IVY SADNESS: Princeton University men’s basketball player Jaelin Llewellyn gets covered closely in recent action. Last Sunday, senior guard Llewellyn tallied 18 points in losing cause as Princeton fell 66-64 to Yale in the final of the Ivy League postseason tournament. The Tigers, who dropped to 23-6 with the defeat to the Bulldogs, earned a bid to the NIT due to winning the Ivy regular season title. They were slated to start play in that tourney by playing at third-seeded Virginia Commonwealth University on March 15 in an opening round contest. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As the Princeton University men’s basketball team looked ahead to starting its Ivy League campaign in January, Mitch Henderson expected a lot of rock fights along the way in conference play.

Over the course of Ivy play, Princeton found itself in a number of bruising battles as Tiger head coach Henderson had foreseen. Utilizing a high-octane offense and an improving defense, the Tigers rallied in several games to go 12-2 in Ivy action, finishing one game ahead of Yale to win the regular season title.

Last weekend at the Ivy postseason tournament in Cambridge, Mass., the Tigers got involved in two more nail-biters, edging Cornell 77-73 in the semis on Saturday before falling 66-64 to Yale in the final a day later.

In the win over the Big Red, the foes were tied at 73-73 heading into the waning moments of the contest before junior star Tosan Evbuomwan put Princeton ahead on a bucket with 36 seconds left. Ryan Langborg added two free throws to add the finishing touch to the win.

“The last minute of the game, there were just three really special plays,” said Henderson, reflecting on the win over Cornell which is guided by former Princeton star and assistant coach Brian Earl.

“We got three straight offensive rebounds. We were advantaged by having the shot clock at six seconds, so Tosan just had to go and make a play. It was an absolute fight. It was one of the most, if not the most intense, games I have ever been a part of. It felt like an incredible win. It did factor in a small way to the following night, just how physical and tough it was.”

In the final, the Tigers got off to a tough start, trailing 32-25 at halftime.

“We just couldn’t score; we got great shots, they just didn’t go in for us,” said Henderson. “It was very unusual for us this year. We were out of synch. We had been able to click back in all season but it just didn’t happen.”

The Tigers almost made a miraculous comeback happen, making a 9-2 run after trailing 64-55 with 59 seconds left. Princeton got the ball with 14 seconds left and chance to tie or win the game but couldn’t get a shot off as Jaelin Llewellyn made a turnover after trying to get the ball to Evbuomwan.

“We put ourselves in a tough spot and we are really disappointed,” said Henderson, whose team moved to 23-6 with the setback. “It was a heartbreaking loss. It was Tosan and Jaelin and two-man action. That is really what we wanted to call, we trust those guys. This one didn’t go our way. We came up a little short, it is hard to talk about it right now. It is still kind of raw. It ended in some ways for us but we are still playing. We have earned that right.”

Having won the Ivy regular season title, the Tigers clinched an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament and were slated to start action in the NIT by playing at third-seeded Virginia Commonwealth University (21-9) in Richmond, Va., on March 15 in a first round contest.

“They are really physical, they are really good,” said Henderson in assessing VCU. “They are top five in the country defensively. They pressure. I actually played a regular season game down there about five, six years ago, it is such a fun place to play. I think it is the best band in college basketball. You have got a great atmosphere there.”

In order to come out of the famously raucous Siegel Center with a win, the Tigers will need to be sharp offensively.

“Taking care of the ball is key, they turn people over so much defensively, they are just so good,” said Henderson.

“You put so much pressure on yourself if you turn the ball over. That is going to be the thing.”

While the loss to Yale was heartbreaking, Henderson believes the players have recovered emotionally from the disappointment.

“We got off the bus late last night about 9:30 and guys go back to their rooms,” said Henderson. “They are young. They showed up as we departed here for the bus to Richmond with smiles on their faces. That has been the DNA of the team all season. We have got a nice resiliency. You play loose, we have earned this opportunity. It is a really good tournament. So much of what is defined as success is often what others see and think. We have had a terrific year and I am excited to be able to play in another postseason tournament that ends in a championship. It is fun to be able to do that.”

It would be really fun for Princeton to make it to Madison Square Garden in New York City for the NIT semis and final, a run that would match the program’s history run to the 1975 NIT title.

“That team was special,” said Henderson of the 1975 squad. “They have a special place in our history and a special place in coach [Pete] Carril’s heart too. When we get down to VCU, I am going to play New York State of Mind.”