This season, the men's basketball team was perfect against league opponents — except for Yale and Penn.
Princeton's depth gave it an advantage against thinner, less-talented teams, but its lack of star power hurt it against the Elis and Quakers.
The Ivy League announced the all-Ivy basketball teams yesterday, and the selections bore out the theory that Princeton's lack of a dominant player cost it the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.
No Tigers were selected as First Team All-Ivy for the first time since 1987. Senior co-captains Ahmed El Nokali, a guard, and forward Mike Bechtold both were honored as Second-Team All Ivy.
Bechtold led the Tigers in scoring at 9.4 points per game, most of them coming on his team-leading 53 three pointers. He also managed to stay healthy all season, which was one of the Tigers' major concerns heading into the year. Bechtold added a solid 4.2 rebounds a game.
El Nokali handled the point guard duties most of the season for the Tigers. He was responsible for gettting Princeton into his offense and was perhaps the most experienced returning player on the team.
Both El Nokali and Bechtold finished their careers with two Ivy League championships and four consecutive 11-3 records in conference play.
Junior guard Kyle Wente joined El Nokali and Bechtold as All-Ivy honorees. Wente was named Honorable Mention All-Ivy for the second straight season. The guard is known for his stalwart defense but also has contributed offensively for Princeton. The Effingham, Ill. native finished the season at seven points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
Penn forward Ugonna Onyekwe was named Ivy Player of the Year. He averaged 17.7 points and six boards per game and also dominated the Tiger defense in both of the Princeton-Penn games. Onyekwe was joined on the All-Ivy First Team by teammates Koko Archibong and Andrew Toole, Brown's Earl Hunt, and Harvard's Patrick Harvey.
Toole and Harvey were named the guards, and Archibong, Onyekwe and Hunt occupied the frontcourt.
Yale guard Alex Gamboa was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year. He averaged over 11 points per game for the league co-champion Elis.
Read More
What’s an offseason? Jackson Green and Jay Mentink on being multi-sport athletes at Princeton
Doug SchwartzPrinceton sophomores Jackson Green and Jay Mentink embrace the challenge of playing two Division I sports while tackling Ivy League academics head-on.
Princeton sophomores Jackson Green and Jay Mentink embrace the challenge of playing two Division I sports while tackling Ivy League academics head-on.
No. 3 men’s lacrosse routs No. 14 Towson 22–12, Mackesy breaks career goals record
Hayk YengibaryanWith the win, the Tigers advance to the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time in 2022. Princeton will take on No. 5 Syracuse in Hempstead, N.Y., next weekend for a spot in the final four.
With the win, the Tigers advance to the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time in 2022. Princeton will take on No. 5 Syracuse in Hempstead, N.Y., next weekend for a spot in the final four.
Senior Coulter Mackesy, Pace Billings ’24, and Sam English ’23 drafted to Premier Lacrosse League
Hayk YengibaryanThe PLL, founded in 2018 by brothers Mike and Paul Rabil, is North America’s professional lacrosse league. The league currently features eight teams that compete in a tour-based format, traveling to different cities each weekend throughout the summer season.
The PLL, founded in 2018 by brothers Mike and Paul Rabil, is North America’s professional lacrosse league. The league currently features eight teams that compete in a tour-based format, traveling to different cities each weekend throughout the summer season.