Two big wins following one huge loss

The doomsayers had been out in full force for over a week. The men's basketball season was over they said. There was simply no way that Princeton could overcome the loss of junior forward Spencer Gloger.

In three gutsy performances, the team has answered all the doubters and have not only survived without Gloger but thrived in his absence.

The Tigers improved to 3-0 since Gloger has been out with another Ivy road sweep, beating Dartmouth, 70-60, on Friday and Harvard, 67-66, on Saturday.

Princeton has played its best basketball without Gloger and after another heart-stopping weekend, the Tigers are still in the hunt for the Ivy title.

Back to basics

The team's resurgence can be attributed to a return to the fundamentals of the famed Princeton offense. The backdoor cuts have been crisper, the passes have more zip, and in general the team has more enthusiasm.

For the better part of this season, the team often seemed content to settle for a three-point shot and over time the backdoor cuts became lazy and teams were able to turn the Tigers into a jump-shooting team.

Anytime Princeton and Harvard face off at Lavietes Pavilion, everyone knows that no matter what happens in the first 39 minutes of the game, the last one will always decide its outcome.

The Tigers never trailed in the game, and seemed to have taken firm control of the game, leading, 63-52, with five minutes, 31 seconds left in the contest.

Harvard scored the game's next eight points and at the 2:12 mark a baseline drive and reverse layup by guard Jason Norman brought the crowd to its feet and the Crimson to within three, at 63-60.

Unstoppable seniors

It was then time for both teams' seniors to step up. First, Princeton senior forward Ray Robins showed his leadership. He got the ball in the corner, faked inside and then drove baseline for a layup and a 65-60 lead. Robins was the team's leading scorer for the third straight game as he dropped in 22 points.

"My boy Ray," head coach John Thompson '88 said. "He's special to me. He has done everything that I have asked him to do. I'm not surprised that Ray is scoring points. I want him to continue to focus on defense and rebounding."

Thompson said seniors have a desire to win and carry the team. Robins did that, but so did Harvard senior guard Brady Merchant. Merchant threw the Crimson on his back and hit a huge three-pointer with only 51 seconds remaining.

Robins had yet another answer. His jumper from the right elbow proved to be the game winner as it gave the Tigers a 67-63 lead. Merchant wasn't finished yet, though, and his off-balance three-pointer while running full speed made it a one-point game with 15 seconds left.

After sophomore guard Will Venable missed the front end of a one-and-one, Harvard called a timeout to set up the final play with nine seconds remaining. Everyone in the arena knew the ball was going to Merchant. He caught the inbounds pass while going to the right. He had Venable beat, but sophomore center Judson Wallace came out to double team, forcing Merchant to give up the ball. Wallace then recovered and forced Elliot Prasse-Freeman into an off-balance prayer that was no good. The game ended with Princeton on top, 67-66.

Charity woes

The Tigers were nearly done in by their poor free-throw shooting once again. Princeton missed all six of their attempts from the charity stripe in the second half, and finished the game only three of 10.

Against the Big Green a night earlier, it was the smallest member of the Tigers' squad who had the biggest impact. Five-foot, 10-inch freshman guard Scott Greenman poured in 11 points off the bench as Princeton had its best shooting night of the season, connecting on 25 of 36 field goal attempts.

With the loss of Gloger, the Tiger's bench was thinned considerably. Junior forward Konrad Wysocki is first off the bench, and after that, the freshman is the second option. In order to save the team from fatigue, Greenman will have to continue to perform.

On Friday nigh, after leading, 35-28, at halftime, Dartmouth cut the lead to 40-34 early in the second half. However, the Tigers responded with a 13-1 run that put the game out of reach. Robins had seven of those points, with a three-pointer, a backdoor layup, and a breakaway dunk.

The team answered a lot of questions this weekend. They showed resolve in winning tough games on the road, showed more poise than they had all season, and executed the offense with precision. Even with all these answers, the doubters remain, and they will only be silenced by a trip to the NCAA tournament.