The Weekend In Hoops

Princeton and Penn have played a total of 249 games in men's basketball since they first got together on Valentines' Day 1903.

Penn holds a slim lead in the series, 126-123. If you're TigerBlog, you look at that number and marvel. 

Why? Because you have to factor in two numbers: with Mitch, and without Mitch. 

In games in which Mitch Henderson has either played or coached, Princeton is 26-8 against the Quakers. In all other games, Princeton is 97-118. 

That's a .765 winning percentage with Mitch Henderson and a .451 winning percentage without him. It becomes even more amazing when you add in the fact that he was 0-4 against Penn as a player to start his career. That means he's 26-4 since, or, wait for it, a .878 winning percentage.

When TigerBlog was doing Princeton's men's basketball media guide back when that was a thing, he used to update the numbers in the rivalry and think that the Tigers would never catch up. And now? They are just three back of the Quakers. 

Of course, past performance doesn't guarantee future success, as they say. That's why nothing in sports can ever be taken for granted. 

Mitch added another win against the Quakers last Saturday night in Jadwin, as the Tigers won 77-70 in front of a sell-out crowd. It was a fun night in the building, which came alive at all the right times and helped Princeton through any times where Penn might have been on the verge of taking control.

Princeton has at least one more game against the Quakers this season as the teams end their regular seasons against each other on March 9 at the Palestra. The Ivy League tournament will begin the following weekend.

Between now and then, there are much more pressing matters to keep Princeton focused. There is the matter of this weekend, when the Tigers host Brown (tonight at 7) and Yale (tomorrow at 8). 

The top four teams will clinch spots in the Ivy tournament at Columbia, which is now just four weeks away. Princeton cannot clinch a spot this weekend no matter what, but this weekend's results will have a big impact in a few areas.

First of all, Princeton can become the No. 1 team by winning its remaining games and having Cornell defeat Yale. Should that happen, Princeton would be assured of at least a share of the title and also the top seed, no matter what else occurs.

Second, Princeton can continue to put distance between itself and the teams that are chasing the Tigers for Ivy tournament spots by winning this weekend at home. 

Right now, Yale is 7-0, followed by 6-1 Cornell and 5-2 Princeton. In games between those three, the home team has won each time. Those three also enter this weekend a combined 15-0 against the rest of the league.

Harvard and Columbia are both 3-4 and tied for fourth, followed by Brown at 2-5 and Penn and Dartmouth at 1-6 each. Obviously every win is huge for every team, and Brown needs all the wins it can get, especially this weekend. 

Also, the team that breaks through against one of the top three will have a huge advantage as the race for fourth moves along. 

In other words, both games this weekend are big. Besides, every Princeton home game this year has  been an event. 

Then there is the women's side. 

Princeton is currently 8-0 as it heads to 4-4 Brown (tonight at 7) and 3-5 Yale (tomorrow at 6). Wins in both of those games will clinch an Ivy tournament spot for the women.

If you're looking ahead, the next game for the Tigers will be Saturday the 24th at 2 pm at Columbia, who is 6-1. It could be the first of two more meetings between the teams, and the only place Princeton can play Columbia again this year is on Columbia's home court.

The rest of the women's standings have Harvard at 6-2, followed by Brown and then 3-5 Yale and Penn, 1-7 Cornell and 0-8 Dartmouth.

February is past its midway point. March, and all that is mad about it, is right around the corner. 

Every weekend from here on out will be an exciting one.