Errick Peck in the Indy Star

Cathedral's Peck commits to Cornell By Nat Newell IndyStar.comMarch 31, 2009 Cathedral High School basketball star Errick Peck admits the recruiting process was frustrating. He did what the Irish needed, playing inside and leading the seventh-ranked team in Class 4A in rebounding; but major Division I programs didn't get to see what the 6-foot-6 forward could do out on the floor and no scholarship offers were extended.The situation was disappointing, but Peck recognizes most people would embrace his second choice: He has committed to Cornell."I was looking for a major Division 1 [program] but I believe this is the best thing," said Peck, who had offers from six mid-major programs. "Looking at the academic side of things, it's the...

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The Cornell to the Big 10 Debate Continues...

It is now obvious that we are all really missing our beloved Ivy League Basketball...In the down time of the offseason, we tossed out the idea of "Cornell and the Big 10 potentially... a perfect marriage." Well, it seems like the debate has spread across Ivy blogs. First the Daily Pennsylvanian mocked us, then the Ivy Gate Blog ridiculed the idea as well. Now the Daily Pennsylvanian points out that some of UPenn's alums want the Quakers to join the ACC!The D.P. writes:As a follow up to my post yesterday about Cornell joining the Big Ten, Ivy Gate has their own take on the matter. I strongly advise you to take a look at some of the links in that article. I should add that on the basketball-u boards, a similar discussion of Penn joining the...

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We've Made it to the Big Stage!

Cornell Fan Admits Cornell Does Not Belong in the Ivy League by Max WassermanMarch 31, 2009IvyGateBlog.comWe've heard it all before. "Cornell shouldn't be in the Ivy League." "It's practically a safety school." "You're not really an Ivy Leaguer if you majored in the Ag School." "Yes I am and you look like a pre-op transexual." What has not been discussed is where the Big Red would go should they leave or be kicked out of the Ivy League--it being an athletic conference after all. Stepping up to fill that void in the discourse is Cornell basketball blog The Cornell Basketball Blog. And boy are they setting their sights high.Most of the Big 10 schools are large public universities set in collegetowns. The Big 10 schools not only excel in athletics,...

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Recruiting News: Errick Peck Update and Video Highlights, Ivy Recruiting Updates (updated 10:00 a.m.)

The Indianapolis Star reports on the recruiting commitment of Errick Peck (pictured above defending) that The Cornell Basketball Blog previously published:Peck to Ivy LeagueErrick Peck, a 6-6 Cathedral senior forward, will play at Cornell University, Cathedral athletic director Terry Fox said.Peck averaged 14.4 points and 11.1 rebounds as a senior, helping Cathedral to a 20-3 record. Peck had taken recruiting visits to Akron and Loyola-Chicago.Additionally, the Indy Star also notes that Peck will play in the 21st annual North/South Indiana All-Star Classic, which will be played Sunday at Batesville High School.Speaking of Peck--- if you want to see some video clip highlights of Cornell's newest addition, click here.Lastly from the Indy Star,...

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Cornell Basketball in the News

Former Cornell coach Scott Thompson is mentioned in the Register-Guard:When [Don] Monson was let go after the 1992 season, the [Oregon] Ducks looked widely for a replacement. Oregon’s first choice was former Arizona assistant Scott Thompson, a 38-year-old wunderkind who had rebuilt Rice from the dregs of college basketball to a pair of 20-win seasons. But with UO’s offer on the table, Thompson took more money from Wichita State. How did that work out? After four losing seasons at Wichita State, Thompson was fired and went to Cornell of the Ivy League, where health problems forced him to resign after five seasons and a 45-60 reco...

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Puerto Rico Tip-off field almost set

The field for November's Puerto Rico Tip-off is almost set. The Patriots join a field that includes UAB, Dayton, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kansas State and Villanova. An eighth team is yet to be announced. Five of these seven teams were in the post season this year and Villanova is still dancing in the Final Four. Meanwhile, Georgia Tech has the #1 rated prospect coming in and there's no way Indiana can be much worse than last year, so the field is looking pretty good. This tournament could give the Patriots a real test early on and hopefully some quality wins....

