A New Friend

TigerBlog walked up to Nassau Street to go the diner the other day for lunch.

As he was reaching the door to go in, he saw a woman a few steps away who also appeared to be heading into the restaurant. MotherBlog would have been happy to know that TB held the door for her.

When TigerBlog walked in, the first person he saw was Princeton men's lacrosse sophomore Chad Palumbo, who is in the middle of something of a breakout season that has seen him go from two goals last year to 10 goals and five assists through the first seven games this year. 

TB spoke to Palumbo for a few moments while the woman was seated. Then TB was put at a table opposite her, on the other side of the diner, at a distance of about 20 feet or so.

The woman, who was wearing a "Princeton 1746" baseball cap, called out to TB, who was wearing a "Princeton Field Hockey" hat and a "Princeton Tigers" sweatshirt, to let him know that she had just come from purchasing her ticket to the Princeton-UNLV men's NIT game in Jadwin Gym, which tips off tonight at 8.

The two proceeded to have a conversation across the restaurant before she invited him to join her. It seemed like a nicer way to have lunch, so TB accepted.

As it turns out, her name is Pattie Friend. Her late husband Lloyd Friend, who was a member of the Class of 1965. They'd met in high school in North Jersey, got married right after Lloyd's graduation and were together until Lloyd passed away 15 years ago.

These days, Pattie lives in town. She works part time checking people in at mealtimes into Cannon Club, whose notable alums include Lloyd Friend and Miss TigerBlog ’22 and among whose newest members will be Chad Palumbo.

As it turns out, Pattie is a huge Princeton sports fan. Her husband, who graduated from Princeton in the same class as Bill Bradley, wrestled and played football for a year, and perhaps those two items launched in Pattie a lifelong affection for Tiger athletics. 

She's watched football games from the Class of 1956 Lounge next to the press box. She's a men's lacrosse season ticket holder who has attended games since the Bill Tierney era, for instance. She had seen the men's team's excruciating loss to Cornell Saturday, but she did remember that Palumbo (three goals, one assist) had a big game. When Chad got up to leave, she insisted that TB call him over and introduce him, something that made both of them laugh.

She rarely misses a game in Jadwin Gym. This season, in fact, she saw every home game for both the men's basketball team and the women's basketball team. As such, it wasn't surprising to hear that she is pretty fired up for the basketball game tonight. 

The Runnin' Rebels come to Jadwin with a record of 19-12 and winners of 10 of their last 13. UNLV lost in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West Conference to San Diego State most recently; the Mountain West sent six teams to the NCAA tournament: San Diego State, Nevada, Boise State, Utah State, New Mexico and Colorado State.

UNLV averages 73.2 points per game. Princeton averages 77.1. How they get to those numbers is a bit different.

UNLV, in its 31 games, shot 210 for 630 from three-point range. Princeton, in its 28 games, has shot 292 for 817. That's a lot more makes and attempts in three fewer games. 

Princeton has attempted 817 three-pointers and 810 two-pointers. UNLV has attempted 630 three-pointers and 1,154 two-pointers.

Tonight's game will be the second NIT game ever played in Jadwin. The first was in 1999, when Princeton defeated Georgetown 54-47 in a game in which five Tigers (Gabe Lewullis, Mason Rocca, Chris Young, Brian Earl and Ahmed El-Nokali) played 40 minutes each. 

Rocca, by the way, had six points and 18 rebounds in that game. Remind you of anyone?

TigerBlog was at that game 25 years ago. How many others will be at this one as well?

Pattie Friend will be in attendance. Here's what she texted TB after their lunch:

I am such a Princeton fan and bleed orange and black to anyone who will listen as you now know.  Princeton has given so much to me and being a widow…these guys really take care of their widows. 

Hey, that's a good friend, even if it's someone TB just met.