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What did Ivy League players and coaches say during their media event? We have the scoop. Plus: UConn looks great in exhibition win vs. Michigan State, Cal Baptist tops WAC poll, Notre Dame lands a familiar name, NCAA delays rule allowing athletes to bet on pro sports, and much more.
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1. What to know from Ivy League media day
Ivy League media didn’t contain significant revelations or rumors. Just coaches and players from every team, talking about basketball in a league that retains a higher-percentage of players than any other conference.
Given the schools in the league, that’s not a surprise.
It’s also not a surprise to hear Yale — which will enter the season as the team to beat — thrive on that approach, even without graduated stars such as Bez Mbeng and John Poulakidas.
“We’ve been fortunate,” Yale coach James Jones said. “I like to lend it to our culture. I think that’s really good. We have young guys that come in and do learn from the older guys. … Then the culture here is that out guys are in the gym all the time.”
Jeff Goodman and Rob Dauster spoke to every Ivy League coach and a player from each team to discuss this upcoming season. The full video is below.
More tidbits from Ivy League media day:
Florida thrived last season by creating second chances with its big frontcourt. Does former Gators assistant Kevin Hovde — and new Columbia coach — think that can work in the Ivy? "I think it does translate. What you're talking about it is trying to win the shot-quantity game, trying to get more shots than the other team by taking care of the ball and getting on the glass."
Yale forward Casey Simmons thinks sophomores Trevor Mullin and Robbie Fox could thrive when it comes to replacing Bez Mbeng and John Poulakidas. "We have players like that now who might not carry the same weight as a Bez or John, but we have guys in Trevor Mullin and Robbie Fox who I think are definitely ready to be those next guys."
It could be a year for Harvard to get back to the top of the league with star Robert Hinton and Chandler Pigge back. '“The league doesn’t get enough credit for the balance and depth of it,” coach Tommy Amaker said. “I think we have a nucleus of a young team that is improving and growing and gaining confidence.”
Dartmouth made the Ivy League tourney last season, which was a surprise. Coach David McLaughlin said his team’s aiming higher this season. “When you have lofty goals and you try to live up to your standards individually and collectively, that’s all you can do and hopefully the talent takes over.”
Penn transfer TJ Power has been nursing an injury, but should be back soon, per new coach Fran McCaffery.
"I think the 3-point shot and just shooting in general is what's gonna make my game open up and be even better," Dartmouth star forward Brandon Mitchell-Day said. He's already one of the best players in the Ivy League without shooting. If he can shoot well, that would be huge.
2. Short-handed UConn handled Spartans + more exhibition results
UConn didn’t have freshman Braylon Mullins and or starting big man Tarris Reed Tuesday night when it faced Michigan State in an exhibition. Didn’t matter.

