Ivy League Tournament primer: Princeton appears poised for victory.

The’s no question that Princeton was the story of the Ivy League season.

The Tigers went a perfect 14-0 in conference play and ride into the postseason on a 16-game win streak. Princeton was the first team to run the Ivy table since Cornell in 2008, and only the third team in conference history to do so. What makes Princeton’s run even more impressive is that the Tigers did it all without last season’s leading scorer, Henry Caruso. Were this any other prior year in conference play, Princeton would already have locked up a bid to the NCAA tournament. Now, to get the bid, the Tigers must win two more games and take the inaugural conference tournament.

Princeton enters the postseason already heavily decorated. Senior Spencer Weisz and head coach Mitch Henderson were named Player and Coach of the Year respectively on Thursday. Weisz was also named first-team all Ivy, joining teammates Steven Cook and Myles Stephens. Stephens also snagged Defensive Player of the Year.

Player of the Year
Spencer Weisz, Princeton

Rookie of the Year
Bryce Aiken, Harvard

Defensive Player of the Year
Myles Stephens, Princeton

Coach of the Year
Mitch Henderson, Princeton

First Team
Bryce Aiken, Harvard
Siyani Chambers, Harvard
Steven Cook, Princeton
Steven Spieth, Brown
Myles Stephens, Princeton
Spencer Weisz, Princeton

Format

The tournament will feature the top four teams in the ancient eight, with all games played on Penn’s home court, The Palestra. The semifinals on Saturday will be shown on ESPNU, with the title game on Sunday on ESPN2. The higher-seeded team in each semifinal matchup swept the regular season series against their opponent.

Semifinals

Princeton vs. Penn, 1:30 p.m.
Harvard vs. Yale, 4 p.m.

Finals

Sunday, Noon

What to Watch For

Princeton’s defense

The Tigers have held their opponents to 61.5 points per game this season. As a comparison, second-place Harvard held its opponents to 65.5 points per game. Princeton’s mark is good for ninth in the country, and is an 81-spot jump on the list from last year when the Tigers ranked 90th. In Princeton’s two matchups against Penn this season, they held the Quakers to 49 and 52 points.

Harvard’s freshmen

Rookie of the Year Bryce Aiken posted monster games in both outings against Yale during the regular season. Aiken averaged 14 points per game overall, but poured in 27 and 22 points in matchups against the Bulldogs. Fellow freshman Seth Towns, the team’s second-leading scorer, posted 12.4 points per game. The duo’s emergence meant senior Siyani Chambers played the fewest minutes of his career (32.1) this season, but he was also more efficient, averaging 10.1 points per game and 5.9 assists (15th in the country).

AJ Brodeur

Penn’s freshman was an integral part of the Quakers’ push to the postseason. Brodeur led the team in scoring (13.9 ppg), minutes per game (30.6), and rebounds (6.8 rpg). In Penn’s two games against Princeton this season, Brodeur was held to 10- and six-point performances. If Penn is to advance, the freshman will have to play well on the big stage.

Prediction

Princeton over Harvard.