruscoe has rare size for an Ivy wing, and the return of burly forward Nathan Eads from a Mormon mission will be nice, but the Bears still will finish closer to third than first this season.
Yale
Top three: G Edwin Draughan, C Dominick Martin, G Alex Gamboa.
On the rise: The Bulldogs return the most experienced backcourt in the league in Draughan and Gamboa, seniors who combined to average 21 points and seven assists last season, and Martin is a fabulous Ivy League talent in the post. The program was rocked in the offseason by the death of Josh Hill in a car accident.
Penn
Top three: G Tim Begley, F Mark Zoller, G Ibrahim Jaaber.
On the decline: The Quakers lost three starters, including longtime star Jeff Schiffner, but it could have been worse. They could have lost their coach. Instead, Dunphy turned down the quagmire at La Salle to stay at Penn, where he will be hard-pressed to keep his team in the top three.
Columbia
Top three: F Matt Preston, F Dragutin Kravic, G Dalen Cuff.
On the rise: Last season was no fluke for the Lions, whose turnaround under coach Joe Jones continues this season with another step toward the Ivy's upper tier. Nine of the team's top 10 scorers return, with Preston and Kravic possessing All-Ivy potential.
Harvard
Top three: F Matt Stehle, G Kevin Rogus, G Jason Norman.
On the rise: The Crimson were only 4-23 last season, but they won three of those games in the league and return all five starters plus redshirted 7-footer Brian Cusworth. If that doesn't exactly sound like the makings of something special, it should at least sound like the makings of something less dreary than 4-23.
Cornell
Top three: G Cody Toppert, F Lenny Collins, C Eric Taylor.
On the decline: SportsLine.com is predicting a large drop for the Big Red, which won just 11 games last season (although six came in the league) and must replace Ivy scoring leader Ka'Ron Barnes, who graduated, and power forward Gabe Stephenson, who transferred to Cal Poly. If Cornell is going to prove us wrong, it will be because the 6-6 Collins elevates his game from complementary player to star.
Dartmouth
Top three: G Leon Pattman, G Steve Callahan, C David Gardner.
On the rise: Yes, the Big Green can be considered an improved team from a year ago and still finish last in the league. For one thing, the Ivy will be stronger this season. For another, Dartmouth was 1-13 in league play a year ago. All five starters are back, and the healed knee of the jump-shooting Callahan should open the floor for everyone else.
Accolades
First team
F -- Matt Preston, Columbia
F -- Tim Begley, Penn
C -- Judson Wallace, Princeton
G -- Jason Forte, Brown
G -- Edwin Draughan, Yale
Second team
F -- Matt Stehle, Harvard
F -- Andre Logan, Princeton
C -- Dominick Martin, Yale
G -- Will Venable, Princeton
G -- Cody Toppert, Cornell
Player of the year
Judson Wallace, Princeton
Newcomer of the year
Matt Sargeant, Princeton
Breakthrough player Luke Ruscoe, Brown