Princeton Basketball Gameday: Tigers have tricky trip to Dartmouth on tap
Jan 17, 2025
WHO: Princeton (12-4, 1-0) at Dartmouth (7-7, 1-0)
WHEN: Saturday, 2 p.m., Leede Arena, Hanover, N.H.
TV/ RADIO: ESPN+/ The Varsity Network
LAST TIME OUT: Princeton def. Harvard, 68-64; Dartmouth def. Penn, 73-70
STREAK: Princeton W5; Dartmouth W3
SERIES HISTORY: Princeton leads, 161-64. The Tigers are 21-3 against the Big Green under Mitch Henderson.
NCAA NET RANK: Princeton 119; Dartmouth 287
KENPOM RANK: Princeton 114; Dartmouth 290
SCOUTING PRINCETON: The Tigers held off Harvard in Cambridge to open Ivy play last Saturday, and now have to navigate what can be a tricky road trip to Hanover. Princeton lost at Leede Arena two seasons ago and has had several other close calls in the remote New Hampshire wilderness (prior to that loss in 2023, the previous three meetings at Dartmouth — all Princeton wins — were decided by four points of less). Xaivian Lee (16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.5 assists), Caden Pierce (11.2 points, 6.8 rebounds) and Dalen Davis (11.6 points) tend to grab the headlines, but the Tigers are starting to get contributions from role players like Jackson Hicke. Over the past four games, Hicke has averaged 9.5 points on 62.5% shooting from the field and 75.0% from 3 along with 3.5 rebounds. Blake Peters (9.1 points, 38.1% from 3) is always a threat to get hot from beyond the arc.
SCOUTING DARTMOUTH: The Big Green are much different proposition than last season when they struggled mightily through a 6-21 campaign. They have won three straight and opened Ivy play with a 73-70 victory over Penn. Senior Ryan Cornish, who was limited to 14 games a year ago due to injury, is healthy and leads the team in scoring at 15.8 points. As a sophomore, Cornish scored his career-best 31 points in an overtime loss to Princeton at Jadwin. Brandon Mitchell-Day (11.8 points, 6.3 rebounds), a 6-8 junior forward, gives Dartmouth a nice inside presence. Freshman Connor Amundsen has already picked up a pair of Ivy League Rookie of the Week awards and shoots the 3 at a league-leading 50.8% on 59 attempts. Cade Haskins averages 11.8 points and is a 41% 3-point shooter on 100 attempts. The Big Green rank tied for ninth nationally with 11.1 made 3s per game.