PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Yale may have a $23 billion endowment (second to Harvard nationally), and if we were playing the Game of Life (still available at a store near you, I think), they would certainly be far from a cute underdog we love so much this time of year.
But if you’re around college basketball enough, you know a big-time program with the budget of a Central American country when you see one. And Yale ain’t it.
Continue reading “Yale Puts Its Name With Greats Of Mid-Major Past With Upset”
James Jones has had about enough of questions about the expulsion of captain Jack Montague. Which is somewhat understandable given that he has finally reached the pinnacle of his professional life, putting Yale, yes Yale, in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1962, and thereby drawing some national attention to the rest of his stellar record at a program that was struggling mightily before he got there a LONG time ago, at least in coaching terms.
But with every new development, and with very little transparency to be had from Yale, new questions develop. This week it was revealed that the sexual misconduct incident (described suspiciously as “unconsented-to sex”, according to Yale’s side at least) actually happened back in the fall of 2014, with the accuser coming forward a year later, just before this basketball season was to begin. Montague, predictably, has now sued Yale, over the process designed to protect everyone’s anonymity, but failing miserably on that front.
“I’ve been a head coach at Yale for 17 years,” Jones said Wednesday. “This is the first time we’ve made the tournament since 1962. We are one of the best defensive teams in the country. We are one of the best rebounding teams in the country. So I think that’s a great story. And I’d like to tell that one going forward. If anybody has any questions around those types of things, I’d love to answer those questions.”
Continue reading “Yale Nation Set To Invade Providence For Long-Awaited NCAA Game”
With the Ivy League’s 14-Game Tournament fully complete, it’s officially awards season. Here are our picks for the Ancient Eight’s individual honors, determined by our esteemed panel of Ray, John and me. If you think we’re wrong, tell us why! Continue reading “Big Apple Buckets’ 2015-16 Ivy League Awards”
As far back as last August, Yale coach James Jones said he wasn’t thinking about the gut-wrenching way in which the chance for his program to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 53 years was ripped from their clutches on a cold Saturday night in the forests of New Hampshire.
When Yale opened the 2015-16 season by destroying Fairfield, Jones reiterated that last year was gone, these were different players. But as Ivy League play was finally about to begin in January, really, you must be haunted by last year still, James?
Continue reading “Jones, Yale Never Looked Back On Way To Breaking NCAA Hex”
ITHACA, N.Y. – Justin Sears, one of the most jovial college athletes you’ll meet, came bounding down the stairs at Newman Arena after one of the best days of his college career. Continue reading “Surreal Atmosphere In Yale’s Final Weekend Title Chase”
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Dartmouth again? Really?
When a hobbled Makai Mason threw a pass that Miles Wright picked off, there were 11.4 seconds left, Yale trailed 62-61, and Dartmouth – just 9-16 overall and 3-9 in the Ivy – was ready to ruin the entire season again for the Bulldogs. A loss wouldn’t officially end the Ivy race, but with the way Princeton is playing and a trip to Columbia looming next weekend?
Good luck.
Continue reading “Yale 76, Dartmouth 71 (OT): Survival Beats Disaster”
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – There have been a few times that I’ve seen Lee Amphitheater full and rocking, and it’s one of my favorite sights in all the sporting world: an ancient cathedral whose history can be heard – even from the rafters – with every bounce of the ball and gasp of the crowd.
Alas, my recollections of Yale’s septuagenarian home growing up are mostly of the place being packed to see the other team, which doesn’t necessarily mean they were cheering for Pete Carril and Princeton or Fran Dunphy and Penn or even Steve Donahue and Cornell, but they were certainly the main attraction, and on the other nights of the Ivy season? Well, Ingalls Rink and the Yale hockey team was down the street.
Continue reading “Yale 59, Harvard 50: Home-Court Advantage Long Time Coming”
HANOVER, N.H. – Everyone knew about the elephant in Leede Arena, but when he sat down behind the Yale bench early in the second half, the Bulldogs decided they’d had quite enough.
The Bulldogs were overdue for a bit of a comeuppance, coming into Dartmouth with a 60.4 eFG% in Ivy League play complete with a 47.0% three-point percentage. And it made sense that it might come in Hanover, site of last season’s catastrophe that does not need to be rehashed (but you can do so at your own peril if you wish), Yale’s first road game in three weeks and just its second in conference play.
Continue reading “Yale 75, Dartmouth 65: Chasing Pesky Elephants Out Of The Room”
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Cornell’s plan was pretty simple, really. After all, the Big Red’s biggest strength – pressure defense at a high tempo – coincided with Yale’s seemingly glaring weakness – turning the ball over at an alarming rate.
It worked for a few minutes, Makai Mason’ offensive foul was Yale’s fifth turnover just 7:36 in, and Cornell’s bench was jumping as the Bulldogs looked frustrated.
Continue reading “Yale 83, Cornell 52: Longest Win Streak in 59 Years For Bulldogs”
What Happened Last Week: Yale lost to a pair of power-conference teams. The Monstars stole Princeton’s shooting ability for a night. Penn’s Big 5 comeback fell short. Columbia almost Columbia’d, until Luke Petrasek saved the day. Continue reading “Ivy League Weekly Roundup: Dec. 14”
NYC Buckets Archive 