2009–10 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team
Encyclopedia
The 2009–10 Princeton Tigers men's basketball
team represented Princeton University
in intercollegiate college basketball
during the 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
. The head coach
was Sydney Johnson
and the team captain
s were Nick Lake and Marcus Schroeder. The team played its home games in the Jadwin Gymnasium
on the University campus in Princeton, New Jersey
, and was the runner-up of the Ivy League
, which earned them an invitation to the 16-team 2010 College Basketball Invitational
single-elimination tournament
where they were advanced to the third round to play in the semifinals.
The team posted a 22–9 overall record and a 11–3 conference record. On January 6, 2010 against Patrick Saunders was had a perfect shooting night from the floor on eight field goal
s including five three point shots. These field goal percentage
s are both listed in the Princeton record books as tied for the second best perfect performances. On January 24 against , the team established the school single-game record for steals
with 20, surpassing the 17 set on five different occasions between December 6, 1975 and January 28, 2002. In the March 17, opening round game of the College Basketball Invitational
tournament at home, Princeton defeated the Duquesne Dukes
65–51. The game was Princeton's first postseason appearance since the 2003–04 team
went to the 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
and the first postseason victory since the 1998–99 team
won two games in the 1999 National Invitation Tournament
. On March 22, the team defeated IUPUI
74–68 in double overtime
at IUPUI Gymnasium
in . The Tigers had previously won in the postseason in Indianapolis when the 1995–96 team
pulled off a first round upset of the national defending champion in the 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
. In the tournament semifinals the team was defeated by Saint Louis University
69–59 at Chaifetz Arena in on March 24. Princeton led 25–22 with 7:25 remaining in the first half but fell behind by a 38–29 halftime score.
Head coach Johnson employs the Princeton offense
. The prior season the only two schools who had lower scoring averages also ran the Princeton offense: and .
The team was led by second team All-Ivy League selections sophomore Douglas Davis and junior Dan Mavraides
. It was the first time since 2004 that two Tigers had been on the first or second All-Ivy League teams. Using the Princeton offense
, Princeton led the nation in scoring
defense for the twentieth time since 1976. Following the season, Bill Bradley
was awarded the Court of Honor Award from the National Association of Basketball Coaches
.
Princeton Tigers men's basketball
The Princeton Tigers men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing Princeton University. The school competes in the Ivy League in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Tigers play home basketball games at the Jadwin Gymnasium in...
team represented Princeton University
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 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 9, 2009, and ended with the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament's championship game on April 5, 2010 on the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The opening round occurred on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, followed by first...
. 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 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...
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...
s were Nick Lake and Marcus Schroeder. 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...
, and was the runner-up of 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...
, which earned them an invitation to the 16-team 2010 College Basketball Invitational
2010 College Basketball Invitational
The 2010 College Basketball Invitational is a single-elimination tournament of 16 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I teams that did not participate in the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament or the 2010 National Invitation Tournament. The opening round began Tuesday,...
single-elimination tournament
Single-elimination tournament
A single-elimination tournament, also called a knockout, cup or sudden death tournament, is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of each match or bracket is immediately eliminated from winning the championship or first prize in the event...
where they were advanced to the third round to play in the semifinals.
The team posted a 22–9 overall record and a 11–3 conference record. On January 6, 2010 against Patrick Saunders was had a perfect shooting night from the floor on eight field goal
Field goal (basketball)
In basketball, the term field goal refers to a basket scored on any shot or tap other than a free throw, worth two or three points depending on the distance of the attempt from the basket. "Field Goal" is the official terminology used by the National Basketball Association in their rule book,...
s including five three point shots. These 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...
s are both listed in the Princeton record books as tied for the second best perfect performances. On January 24 against , the team established the school single-game record for steals
Steal (basketball)
In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally causes a turnover by his positive, aggressive action. This can be done by deflecting and controlling, catching, or batting to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player...
with 20, surpassing the 17 set on five different occasions between December 6, 1975 and January 28, 2002. In the March 17, opening round game of the College Basketball Invitational
College Basketball Invitational
The College Basketball Invitational is a men's college basketball tournament created in 2007 by The Gazelle Group. The inaugural tournament occurred after the conclusion of the 2007–08 men's college basketball regular season. The CBI selects 16 teams that are not selected for the NCAA Tournament...
tournament at home, Princeton defeated the Duquesne Dukes
2009–10 Duquesne Dukes men's basketball team
The 2009–10 Duquesne Dukes men's basketball team represented Duquesne University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college basketball during the 2009–10 season....
65–51. The game was Princeton's first postseason appearance since the 2003–04 team
2003–04 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team
The 2003–04 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team represented Princeton University in intercollegiate college basketball during the 2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was John Thompson III and the team captains were Ed Persia and Judson Wallace...
went to the 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2004, and ended with the championship game on April 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,...
and the first postseason victory since the 1998–99 team
1998–99 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team
The 1998–99 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team represented the Princeton University in intercollegiate college basketball during the 1998–99 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Bill Carmody and the team co-captains were Brian Earl and Gabe Lewullis...
won two games in the 1999 National Invitation Tournament
1999 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Xavier 106, Oregon 75...
. On March 22, the team defeated IUPUI
2009–10 IUPUI Jaguars men's basketball team
The 2009–10 IUPUI Jaguars men's basketball team represented the Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis in the 2009–2010 NCAA Division I basketball season. The Jaguars were coached by Ron Hunter and played their home games at IUPUI Gymnasium, also known as The Jungle in Indianapolis, IN...
74–68 in double overtime
Overtime (sports)
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...
at IUPUI Gymnasium
IUPUI Gymnasium
IUPUI Gymnasium, nicknamed the Jungle, is a 2,215-seat multi-purpose arena in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Since 1982 it has been home to the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Jaguars basketball teams and volleyball team. It also holds various sports classes for the Indiana...
in . The Tigers had previously won in the postseason in Indianapolis when the 1995–96 team
1995–96 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team
The 1995–96 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team represented Princeton University in intercollegiate college basketball during the 1995–96 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Pete Carril and the team captain was Sydney Johnson. The team played its home games in the Jadwin...
pulled off a first round upset of the national defending champion in the 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1996 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 14, 1996, and ended with the championship game on April 1 at Continental Airlines Arena in...
. In the tournament semifinals the team was defeated by Saint Louis University
2009–10 Saint Louis Billikens men's basketball team
The 2009–10 Saint Louis Billikens men's basketball team represented Saint Louis University in the 2009–10 college basketball season. This was head coach Rick Majerus's third season at Saint Louis. The Billikens compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference and played their home games at Chaifetz Arena...
69–59 at Chaifetz Arena in on March 24. Princeton led 25–22 with 7:25 remaining in the first half but fell behind by a 38–29 halftime score.
Head coach Johnson employs 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 prior season the only two schools who had lower scoring averages also ran the Princeton offense: and .
The team was led by second team All-Ivy League selections sophomore Douglas Davis and junior Dan Mavraides
Dan Mavraides
Daniel "Dan" James Mavraides is a Greek American professional basketball player...
. It was the first time since 2004 that two Tigers had been on the first or second All-Ivy League teams. 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...
, Princeton led the nation in scoring
Point (basketball)
Points in basketball are used to keep track of the score in a game. Points can be accumulated by making field goals or free throws ....
defense for the twentieth time since 1976. Following 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 awarded the Court of Honor Award from the National Association of Basketball Coaches
National Association of Basketball Coaches
The National Association of Basketball Coaches , headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is an American organization of college men's basketball coaches...
.