TOUGH COOKIE: Princeton University men’s basketball player Steven Cook, right, drives to the basket in recent action. Last Wednesday, junior forward Cook scored a team-high 22 points in a losing cause as sixth-seeded Princeton fell 86-81 in overtime at third-seeded Virginia Tech in the opening round of the NIT (National Invitation Tournament). The defeat left the Tigers with a final record of 22-7. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

On one hand, the Princeton University men’s basketball team was bitterly disappointed by its 86-81 overtime loss at Virginia Tech in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).

The sixth-seeded Tigers jumped out to a 9-0 lead over the third-seeded Hokies in the March 16 contest at Blacksburg, Va. But spurred on by a raucous crowd of 8,241 in Cassell Coliseum, Virginia Tech rebounded to take a 32-26 lead at halftime and stretched its advantage to 57-46 midway through the second half. 

Princeton didn’t wilt under the pressure, going on a 22-8 run and led by 68-65 with 54 seconds remaining in regulation. The Hokies scored three points in the last minute to force overtime and hit a three-pointer to take a 71-68 lead early in the extra session and never trailed after that on the way to the 86-81 triumph.

Princeton head coach Mitch Henderson lamented his team’s failure to close the deal.

“It was a great start, then a 180 for the next 10 minutes of the game; we found our footing and got ourself back in a good place heading into halftime,” said Henderson, whose team ended the winter with a final record of 22-7 overall.

“Then we spotted them another 11-point lead. They went to the rim, that is what they did. We put a really big point of emphasis on not fouling, which ended up being the thing that won them the game.”

But while the Tigers didn’t win the game, Henderson believes the effort can be a springboard going forward.

“Now that I am a few days away from the game, it is just what we needed,” maintained Henderson.

“We went on the road; our guys know that is a game they can and should win. In an environment like that, knowing and believing that it is going to be yours, that makes a big difference in college basketball. I thought it captured the season. Don’t let the result fool you, look at how many great moments there were. Let’s take it and I hope they allow it to steel them over for what is going to be a really important offseason.”

It was important for Princeton to rebound from a final weekend of Ivy League play, which saw it lose 73-71 at Harvard on the way to going 12-2 in league play, one game behind champion Yale.

“I think we came into the game in a much better frame of mind than we had been in the week before,” said Henderson.

“Be us, that was the message all year, be the best version of yourself. I think when we played Princeton basketball the way we do it now, it is take care of the ball, make each other better and really move the ball and look like you are having fun out there, we became really hard to guard.”

In reflecting on the season overall, Henderson liked the way his team took care of its business, particularly after senior captain Hans Brase was sidelined for the season due to a knee injury.

“Losing Hans in the fall has to be mentioned, Hans was a unifier for our group last spring,” said Henderson.

“When he went down, I thought the first step was that the juniors, Spencer (Weisz) and Steve (Cook), stepped right into a leadership role. We had some ups and downs; but I thought it was a great year.”

In Henderson’s view, Princeton’s 89-77 win over Bucknell on December 22 helped put the team on the upswing.

“I thought that our Bucknell game going into the holidays was really what we wanted, the way we wanted to identify ourselves,” said Henderson.

“The attention to detail and the focus on doing the right things, being together, making each other better. Those things were really starting to look like they were in place.”

Playing well in a 76-64 loss at Miami on December 29, who has advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, was another key moment for the Tigers.

“I thought the Miami game was the flashpoint for our team,“ asserted Henderson.

“It was the catalyst that we needed. I told the guys many times, there is no going back from that game for our program for us, with the level of focus, the approach, all of those things. That is the level that you have got to be all the time.”

Coming from behind to pull out overtime wins at Penn and Columbia in league play demonstrated focus and resolve.

“Any time you have some improbable wins, like Penn and Columbia, those make a difference,” said Henderson.

“Devin Cannady’s runner against Penn didn’t have to go in. Myles Stephens  didn’t have to make those two free throws against Penn. Devin didn’t have to make those two shots against Columbia. Steven Cook didn’t have to make a couple of runners against Columbia but those things did happen. I am as excited as I have ever been for an offseason.”

Noting that the Ivy League is as strong as it has ever been, with Yale’s win over Baylor last Thursday in the first round of the NCAAs as the latest proof of the league’s high level of play, Henderson believes some exciting things are on the horizon for the Princeton program.

“We have got to take the appropriate time off and rest; I think they are all chomping at the bit to get going,” said Henderson.

“I think the key to a good offseason is the humility to know that you can get so much better and that is what I would say with this group. Don’t let the weight of some higher expectations weigh you down, have fun with it, get better. There is so much for us to do. We have got good players. We have a lot of guys that I am really excited about that haven’t seen as much time. I am very much looking forward to how they approach the spring.”