Super Quick Primer: Princeton Tigers

Located:  Princeton, NJ

Conference:  Ivy League

Head Coach:  Sydney Johnson (fourth season)

2010-11 Record:  25-6 (12-2)

Best Wins:  Harvard (twice), Rutgers?

Worst Loss:  Presbyterian

Notable Opponents:  Duke (lost 97-60), UCF (lost 68-62) 

Top Players:  Kareem Maddox (13.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.8 blocks), Ian Hummer (13.9 points, 6.7 rebounds), Dan Mavraides (12.7 points, 4.6 rebounds)

Famous Basketball Alumni: Major League pitcher Chris Young, former Senator Bill Bradley, Kings president Geoff Petrie, Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino, Georgetown coach John Thompson III

Three Things The Media Will Beat Into The Ground This Week:

1.  One and Done vs. Ivy – We went through this last year when Kentucky played Cornell and we’ll likely get the same barrage this year.  Hey, Princeton guys won’t go to the NBA!  Some Kentucky guys won’t stay all four years!  Easy story!  Would love to see the first guy who takes this easy way out and then slights the academic mammoth that is Brandon Knight.  You’re better than that, media.  I think.

2.  Princeton vs. UCLA 1996 – It’s already one of the most shown pieces of footage in CBS’ vault and it’s only going to kick up this year for you as Princeton coach Sydney Johnson played on that team.  If you don’t know who “that team” is or what “that piece of footage” is, you’re not ready for this tournament.  Bone up.

3.  The Harvard Game – I’ll admit that I’m not sure I can get tired of hearing about this.  In their second meeting this year, Harvard beat Princeton and the players and fans celebrated on the court, though they had only clinched a share of the title.  Princeton coach Sydney Johnson made his team sit on the bench and watch the entire celebration.  Obviously, the Tigers won the one-game playoff.  I like that.

Oh, hell, here you go.  Slackers.