Tigers stop Dominican to snap losing streak
By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
As the losses mounted, Sydney Johnson could count on the fact his team would keep working hard and looking for ways to improve.
”This is a resilient group,” Johnson said after his Princeton University men’s basketball team had snapped a 12-game losing streak with a 60-46 win over Dominican on Sunday at Jadwin Gym. “Every single day in practice, for the most part, we maxed out our practice time. We had enough time off to take care of our exams and papers. It told me these guys do have some toughness. Now we have to go from some toughness to a lot of toughness to try to win games in our league.
”It’s a team that was 2-12 and they could have been beaten, but they haven’t quit. I like that and it makes me happy to see them and know we’re not giving up on ourselves. We’re looking to win games.”
The Tigers had opened the season with two straight wins, but then suffered 12 straight losses. The last time Princeton tasted victory was on Nov. 11, 2007, meaning the Tigers went 74 days between wins.
”We’ve worked really hard this season to improve and it was tough to go through that losing streak,” sophomore guard Marcus Schroeder said. “But I know we have a bunch of guys that are resilient and it is good to get a little momentum before the Ivy League. I thought it was a good win for us.
”We’re looking to win our next game. We’re going into Dartmouth 0-0 and we want to come out 1-0. We’re looking forward to the league. But most importantly, we’re looking forward to our next game and trying to win that game.”
Princeton has 14 games left in its season — all against Ivy League foes. The first two of those games come this weekend, when the Tigers host Dartmouth on Friday and Harvard on Saturday. They will be looking to build off the win on Sunday and put the losing streak in the rearview mirror.
”I just want these guys to realize that winning is good and winning is fun,” said Johnson, who played 14 players in the win over Dominican. “And they know that. They’ve played enough basketball. We’re very happy.
”I really mean what I say, that you have to go game by game and possession by possession. It doesn’t matter the opponent. You have to do the best that you can, every single time out. But I know as a player it is hard to go through losing and keep your enthusiasm and focus. So today is a good day. Princeton won. But now we have to move on and see what the next game has in store for us. As good as we’re feeling right now, we don’t want to be disappointed on Friday night.”
Last year, Princeton had a 9-4 record outside of Ivy League play, only to go 2-12 in the school’s worst Ivy season ever. This year, the mark is 3-12 in non-league play. Could that mean a different sort of Ivy season this year?
”That was the case last year,” said sophomore center Zach Finley, who had 12 points and eight rebounds on Sunday. “I think this is a new team and a new situation. It’s a totally different schedule. I don’t think what happened last year is going to have any effect on us. We’re just going and trying to win games in the league.
”We’ve had a couple weeks off and some time to regroup and get back to what we want to do and get refocused. It’s a tough schedule, especially playing Friday and Saturday every week. These teams have been playing Princeton for a long time. I feel like everyone makes a big deal about when they play us because we are a storied program and people are gunning for us. So it is going to be tough every game.”
If nothing else, perhaps a 3-12 start did make Princeton a tougher team.
”I believe in my basketball team,” Johnson said. “I have all the respect in the world for Pennsylvania, Yale, Brown, Cornell, all the way down the line. I believe in these young men. I want to turn the great potential that I see into reality for everybody in that locker room. That’s what makes me wake up in the morning with a little bit of pep. And that’s what keeps me up late at night watching tape. Because I believe in these youngsters and that’s how it’s going to be.”
On Sunday, Lincoln Gunn led the Tigers with 13 points, while Finley had 12. Noah Savage added nine points.