When the final buzzer sounded at the end of the men's basketball team's win Saturday night, the Tigers looked more like a team that had just won a visit to the dentist than one that had just clinched a trip to the NCAA tournament.
But don't think the Tigers weren't thrilled. The initial subdued reaction was out of respect for Big Green coach Dave Faucher, whose career ended with the loss. Once Princeton got behind closed doors, it was a different story.
"You didn't see us in the locker room," head coach John Thompson '88 said with a laugh.
After all, the Tigers had plenty to celebrate. With its weekend road sweep, Princeton clinched its 36th Ivy League title. Though the Tigers still have one regular season game remaining, at the Palestra against Penn on Tuesday night, Princeton's two-game lead is insurmountable.
The ensuing NCAA tournament appearance — as Ivy champs, Princeton gets one of 31 automatic bids to the field of 65 — will be the Tigers' 23rd trip to the "Big Dance."
"I've been waiting three years for this," junior center Judson Wallace said. "This is why I came to Princeton."
The Tigers are just the fifth team in the nation to have locked up a spot in this year's field and will not find out who or where they will play until the full brackets are announced Sunday night. The selection show will air on CBS at 6 p.m.
Princeton will most likely land a No. 15 seed, meaning it would face a No. 2 in the first round. However, a No. 14 seed is not out of the question, especially if the Tigers can beat Penn on Tuesday.
Projections posted last Monday by both ESPN.com and collegerpi.com predicted they would face All-American Emeka Okafor and the UConn Huskies as a No. 15 seed.
Seeding is based on a variety of factors, including RPI, quality wins and performance over a team's final 10 games. As of Sunday morning Princeton's RPI ranked it 132nd among all Division I teams, which will be among the lowest of the teams who qualify for the tournament.
Depending on where they are seeded, the Tigers will play at one of eight subregional sites. The selection committee attempts to keep teams close to home, so Princeton will most likely play in Buffalo, N.Y.; Columbus, Ohio; Raleigh, N.C. or Orlando, Fla. Milwaukee, Wis.; Kansas City, Mo.; Denver, Colo. and Seattle, Wash. are also possible.
The Tigers last made the tournament in 2001, losing 70-48 to North Carolina. The only holdovers from that Princeton team are senior guard Ed Persia, who led the team with 16 points against the Tarheels, and junior forward Andre Logan, who chipped in eight points.
In recent weeks the team has rallied around extending Persia's career. The team captain has missed the last four games due to a deep thigh contusion but should be recovered by the tournament.
Despite the 2001 loss, the team has a history of tournament success. The best showing came in 1965, when Bill Bradley led the Tigers to the Final Four, where they lost to Cazzie Russell and Michigan. Bradley's 58 points in the consolation game victory over Wichita St. still stand as a school and tournament record.
More recently, Princeton has gained recognition as a perennial Cinderella team. In 1989, the Tigers came within one point, 50-49, of upsetting No. 1 seeded Georgetown, still the closest any No. 16 team has come to winning a tournament game. And, in 1996, Princeton shocked defending national champion UCLA in the first round, 43-41, on a backdoor layup by Gabe Lewullis with four seconds remaining.
Read More
GSG approves audit, delays budget approval after ‘insufferable’ meeting
Nikki HanThe final Graduate Student Government (GSG) meeting for the semester lasted more than an hour and a half when discussions over the proposed budget for the next year and a proposed Student Life Fee of $100 turned controversial.
The final Graduate Student Government (GSG) meeting for the semester lasted more than an hour and a half when discussions over the proposed budget for the next year and a proposed Student Life Fee of $100 turned controversial.
Effort to restore chapel’s pews slowly progresses
Ben GoldstonHead carpenter Jim Sullivan has been restoring the Chapel pews over the last year. The dry atmosphere of the Chapel has warped the wooden pews over the years.
Head carpenter Jim Sullivan has been restoring the Chapel pews over the last year. The dry atmosphere of the Chapel has warped the wooden pews over the years.
Metals, molecules, and medicine: chemical biology’s influence on health and sustainability
Aanya KaseraChemistry professor Chris Chang’s lab studies the chemical biology of the elements, specifically examining the roles that copper, iron, and zinc play in biology across all kingdoms of life.
Chemistry professor Chris Chang’s lab studies the chemical biology of the elements, specifically examining the roles that copper, iron, and zinc play in biology across all kingdoms of life.