ROSY OUTLOOK: Princeton University men’s basketball player Jerome Desrosiers shows his intensity on the defensive end in recent action. Last weekend, freshman forward Desrosiers starred off the bench, scoring 12 points in 12 minutes in a 72-56 win over Columbia on Friday and then chipping in 14 points in 16 minutes in a 91-54 rout of Cornell the next day. Desrosiers was later named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week for his output. The Tigers, now 9-8 overall and 2-1 Ivy League, are next in action when they host Rowan on January 28. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Jerome Desrosiers is exuding confidence as he heads into his first round of fall exams at Princeton University.

“I think I am actually ready,” said Desrosiers. “I just have to finish up one paper and start studying; nothing too crazy for me personally.”

On the basketball court, freshman Desrosiers is starting to become a force for the Tigers. Last weekend, Desrosiers starred off the bench, scoring 12 points in 12 minutes in a 72-56 win over Columbia on Friday and then chipping in 14 points in 16 minutes in a 91-54 rout of Cornell the next day.

“Every day, I get in the gym with Skye [Ettin], our assistant coach (and former Princeton High hoops star), and do this thing where we make 100 shots a day,” said Desrosiers, 6’7, 225-pound forward who hails from Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec.

“I have been working on my three-pointer for a while now. Now that I know I can shoot, it opens up the lane and I can drive and it is good with my game.”

As a result of Desrosiers’ increased confidence, his teammates are looking for him to score.

“It is a credit to the other guys. They are making the extra passes, making it easier for me,” said Desrosiers, a 6’7, 225-pound forward who was later named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week.

Princeton head coach Mitch Henderson credits Desrosiers with giving the Tigers a major spark.

“Jerome is giving us terrific minutes off the bench,” said Henderson, whose team ended the weekend at 9-8 overall and 2-1 Ivy League.

“I made a decision with Will Gladson getting into the lineup for us, which basically moved Jerome into a role coming off the bench, which he accepts very willingly. The group is really connecting with each other right now on both ends.

The Tigers played well at both ends of the rout of Cornell, which saw the Tigers jump out to a 19-0 lead on the way to building a 53-19 lead by halftime before a crowd of 2,635 at Jadwin Gym.

“I thought the play of Amir [Bell] and Devin [Cannady] in the backcourt to start the game was very high level,” asserted Henderson.

“We held Matt Morgan to two points in the first half. Devin and Amir were in really good position; the details were really important tonight for us defensively. The ball has been going in this weekend. There is a good pop to the group, they were sharing the ball again.”

Junior star and tri-captain Cannady likes the way the group is coming together.

“It is huge; teams early were scouting Amir, Myles [Stephens] and myself,” said Cannady.

“Seeing Jerome, Ryan [Schwieger], and Sebastian [Much] coming on and making the plays is huge. The seniors and juniors who come in the game off the bench are leading. We have a good unit right now. We are glad to get two wins going into the break; I think we are playing real well.”

In Henderson’s view, a tough defeat to Penn (a 76-70 loss on January 6) to start the Ivy campaign could prove to be a turning point for the Tigers.

“I said it after the Penn game, I thought it would be the best thing to happen to the team,” said Henderson, whose team returns to action after the exam break when it hosts Rowan on January 28.

“But when you say those things, you are sick to your stomach but it is and it was. It allowed us to have a really good week of practice and the focus was really high level and it starts with our leaders.”

Desrosiers will be looking to the team’s leaders as he looks to keep sharp through the exam period.

“It is my first time doing this type of schedule, I am getting help from the older guys,” said Desrosiers.

“We are really focused in right now and we know what we have to work on. We will be in the gym to make sure that we are still ready for games.”