CAN DO: Princeton University men’s basketball player Devin Cannady dribbles up the floor in recent action. Last week, freshman guard Cannady scored a team-high 17 points to help Princeton defeat Bucknell 89-77. Princeton, which improved to 7-3 with the December 22 win over the Bison, was slated to play at No. 13 Miami on December 29, at Hampton on January 3, and at Norfolk State on January 5. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

In its first three games this season at the friendly confines of Jadwin Gym, the Princeton University men’s basketball team treated its guests roughly, going 3-0 and averaging 90.7 points a game in those wins.

As Princeton prepared to host Bucknell last week, it was determined to keep rolling in its home gym.

“Jadwin is a special place to play, I think when we all decide to commit here and want to play at Princeton you know the history behind it,” said Princeton junior guard Spencer Weisz.

“For so long Jadwin has been a place where no one is supposed to win and coach (Mitch Henderson) puts a big emphasis on protecting our home court throughout the year and so far it seems we are doing a pretty good job of that.”

The Tigers did a very good job against the Bison in the December 22 contest, utilizing a 29-5 run in the first half to build a 46-21 lead and never looked back on the way to an 89-77 win before a crowd of 2,049 at Jadwin.

In improving to 7-3 overall, Princeton displayed superb offensive balance, with four players scoring in double figures and one chipping in nine points and another adding eight.

“I think we pride ourselves on being a balanced team and on any one night someone can have an especially good night,” said Weisz, who posted a double-double against Bucknell with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

“But to have so many weapons offensively I think is beneficial for us. We are all pretty unselfish and we try to find each other in everyone’s strong spot. We keep getting wins so we are going to keep spreading the ball.”

Freshman guard Devin Cannady was a major beneficiary of the unselfish play as he hit 7-of-8 eight shots from the floor on the way to a team-high 17 points.

“I think those inside-out shots that the team has set up for me is one of the easiest shots to make,” said Cannady, who matched his career high with his output against Bucknell, draining 3-of-4 three-pointers in the process.

“I had a lot of those opportunities and some fast break points off defense. I think that was a key going into the game, make our defense transition into our offense.”

Tiger head coach Henderson, a 1998 Princeton alum and hoops standout, relished the opportunity to get the Jadwin throng going.

“We love playing in front of a crowd and I think our guys feed off of it,” said Henderson.

Henderson loved the way his team spread the wealth offensively in the win over Bucknell as Henry Caruso and Steven Cook each had 13 points to join Weisz and Cannady in double figures with freshman and former Pennington School standout Myles Stephens chipping in nine and Pete Miller adding eight.

“I have been waiting for this, I think this was a good one for us,” asserted Henderson.

“This is a little bit more what we thought the team would be like. I think Spencer [Weisz] got himself inside and he can be very effective down there. We kind of do whatever we need to do to get shots. I think the scoring needs to be balanced for us. Henry [Caruso] has been putting us on his back here lately and I think even he would acknowledge that we are going to be balanced going forward.”

Coming off an 82-61 loss to No. 6 Maryland on December 19, Princeton was looking to move forward with a big victory in the matchup with Bucknell.

“We needed it; with Maryland there was very little margin for error,” said Henderson, whose team is slated to play at No. 13 Miami on December 29, at Hampton on January 3, and at Norfolk State on January 5.

“I think what we are learning with our group is that we are going to need some contribution off the bench and everybody to be firing on all cylinders. I think this is a good win.”

Cannady, for his part, believes he is starting to fire on all cylinders as he develops a comfort level with college hoops.

“I think it has been a process with the offense,” said Cannady, a 6’1, 179-pound native of Mishawaka, Ind. who is averaging 10.0 points a game.

“We have a lot of people coming back, a veteran team so if I am doing something wrong, they will definitely help me. I think 10 games in, I am starting to get my groove in terms of knowing the offense and what shots to take, looking inside-out, things like that, so that has been beneficial.”