Cornell Picked Unanimously by Media to Repeat

Friday, October 24, 2008

PRINCETON, N.J. -- Last year, Cornell became the first non-Penn or Princeton team since the Reagan Administration to finish first in the Ivy League preseason media poll. One year after proving the scribes right, the defending Ivy champs are once again the pick, becoming the first team in the League's storied history not named Penn or Princeton to garner a unanimous first-place selection, as announced today on the Ivy League Men's Basketball Media Teleconference.

Cornell (22-6, 14-0 Ivy), who is in search of its first back-to-back title runs in school history, return four starters and four All-Ivy picks from a team that set a myriad of school-records with 22 wins, a 16-game win streak and a 14-0 Ivy League slate a year ago. Reigning NABC District Coach of the Year Steve Donahue will rely on a talented junior class that includes 2007-08 Ivy League Player of the Year Louis Dale, unanimous first-team All-Ivy selection Ryan Wittman and post player Alex Tyler. Guard Adam Gore, who suffered a preseason injury and is expected to return in January for the Ivy League season, and seven-foot center Jeff Foote, both second-team All-Ivy players, round out an experienced Big Red core.

Poll runner-up Penn (13-18, 8-6), who was the last unanimous preseason media pick in 2005-06, look to get back to its winning ways after a third-place finish a year ago. The Quakers, who have won an impressive four of six Ancient Eight titles, will lean heavily on a talented group of underclassmen for production. Harrison Gaines, Jack Eggleston and reigning Ivy Rookie of the Year Tyler Bernardini are all back with a year under their belts, while third-year head coach Glen Miller welcomes in heralded recruit Zack Rosen.

Yale (13-15, 7-7), picked to finish second a year ago, return hungry to get back to title contention after a disappointing .500 season that saw the Elis finish tied for fourth place. James Jones, now in his tenth season in New Haven, returns two All-Ivies in Ross Morin and Travis Pinick.

Harvard (8-22, 3-11), under second-year head coach Tommy Amaker, round out the top half of the poll. The Crimson will add seven freshman to a solid core of upperclassmen that includes 2007-08 All-Ivy guard Jeremy Lin, along with seniors Drew Housman and Evan Harris.

2007-08 League runner-ups Brown (19-10, 11-3), under first-year head coach Jesse Agel, were picked to finish fifth after losing the All-Ivy backcourt tandem of Mark McAndrew and Damon Huffman to graduation. Columbia (14-15, 7-7), Dartmouth (10-18, 3-11) and Princeton (6-23, 3-11) round out the bottom half of the poll.

2008-09 Ivy Men's Baketball Preseason Media Poll

1. Cornell -- 128 points (16 first-place votes)
2. Penn -- 110
3. Yale -- 80
4. Harvard -- 77
5. Brown -- 75
6. Columbia -- 45
7. Dartmouth -- 33
8. Princeton -- 28