Iona Game Notes, shows us going with a big lineup with their projected starters. If it turns out that way, I'm assuming that we'll be attacking the basket and fast breaking much more than we did last season. And probably shooting fewer three's. And naturally, we don't know for sure if the projected and actual starters are the same.
Iona Game Notes, shows us going with a big lineup with their projected starters. If it turns out that way, I'm assuming that we'll be attacking the basket and fast breaking much more than we did last season. And probably shooting fewer three's. And naturally, we don't know for sure if the projected and actual starters are the same.
I thought you might find this Princeton preview interesting. They seem to have a strong team. The article doesn’t offer any substantive comment about this year’s Iona team. Maybe that’s a sign they are wrongly overlooking us.
Men's Basketball To Open 2024-25 Against Iona Xaivian Lee Game One: Princeton (0-0) vs. Iona (0-0)
Watch: ESPN+ | International Feed
PRINCETON, N.J. – The Princeton University men's basketball team will open the 2024-25 season against Iona on Nov. 4 inside Jadwin Gymnasium as the Tigers officially begin their quest for a fourth-straight Ivy League title and a return to the NCAA Tournament.
On The Hunt For A Four-Peat The 2024-25 season will see Princeton aim to win its fourth-straight Ivy League title, its fifth in the past nine seasons and its 31st total.
Receiving Votes Princeton received two votes in the Associated Press (AP) Poll announced on Oct. 14.
One Of Four Princeton is one of four teams to win at least three-straight conference regular season titles. The others include Colgate, who has four-peated, Vermont and Toledo.
Top-Five Most Titles Won Princeton's 33 Ivy titles are the fifth-most regular season championships of any program in NCAA DI men's basketball. The Tigers need five more championships to tie Penn and six earn the No. 4 spot.
Last Time They Met Princeton fell just short to the Gaels, 70-64, on Dec. 13, 2022, in a neutral site game inside Harwood Arena in Union, N.J. Current Tigers Pierce, Lee and Austin played in that game. In 20 minutes off the bench Austin had nine points on 4-for-5 shooting, four rebounds and three assists.All-Time Series Vs. Iona The Tigers are 8-1 all-time against the Gaels in a series that began in 1988. Princeton is 3-0 at home, 3-0 on the road and 2-1 in neutral site contests.
All-Time Series Under Henderson Princeton is 2-1 against Iona under Mitch Henderson. While the Tigers fell to the Gaels in the most recent meeting between the two programs, Princeton took down Iona, 90-86, in overtime on Dec. 17, 2019, at the Barclays Center in the Air Force Reserve Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational and 85-81 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in the Hoophall Boardwalk Classic on Dec. 15, 2018.
The Henderson File Along with the Tigers' historic Sweet Sixteen run in 2023-24, Mitch Henderson has led Princeton to four Ivy Championships, two Ivy Tournament Championships, three NIT appearances, seven 20-win seasons and 11 wins over high major opponents. A Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year Award Finalist in 2024, He's a two-time NABC District 13 Coach of the Year (2022, 2017), a two-time Ivy Coach of the Year (2024, 2017) and was a Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award in 2017.
ESPN Preseason Top 100 Xaivian Lee and Caden Pierce were both included in the ESPN Preseason Top 100 Players ahead of the 2024.25 season. Pierce was tabbed No. 76 and Lee No. 82.
CBS Sports Top 100 Xaivian Lee and Caden Pierce were both included in the CBS Sports Best 100 Players entering the 2024-25 season. Lee was ranked No. 70 and Pierce No. 82.
From Rookie Of The Year To Player Of The Year After being named Ivy Rookie of the Year in 2023, Caden Pierce was named Ivy Player of the Year in 2024. 2024 also saw Pierce named First Team All-District, First Team All-Ivy and First Team All-Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA). He was named to the Lou Henson Mid Major All-America Team and was a Lou Henson Mid Major National Player of the Year Award Finalist. Pierce was honored as Ivy Player of the Week five times and MBWA Player of the Week twice. Additionally, he excelled academically and was named College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District. Karl Malone Power Forward Of The Year Top-20 Preseason Watch List Pierce was one of 20 players named to the Naismith Starting 5 - Karl Malone Power Forward Of The Year Top-20 Preseason Watch List. This prestigious award honors the best power forwards in men's college basketball and is presented by the Basketball Hall of Fame, highlighting the elite talent in the sport.