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Cornell's Donahue added to BU's list

Cornell's Donahue added to BU's list By Mark Blaudschun Boston Globe StaffMarch 31, 2009 While the rumor machine in the upper tier of college basketball was tossing out minute-by-minute updates on John Calipari's impending move to Kentucky and Rick Pitino's continuing flirtation with Arizona, Boston University officials were working quietly to find a new coach.BU athletic director Mike Lynch used the NCAA East Regional at TD Banknorth Garden over the weekend as a job fair, with current coaches, former coaches, and assistant coaches coming to town.Lynch's list of candidates is growing. The latest addition is Cornell coach Steve Donahue, who has guided his team...

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Cornell's 2009 Basketball Prospect Camp

The Cornell men’s basketball program and Head Coach Steve Donahue are offering The Cornell Basketball Prospect Camp from June 26-28 on the Cornell campus in Ithaca, New York. This camp is intended for high school students in grades 9-12 and is recommended for players who are serious about potentially playing collegiate basketball at Cornell or at other institutions.The Cornell Basketball Prospect Camp will provide basketball instruction by Cornell coaches and serves as an opportunity for high school prospects to gain invaluable exposure to the Cornell coaching staff.Check the Cornell Basketball Prospect Camp website for more informati...

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Cornell Basketball (Blog) in the News

Pictured above, photos from Cornell games against Big 10 opponents during the last three seasons--Iowa, Northwestern, Indiana and Minnesota. Below, the Daily Pennsylvanian's Zach Klitzman responds to a couple posts here on The Cornell Basketball Blog...From Zach Klitzman of the Daily Pennsylvanian: Cornell in the Big Ten? In the outlandish pipe dream department, here’s a post from The Cornell Basketball Blog arguing for Cornell’s inclusion in the Big Ten. Now it’s true that some of Cornell’s academics — especially the agriculture and hotel management schools — are more befitting of an state school in the Midwest than the Ivy giants of the Northeast. But come on, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here, Cornell. Yes, the Big...

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Josh Figini Named Academic All State and to All Star Basketball Series

Cornell basketball recruit, Josh Figini was named Academic All State by the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association.In addition, Figini was among the forty of the state's outstanding senior boys basketball players selected to compete in the 27th annual Minnesota High School All-Star Basketball Series. Doubleheaders will be played Friday, April 3rd at Halenbeck Hall on the campus of St. Cloud State University and Saturday, April 4th at Leonard Center on the campus of Macalester College in St. Pa...

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Ryan Wittman Named Mid Major All American

Ryan Wittman was named by CollegeInsider.com as an Honorable Mention Mid-Major All-American. Wittman earned the same honor in 2008. Wittman was also selected the League's MVP by CollegeInsider.com.CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major All-America Team Rather then assembling first, second, third and fourth team ...

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News and Notes: Around the Ivy League

Pictured above, Cornell Basketball's Town Hall Meeting on March 6, 2009."I was hired to teach them the game of basketball, and I did that to the best of my abilities. I apologize for nothing. You may not be pleased with the results but I am."-- Coach Norman Dale (portrayed by Gene Hackman) in the movie Hoosiers (1986). With these words during a public town meeting, Coach Dale defends his performance as head basketball coach of the Hickory High School Huskers. (By the way, Dale was a newly hired coach at Hickory, Indiana following a dismissal from his prior coaching position with the Ithaca Warriors.)Not unlike the Hoosiers film, the University of Pennsylvania is hosting a similar town meeting in Philadelphia to constructively discuss the...

