Tigers to double up on their Petries, Cowhers

The men's basketball team adds freshman guard Chris Petrie, whose uncle, Geoff Petrie '70, is the seventh-leading scorer in Princeton history. In 1971, Petrie won the NBA's Rookie of the Year award as an inaugural member of the Portland Trail Blazers. Petrie is currently the general manager for the NBA's Sacramento Kings.

Our New Jersey neighbors

As an annual powerhouse on both the men's and women's side, you wouldn't think that Rutgers University's rivalry with Route 1 comrades Princeton would hold much clout, but the Tigers always show up ready to play.

Last season, the women nearly defenestrated Rutgers' top-10 national standing in a 65-56 nail-biter. With one more layup or a better fortune at the foul line, Princeton would have pulled off the huge upset in front of a sea of enemy red at Jadwin Gym. The Tigers will travel the 18 miles north to take on the Scarlet Knights, ranked 12th in the Associated Press' national poll, on Sat. Dec. 9.

That same afternoon, the two schools will meet on the men's side at Jadwin Gym. Last year, Rutgers took down Princeton, 54-44, part of the Tigers' rocky 2-10 start.

Finger Magic:

Freshman guard Jessica Berry's hands are considered precious in her role of running the Princeton offense, but her standout freshman year as a new Tiger can't be completely captured by viewing her statistics. Those hands also craft the other strengths in Berry's life, as she excels in both piano playing and writing. Berry is a member of the competitive Princeton Writing Program and Coach Barron referred to her skills on a keyboard as "very accomplished," noting that this is in addition to everything else that she does. Apparently Berry's practice skills pay off in more than one arena.

Master of the Madness

Director of Athletics Gary Walters '67 will chair the selection committee for the men's NCAA Tournament, which means filling out the bracket with 34 at-large bids come March. Gary Walters served under former chair Craig Littlepage of Virginia on last year's committee, but this year the intense media spotlight will focus on Walters, including the inevitable criticism for every "snub."

Walters knows a little bit about what it takes to succeed on the tournament stage. He was the point guard of the Tiger team that advanced to the 1965 Final Four, teaming with Bill Bradley '65 to take Princeton farther in the tourney than any team in Ivy history.

Name Gamers

At the end of the 2005-06 season, a Brown and a Cowher sat atop the list of the leading scorers for the women's basketball team. Now, the Tigers can hope that the same will be true in the future.

Freshmen guards Lauren Cowher and Tani Brown join Princeton this season, but only the former has any Old Nassau legacy. Lauren Cowher is the younger sister of junior forward Meagan Cowher, who is expected to be among the Tigers' leaders in scoring and rebounds for the third consecutive year.

Tani Brown shares no relation to Becky Brown '06, the third-leading scorer in Princeton history.