Perennial Contenders Fall From Grace, Leave Ivy Crown up for Grabs

The intensity level of this year’s Ivy League matchups will be multiplied due to the fact that there is no clear frontrunner for the league championship.

Although the Ivy League media chose Cornell as the favorite, there are four teams that have realistic shots at the title and at grabbing the league’s only bid to the NCAA Tournament. The championship is for Cornell, Yale, Penn, or Columbia to win or lose.

Penn—which has won the last three titles—is without three of their 2006-2007 starters. The losses of Mark Zoller and two-time Player of the Year Ibrahim Jaaber have created an especially large void for head coach Glen Miller to fill. And while Penn still has a very solid team, it is nowhere near the powerhouse that it has been for the past three years.

Yale, which played second fiddle to Penn last season, has a very realistic chance at coming out on top. Guard Eric Flato, who defeated Columbia more or less by himself at Levien Gym last February, led Yale in scoring and will continue to be a force that could give Yale the bump it needs to claim the title.

Head coach Joe Jones returns his entire starting lineup for Columbia this year in what might be the Lions’ last chance to win the title before key team members graduate. A strong sophomore class that made some noise as freshmen last year will complement senior forward John Baumann, who was named to the first team All-Ivy last year. The Lions might finally have the right mix of experience and eagerness to win the big games.

“I think it’s really more about what we do,” Jones said. “If we can execute better offensively, if we can defend better, I think we stack up with anybody in the league.”
The sophomore duo of Louis Dale and last season’s Rookie of the Year Ryan Wittman could hand Cornell the championship for several years to come with their impressive offensive ability. Cornell also has the good fortune of having 2006 Rookie of the Year Adam Gore back on the squad. Gore should help the Big Red, and might be the key to overcoming the rest of the league. But it is uncertain if Gore, who nursed a knee injury last season, will be back to his 2006 standout form.

With four strong contenders, the 2007-2008 Ivy League basketball season is primed to be one of the most exciting in history. Each game, even against the bottom four teams, will hold increased importance as one slipup could cost any one of the contenders the championship.

“I think the league is becoming much more balanced since I’ve been here in the past five seasons,” Jones said. “I think it is in the best state that it’s ever been.”
The league champion will not only have to put down the weaker teams, but will need to come up with huge victories against fellow contenders. These four teams have the strength to win, but it will be mental toughness and the ability to play under pressure that will ultimately decide who is left standing come March.

“Hopefully, we’re just more experienced. Hopefully, we’ve gone through this now, and understand a little bit about how you need to win,” Jones said. “A lot of times it comes with maturity and understanding.”