2019-20 Ivy League preview: Will it be Penn and Princeton again for the title?
By Matt Ward
Bella Alarie looks to lead the Tigers back to the NCAA Tournament
Princeton
Last Season: 22-10 (12-2 Ivy League)
Predicted Finish: 1st
Key Returners (Last Season’s Stats)
F- Bella Alarie, 6’4, Sr- 22.8 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 52% FG, 30% 3FG, 32.1 MPG
G- Carlie Littlefield, 5’9, Jr- 13.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 40% FG, 36% 3FG, 32.3 MPG
G- Grace Stone, 5’11, So- 4.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 32% FG, 26% 3FG, 21.7 MPG
G- Abby Meyers, 6’0, So- Did not play last season. (2017-18 stats: 9.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 40% FG, 33% 3FG, 17.4 MPG)
Biggest Losses
G- Gabrielle Rush, 5’10- 12.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 39% FG, 36% 3FG, 34.2 MPG
F- Sydney Jordan, 6’0- 7.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 48% FG, 26.7 MPG
Newcomers
G- Nicole Young, 5’8, Fr
G- Maddie Plank, 5’11, Fr
F- Ellie Mitchell, 6’0, Fr
F- Maya McArthur, 6’0, Fr
Head Coach- Carla Berube (1st season)
Key Non-Conference Games
Nov 14- @ Seton Hall
Nov 20- @ Iowa
Dec 14- vs. Penn State
Dec 18- @ Missouri
Outlook
First-year head coach, Carla Berube, has inherited an extremely talented team. Led by two-time Ivy League Player of the Year, Bella Alarie, the Tigers are poised to make a run at their third consecutive Ivy league Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament berth.
Alarie, who averaged a double-double last season at 22.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, is a matchup nightmare for every team in the league. She is joined by junior guard Carlie Littlefield who was second on the team in scoring last season. The Tigers will certainly feel the loss of both Gabrielle Rush and Sydney Jordan, but they bring in a strong freshmen class, led by Ellie Mitchell, who was ranked as the 93rd prospect in the 2019 class, according to ESPN. Beyond the newcomers, one of the biggest returns in the league will come with the addition of Abby Meyers. Meyers, who was out all of last season, brings size and athleticism to the wing position, as well as the ability to score the ball. Meyers averaged 9.4 PPG during her freshman campaign in 2017-18.
One reason why the Tigers might be even better this season is their ability to improve on the defensive end. Last year, if there was an area in which Princeton struggled at times, it was on that end. They were fifth in the league in both scoring defense and FG% defense, while finishing last in 3-point FG% defense. Historically, they have been one of the better teams in the country in taking care of the ball, and that certainly held true last year, as they were best in the league in turnover margin. Enter Berube, who led her Tufts teams to being in the top-5 in the country in team defense multiple times during her tenure.
The Tigers will continue to score at a high rate. If Berube can get this team to defend at a level that she is used to getting her teams to be able to do, this Princeton team is not only the favorite to win the Ivy League, they could become March’s cinderella.
What Will Happen?
On paper, Princeton has the best team in the league. Not only that, but they have the experience to get through a difficult Ivy League schedule, and will challenge themselves in the non-conference, with trips to Seton Hall, Iowa, and Missouri.
I expect Princeton to win both the regular season and postseason Ivy League championships. If they do slip up in the tournament, and don’t receive the automatic bid, the only question that remains is will their resume be strong enough to push for an at-large bid? There are three teams in this league that could be in the discussion for an at-large bid. Princeton is certainly one of those teams.