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Cornell Basketball in the News

From the Daily Gopher a reference to new Cornell recruit, Josh Figini (pictured above:This Cornell fan is not happy that Josh Figini was left off the All-Metro team (Star Tribune). Figini is headed to Cornell to play next season. It is kind of interesting how Cornell has tapped into Minnesota for Ryan Wittman who will be a senior next year shooting to be first team Ivy League for three years in a r...

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Should Cornell Leave the Ivy League and Jump to the Big 10?

What would you say to the idea of Cornell playing round robin basketball games against the likes of Michigan, Indiana and Purdue? Football against Ohio State? Should Cornell join the Big 10? Think about it. While we are not advocating a divorce from the Ivy League, Cornell and the Big 10 potentially could be a perfect marriage. And The Cornell Basketball Blog is not alone in this thinking.Cornell Professor Issac Kramnick once wrote:I have come to love this place in my thirty-six years of teaching here, to love this Ivy League school with its Big Ten soul, this university that since its birth has played such a rebellious and innovative role in American higher education.Others have noticed the "Cornell-Big 10" connection. Cornell Basketball...

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Ivy League Roster Report

Below we provide anticipated roster sizes for each of the respective Ivy League teams for the 2009-2010 season, with links to the official team websites. In addition, we include the number of seniors (in their final year of eligibility during 2009-2010) for each team.With an anticipated 2009-2010 roster size of 20 players, Cornell has more players than any other Ivy League team. But with 9 Cornell players entering their final year of eligibility the Big Red expect to return the fewest number of veterans in the league the following season. Just 11 players are scheduled to remain in the program.IVY LEAGUE '09-'10 ROSTERS SIZESCornell (20 players, including 9 seniors, 11 returning for '10-'11)Princeton (18 players, including 4 seniors, 14 returning...

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Cornell Basketball in the News

A couple of references to Cornell Basketball in the news today...A Brown Daily Herald writer advocates respect for the NIT. The author notes:This year, for example, Cornell got a seed in the NCAA tournament because they were the Ivy League champions. According to the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), a statistical tool used by the NCAA to seed teams in the tournament, Cornell was only the 115th best college basketball team this year. San Diego State, Creighton, UAB, St. Mary's (Calif.), Illinois State, and Niagara all finished the season with top 50 RPIs and trips to the NIT.Also, in a late publication, the Boise State student newspaper, The Arbiter, published a late recap of Cornell's first round exit from the NCAA Tournament. The Arbiter...

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Recruiting News

Just another reference to Miles Asafo-Adjei's commitment to join the Big Red. From The City Newspaper:Asafo-Adjei to Cornell: Ensworth High star wing player Miles Asafo-Adjei has committed to play basketball at Cornell. He was a standout in both football and basketball for the Tigers and helped lead his team to the DII-AA state basketball tit...

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Men's Hockey on ESPNU Tonight @ 8PM for Frozen Four Ticket

The Cornell men's hockey team will play tonight (Sunday) at 8 p.m. on ESPNU with an opportunity to advance to the 2009 Frozen Four. A national hockey powerhouse, the Big Red appeared in the 2003 Frozen Four.Below are some of the impressive team results from Cornell Athletics during the 2008-2009 school year:Men's Basketball (Ivy League Champions)Wrestling (Ivy League Champions, EIWA Champions, Final No. 2 National Ranking, 5th Place National Championships)Wrestling National Championships Final Team Standings1. Iowa 96.52. Ohio State 92.03. Iowa State 84.54. Nebraska 78.55. Cornell 73.56. Edinboro 72.07. Missouri 70.08. Illinois 55.09. Wisconsin 53.010. Maryland 47.5Men's Indoor Track (Ivy League-Heptagonal Champions)Women's Indoor Track (Ivy...

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The 2009-2010 Big Red

Below is the projected roster for Cornell's 2009-2010 season. The 20-player roster includes 9 seniors in their final year of eligibility. The 2008-2009 roster is available on CornellBigRed.com.Potential transfers who would sit out 2009-2010 and late commitments from high school seniors could be added to this roster during the next few months. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 ...

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