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Coming into this game, Saint Joseph’s was 0-4 against KenPom top-100 opponents.
But that streak ended after the Hawks picked up a solid win against Princeton, 76-68. The game wasn’t particular pretty, as both teams shot under 40 percent and suffered cold stretches throughout the game.
Nonetheless, here are some takeaways:
Saint Joseph’s dominated the glass
Right from the jump, the Hawks controlled the glass. The Tigers didn’t have an answer Saint Joe’s aggressiveness as the Hawks won the rebounding margin 58-34, including 19 offensive boards. They regularly sent multiple guys to the offensive glass, which resulted in second or third possessions that were ultimately the deciding factor.
Princeton couldn’t contain Lamarr Kimble
He didn’t shoot particularly well (6-16 FG), but Kimble controlled other aspects of the game. He pierced the defense in the half-court to create open looks for shooters all night. Kimble finished with nine assists, and contributed on the boards with eight rebounds of his own.
The Hawks’ backcourt will need to be great every night
It’s clear who Saint Joe’s go-to-guys are. The Hawks relied heavily on Kimble and his backcourt running mate Shavar Newkirk to create offense. The duo combined for 36 points, but shot a combined 10-of-32 from the floor. If Saint Joe’s hopes to be competitive in the A-10, those two will need to be more efficient.
Spencer Weisz showcased his versatility again
Weisz showed why he’s one of the most well-rounded players in the Ivy Leauge. He finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds and fell just short of a triple-double with eight assists. Weisz - who’s becoming a steady hand for the Tigers - also showed his versatility the last time out as he went for 13 assists and seven rebounds against Liberty.
Who’s the best team in the Ivy League?
The jury is still out on the Ivy League. Princeton, Yale and Harvard were considered to be the top three coming into the season, but none of the three have established itself as the front-runner in the conference. They will likely be three of the four teams in the league’s new conference tournament to determine the automatic bid.