Loamy?
What the heck kind of word is that? TigerBlog had never heard it before yesterday. Now it's one of his least favorite in the English language.
What does it mean? Turns out it has something to do with soil. Here's what TB learned:
Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Perfect soil. TB still doesn't like it.
Why? It was yesterday's "Wordle" word — and TigerBlog didn't get it right. In doing so, he ended a career-best 211-day winning streak. To beat that, TB would have to get every Wordle correct between now and mid-June. Challenge accepted.
If you win 211 of 212, then you have a winning percentage of .995, which still wouldn't be as good as Lauren Gosselin's career winning percentage as Princeton's women's basketball head coach.
Okay, her tenure to date has lasted three games, all of which Princeton has won. It's been a pretty impressive three games, one that has seen Gosselin's team rally from fourth quarter deficits all three times.
And yes, it won't last forever. It did for Eve Kraft, who went 26-0 as she started the Princeton women's tennis program back in the 1970s. It won't for Gosselin, or any other basketball coach. For now, though, it's fun to say that her winning percentage is tied for the greatest of any coach ever anywhere.
Fadima Tall was, not surprisingly, named the Ivy League Player of the Week after averaging 23.7 points and 13.3 rebounds per game. You know what TB would love to be able to easily look up? The last time a Princeton basketball player averaged those numbers of three games.
To find out, TB asked this question of ChatGPT: Who is the last Princeton University men's or women's basketball player to average at least 23.7 points and 13.3 rebounds over a three-game stretch? The answer that came back? Fadima Tall.
That's clearly correct. When asked who did so before, ChatGPT said it might have been Ellen DeVoe or Margaret Meier but it couldn't be sure. That made TigerBlog think what a great answer to a test that would be:
Who was the 14th President?
It might have been Franklin Pierce, but not completely sure.
Tall's strongest competition for the Ivy honor might have come from her teammates Skye Belker (28 points) and Olivia Hutcherson (22 points), who both hit career highs of their own in the 76-74 win over Murray State Sunday in Richmond.
Oh, and by the way, TigerBlog gives a quick salute to his friend and colleague Warren Croxton, who was at the women's basketball win over Richmond Friday night, the football win over Dartmouth Saturday in Princeton and then the Murray State game back in Richmond Sunday. TB said that winning seems to follow Kaitlyn Chen; Warren seems to follow winning, as his weekend record was three wins, no losses, 1,200 miles.
Gosselin's next game is tonight, when Princeton hosts Villanova at 7. The Tigers and Wildcats will play for the 25th time (Villanova leads 13-11) overall and the sixth time since 2021 (Princeton leads 4-1).
If you think Warren put on a lot of miles lately, how about the Villanova women, who are 0-1 on the season after a 99-75 loss to No. 13 Notre Dame nine days ago. Where was that game played?
Rome. The one in Italy. The Wildcats should have asked TB for some food recommendations.
Villanova is led by Jasmine Bascoe, a two-time first-team All-Big East selection and last year's Big Five Player of the Year after averaging 19 per game last year. A junior from Ontario, Bascoe brings 1,201 career points already to the game tonight, including the 26 she scored against Notre Dame.
She also added nine assists, giving her not surprising numbers given that she led the Big East in scoring and assists a year ago. She's 5-7, and she'll be worth watching tonight.
This is one of those really intriguing early season games, one that matches two NCAA tournament teams from a year ago. Princeton you know about. Villanova got an at-large bid after reaching the Big East final (something tough to win when you're in UConn's conference) and then lost 57-52 in the NCAA opener to Texas Tech.
Two years ago? Nova went to the WBIT final. Three years ago? The NCAA Sweet 16.
These are two teams who are used to winning. It should be a good one, a game that has its root in the loamy soil.
Tip-off is at 7.
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