1987–88 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team
Encyclopedia
The 1987–88 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team represented Princeton University
in intercollegiate college basketball
during the 1987–88 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach
was Pete Carril
and the team captain
was John Thompson III
. The team played its home games in the Jadwin Gymnasium
on the University campus in Princeton, New Jersey
. The team finished third in the Ivy League
, earning no postseason invitation to either the 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
or the 1988 National Invitation Tournament
. The team posted a 17–9 overall record and a 9–5 conference record.
The team was led by first team All-Ivy League selection Bob Scrabis. During the season, Bill Bradley
was inducted into the College Sports Information Directors of America
Academic All-America
Hall of Fame. Using the Princeton offense
, the team set the current National Collegiate Athletic Association
Division I single-season three-point field goal
field goal percentage
record (minumum 200 made) with 49.2% shooting (211 of 429). In addition to leading the nation in three point field goal percentage, the team led the nation in three point field goals made per game (8.12). The subsequent twelve consecutive teams would highlight defense and lead the nation.
That season Princeton established Ivy League standards for career, single-season and single-game three point field goal shooting. Dave Orlandini (51.3%) and Tim Neff (51.2%) ended their careers with what continue to be the two highest career three point field goal percentages in Ivy League history. Orlandini also posted the current single-season record with 54.5% shooting. In addition, On December 16, 1987 against the , Orlandini made all five of his three point attempts, which set the Ivy League single-game record for most made without a miss. Scrabis matched this record on March 4, 1988 against . These stood as unsurpassed as the Ivy League record until future Princeton Tigers head coach Sydney Johnson
made all six for Princeton on February 28, 1997, but Orlandini's performance continues to be the league record for non-conference games. In addition, Kit Mueller
shot 58.9% on his field goals to earn the first of three Ivy League statistical championships for field goal percentage.
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in intercollegiate college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
during the 1987–88 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
was Pete Carril
Pete Carril
Peter J. "Pete" Carril is a former collegiate head coach and former NBA assistant with the Sacramento Kings.-Early years:...
and the team captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
was John Thompson III
John Thompson III
John Thompson III is the current head coach of the men's basketball team at Georgetown University. He grew up in Washington, D.C. and was named first team All-Metro by The Washington Post while playing for Gonzaga College High School in 1984. Thompson was hired on April 20, 2004 to replace Craig...
. The team played its home games in the Jadwin Gymnasium
Jadwin Gymnasium
The L. Stockwell Jadwin Gymnasium is a 6,854-seat multi-purpose arena in Princeton, New Jersey. The arena opened in 1969. It is home to the Princeton University Tigers basketball team...
on the University campus in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
. The team finished third in the Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
, earning no postseason invitation to either the 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 17, 1988, and ended with the championship game on April 4 returning to Kansas City, Missouri...
or the 1988 National Invitation Tournament
1988 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Colorado State 58, Boston College 57...
. The team posted a 17–9 overall record and a 9–5 conference record.
The team was led by first team All-Ivy League selection Bob Scrabis. During the season, Bill Bradley
Bill Bradley
William Warren "Bill" Bradley is an American hall of fame basketball player, Rhodes scholar, and former three-term Democratic U.S. Senator from New Jersey. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic Party's nomination for President in the 2000 election.Bradley was born and raised in a suburb of St....
was inducted into the College Sports Information Directors of America
College Sports Information Directors of America
College Sports Information Directors of Americaor CoSIDA is the organization that has since 1952 bestowed Academic All-American recognition on male and female athletes in Divisions I, II, and III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association —covering all NCAA championship sports—and NAIA...
Academic All-America
Academic All-America
Academic All-America program is a student-athlete recognition program...
Hall of Fame. Using the Princeton offense
Princeton offense
The Princeton offense is an offensive basketball strategy which emphasizes constant motion, passing, back-door cuts, and disciplined teamwork. It was used and perfected at Princeton University by Pete Carril, though its roots may be traced back to Franklin “Cappy” Cappon, who coached Princeton...
, the team set the current National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I single-season three-point field goal
Three-point field goal
A three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
field goal percentage
Field goal percentage
Field goal percentage in basketball is the ratio of field goals made to field goals attempted. Its abbreviation is FG%. Three-point field goals are included in this percentage. Instead of using scales of 0 to 100%, the scale .000 to 1.000 is commonly used. A higher field goal percentage denotes...
record (minumum 200 made) with 49.2% shooting (211 of 429). In addition to leading the nation in three point field goal percentage, the team led the nation in three point field goals made per game (8.12). The subsequent twelve consecutive teams would highlight defense and lead the nation.
That season Princeton established Ivy League standards for career, single-season and single-game three point field goal shooting. Dave Orlandini (51.3%) and Tim Neff (51.2%) ended their careers with what continue to be the two highest career three point field goal percentages in Ivy League history. Orlandini also posted the current single-season record with 54.5% shooting. In addition, On December 16, 1987 against the , Orlandini made all five of his three point attempts, which set the Ivy League single-game record for most made without a miss. Scrabis matched this record on March 4, 1988 against . These stood as unsurpassed as the Ivy League record until future Princeton Tigers head coach Sydney Johnson
Sydney Johnson
Sydney Johnson is an American college basketball coach and the current head coach at Fairfield University for the Fairfield Stags men's basketball team. Previously, Johnson was the head coach at Princeton University from 2007 to 2011 where he led the Princeton Tigers men's basketball team to the...
made all six for Princeton on February 28, 1997, but Orlandini's performance continues to be the league record for non-conference games. In addition, Kit Mueller
Kit Mueller
Christopher J. "Kit" Mueller is a retired American basketball player. He played high school basketball in the Chicago metropolitan area for Downers Grove South High School...
shot 58.9% on his field goals to earn the first of three Ivy League statistical championships for field goal percentage.