Hobbling home to Jadwin

Road games have been nightmarish for the men's basketball team, which is winless in Ivy League competition this season away from home. But if there's one thing the team can be happy about, it's that the Tigers are guaranteed to spend the rest of the season in the comfort of Jadwin Gym.

When Princeton (11-14 overall, 2-9 Ivy) took on Brown and Yale earlier this season, it suffered a pair of demoralizing double-digit losses. Those games, however, were played in the hostile environs of Providence, R.I. and New Haven, Conn. This time the tables are turned, as the Bears (10-17, 5-7) and the Bulldogs (13-12, 9-3) travel to Princeton, N.J.

Though turnout at home games has been low this season, the Tigers' home-court advantage should not be underestimated. Princeton has been victorious in 56 percent of its home games but only 25 percent of its games on the road.

The Tigers welcome Brown to Jadwin tonight at 7:30 p.m., four weeks after suffering a 15-point thumping to the Bears. Brown's head coach, Craig Robinson '83, is well-versed in the Tigers' game plan. As a player, Robinson led Princeton to the second round of the NCAA tournament in March 1983. He went on to become an assistant coach at Northwestern under former Tiger head coach Bill Carmody.

Likewise, Princeton knows what to expect from Brown's Princeton-style offense. The Bears are an explosive team and rebound well. For the Tigers to prevail, they must prevent guard Mark McAndrews from finding the basket. One of the most dangerous players in the Ivy League, McAndrews scored 33 points against Columbia last Friday. In their Feb. 3 meeting, McAndrews tallied 19 against Princeton.

The Tigers, however, are up to the challenge, because if the team has one strength, it is its defense. Princeton leads the country in scoring defense, as its opponents average just 52.5 points per game. Junior forward Kyle Koncz, who leads the squad with 9.1 points per game, thinks that this time the Tigers will be ready for their rivals from Providence.

"We know their offense, and we know what they're going do," Koncz said. "So the key to the game is not necessarily the defense, but stepping up and matching their intensity on offense."

Princeton also has history on its side, leading the all-time series with the Bears, 91-20.

The Tigers will battle Yale at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in what will be the tougher of this weekend's two games. Though the Tigers have not lost to Yale in Jadwin since Mar. 6, 1993, the Bulldogs have a strong offense this season and sit in second place in the league.

In the teams' Feb. 2 meeting, Princeton was able to hang close the whole game despite its poor shooting. The eight-point spread at the end of the game was small considering the Tigers shot only 16.7 percent from the field in the second half. Princeton, which depends heavily on making three-pointers, needs to strike from downtown early and often if it is going to win.

Part of the problem for Princeton is that Koncz has been playing with a fractured left foot since January. Koncz's offensive production has been cut in half since his injury, but head coach Joe Scott '87 has other offensive weapons in his arsenal.

Senior forward Luke Owings is a scoring threat for the Tigers, averaging 7.2 points per game. Owings has been used in a reserve role of late, making way for junior forward Kevin Steuerer in the starting lineup.

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"Pretty much what we have to do is play defense like we did [last time against Yale], but then come out on offense with some confidence and hit some shots, at the same time," Owings said.

The key for Princeton's defense will be neutralizing the Bulldogs' star guard, Eric Flato. Flato is an excellent perimeter shooter, with 67 three-pointers so far this season. The junior also has 88 assists and 45 steals on the season and is averaging 15.6 points per game.

"We have to be tougher and we have to rebound the ball better. League games are so intense and so tough," Owings said.

Princeton has run into trouble this season against Ivy foes. The Tigers, picked to finish second in the conference, are currently in last place. But if Princeton defeats both challengers this weekend, its league record will improve to 4-9 going into its March 6 season finale against Penn.

Despite all their road-game horrors, the Tigers could still lift their overall record above .500 with a victory over the Quakers at Jadwin.