Pierce's Historic 2023-24 Pierce became the only Ivy League player and one of eight underclassmen in the last 30 years to average at least 16 points-per-game, nine rebounds, three assists and one steal. In 2023-24, he was the only underclassmen in the nation to average those numbers.
Up There With The Nation's Best Of players used on at least 24% of possessions ranked, Pierce ranked 10th in the nation in offensive rating (123.3). He also ranked 16th in the nation in defensive rebound percentage (27.3%), 20th in defensive rebounds-per-game (7.24) and 26th in double-doubles (14).
Top Ten In Everything Pierce ranked second in the Ivy League in defensive rebounds-per-game, third in rebounds (268), third in points (482), fifth in points-per-game (16.6), fifth in assist/turnover ratio (1.8), fifth in free throw percentage (76.7%), seventh in field goal percentage (54.6%), eighth in assists (93), eighth in assists-per-game (3.2) and eighth in steals (35).
Pierce Milestone Watch With 743 career points, Pierce needs to score 257 more to reach 1,000. He is also sitting on 65 makes from three, requiring 35 more makes to get to 100.
The Rise Of Xaivian Lee Xaivian Lee rose to national prominence in 2023-24, declaring for the NBA draft before electing to return to Princeton for his junior year. He earned an invite to the NBA G League Elite Camp and workouts with several NBA teams. Lee was named First Team All-District, First Team All-Ivy, First Team All-MBWA and to the Lou Henson Mid Major All-America Team and was a Lou Henson Mid Major National Player of the Year Award Finalist. Lee was also a two-time Ivy Player of the Week. His 495 points rank No. 11 all-time at Princeton for most in a season, his 108 assists No. 18 and his 52 made three-pointers No. 44. Scoring Machine With two 30-point games in 2023-24, Lee became the first Tiger to accomplish the feat since Myles Stephens '19 in the 2017-18 season. Lee also became the first Tiger to record a 30-point game since Jaelin Llewellyn '22 on Mar. 7, 2020, when he scored 30 against Northeastern on Nov. 25, 2023.
Lee's Increased Output After averaging 4.8 points as a freshman, Lee improved his scoring average to 17.1 as a sophomore. He also improved his rebounding average from 1.8 to 5.7 and his assist average from 0.9 to 3.7.
Ivy Leader Lee led the Ivy League in assist/turnover ratio (2.6) and ranked second in points (495), third in assists (108), fourth in assists-per-game (3.7), fourth in points-per-game (17.1), fourth in free-throw percentage (79.8%), sixth in rebounds (166) and eighth in rebounds-per-game (5.7).
Xaivian Milestone Watch With 647 career points, Lee needs 353 to reach 1,000. He is also 35 made three-pointers away from 1,000 makes as he currently sits on 65 makes.
Dynamic Duo Pierce and Lee were one of five underclassmen in the nation to average at least 16 points-per-game, five rebounds and three assists while appearing in at least 25 games in 2023-24.
A Strong End To 2023-24 For Dalen Davis A two-time Ivy Rookie of the Week in 2023-24, Dalen Davis had an outstanding end to his freshman season. Over the last nine games of the season, Davis averaged 10.2 points-per-game on 44.3% shooting from the field, 43.2% from three and 93.3% from the free throw line. Davis exploded offensively in the Ivy Tournament against Brown, scoring a season-high 21 points and shooting 4-for-5 from three.
Blake P3ters Blake Peters started all 29 games in 2023-24. His 122 career made three-pointers rank No. 20 all-time in school history and he is 34 made three-pointers away from cracking the program's all-time top-10. Peters' 64 makes from three in 2023-24 also rank No. 24 for most made threes in a season. In 2023-24 he ranked fifth in the Ivy League in made three-pointers (64), sixth in made three-point field goals-per-game (2.2) and made at least three three-pointers in 12 games. He also excels in the classroom and was named to the NABC Honors Court in 2024. International Experience Pierce and Davis represented Team USA in the FIBA U23 3x3 Nation's League in Mexico City, Mexico.
