Blogs > The Full-Court Press

Welcome back to the Trentonian's Full-Court Press blog. Yes, we're still alive, and with the 2015-16 season rapidly approaching, it's time to fire up the old blog for another season. Check back here throughout the year for updates on all things Rider and Princeton, including coverage of both the MAAC and Ivy League. Feel free to drop me a line on twitter @kj_franko (https://twitter.com/kj_franko) or email kfranko@trentonian.com.

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Princeton Gameday: at Bucknell


Who: Princeton (4-6) at Bucknell (8-4)

When: Thursday, 7 p.m., Sojka Pavilion, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

TV/ Radio: None/ WPRB 103.3 FM

Last Time Out: Princeton lost to Monmouth, 96-90; Bucknell def. Mount St. Mary’s, 81-65

Series History: Princeton leads 13-4

Background: There’s no time for the Tigers to feel sorry for themselves coming off Tuesday’s loss at Monmouth with a trip to one of the Patriot League’s top two teams on tap. The Bison are the third team from that league to face Princeton. The Tigers lost to Lehigh and beat Lafayette.

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Rider Gameday: at UMass



Who: Rider (8-3) at UMass (8-3)

When: Thursday, 7 p.m., Mullins Center, Amherst, Massachusetts

TV/ Radio: None/ 107.7 FM The Bronc

Last Time Out: Rider def. North Carolina A&T, 60-59; UMass def. Kennesaw State, 95-77

Series History: UMass leads 8-0

Background: The Broncs, winners of five straight, can take the Gotham Classic title with a victory over the Minutemen. Both schools are 3-0 in the round-robin event. Rider and UMass are meeting for the first time since Nov. 12, 2010 when the Broncs coughed up a 22-point lead and allowed the Minutemen to score the biggest comeback victory in the Derek Kellog era.

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Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Can Princeton, down two starters, halt Monmouth's winning streak?

Princeton coach Mitch Henderson. (John Blaine Photo)

Time for Plan C.

A season with so much expectation is still just nine games old, yet Princeton has been backed into a corner by season-ending injuries to starting forwards Hans Brase and Henry Caruso.

Can the wounded Tigers (4-5) come out swinging on Tuesday night when they travel to West Long Branch for an in-state clash against red-hot Monmouth (7 p.m., OceanFirst Bank Center, ESPN3, WPRB 103.3 FM)?

The Hawks (9-2) have won a program-record eight straight games are coming off a victory at Memphis, their sixth win over a high-major program in the last two seasons. Monmouth also counts UCLA, USC, Notre Dame, Georgetown and Rutgers among its victims.

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Friday, December 16, 2016

Rider Gameday: vs. Drexel


Who: Drexel (4-5) at Rider (6-3)

When: Friday, 7 p.m., Alumni Gymnasium

TV/ Radio: None/ 107.7 FM The Bronc

Last Time Out: Rider def. Kennesaw State, 81-79; Drexel lost to St. Joe's, 72-71

Series History: Drexel leads 30-27

Background: This is a quick turnaround for the Broncs after escaping with a two-point victory over Kennesaw Sate on Wednesday, but another win Friday would be a fourth straight. These two schools haven't met since 2012 when Rider won in Philadelphia.

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Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Rider Gameday: vs,. Kennesaw State


Who: Kennesaw State (3-6) at Rider (5-3)

When: Wednesday, 7 p.m., Alumni Gymnasium

TV/ Radio: None/ 107.7 FM The Bronc

Last Time Out: Rider def. Pacific, 73-66; Kennesaw State lost to Michigan, 82-55

Series History: First meeting

Background: This is Rider’s second of four games in the Gotham Classic and the only one it plays at home. The Broncs are 1-0 in the Classic following their win at Pacific. They go to North Carolina A&T and UMass next week.

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Princeton Gameday: vs. St. Joseph's

Who: St. Joseph’s (4-4) at Princeton (4-4)


When: Wednesday, 5 p.m., Jadwin Gym

TV/ Radio: ESPNU/ WPRB 103.3 FM

Last Time Out: Princeton def. Liberty, 67-64; St. Joe’s def. Drexel, 72-71

Series History: Princeton leads 8-7

Background: The Tigers kick off a crucial three-game non-league stretch against similar opposition on Wednesday when the Hawks visit Jadwin for the return game of a home-and-home that began last season when Princeton travelled to Philly. The Tigers follow up with a pair of tricky road games next week at Bucknell and Monmouth.

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Saturday, December 10, 2016

Rider Gameday: at Pacific


Who: Rider (4-3) at Pacific (3-5)

When: Saturday, 10:30 p.m., Stockton Arena, Stockton, California

TV/ Radio: None/ 107.7 FM The Bronc

Last Time Out: Rider def. Siena, 71-69; Pacific lost to UMass, 72-48

Series History: First Meeting

Background: This is the first of four games in the Gotham Classic for Rider, which hosts Kennesaw State on Dec. 14 before travelling to North Carolina A&T on Dec. 18 and UMass on Dec. 22.

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Princeton Gameday: at Liberty


Who: Princeton (3-4) at Liberty (4-5)

When: Saturday, 2 p.m., Vines Center, Lynchburg, Va.

TV/ Radio: None/ WPRB 103.3 FM

Last Time Out: Princeton def. Hawaii, 75-62; Liberty lost to Furman, 61-58

Series History: Princeton leads 3-0

Background: This marks the fourth straight season the two schools have met with the Tigers winning the three previous times. This also brings to a close Princeton’s week-long journey of close to 15,000 miles. The Tigers trekked to Hawaii for a pair of games in the Pearl Harbor Invitational on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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Monday, December 5, 2016

Rider's Stevie Jordan plays with five stitches in lip


Rider guard Stevie Jordan. (John Blaine Photo)

Stevie Jordan laughed when asked how he ended up needing five stitches around his lip during last Thursday's MAAC opener against Fairfield.

No he didn't hit the camera like one of the officials told coach Kevin Baggett. And no he didn't smash into a Fairfield players knee like the video replay seemed to suggest.

"I hit my own knee," the freshman point guard said with a smile.

Jordan spent the majority of that game Thursday night in the training room getting stitched up and fitted for a protective mask. The only problem was he couldn't see out of the mask and ended up last just 1:40 after convincing both the training staff and Baggett he was OK to continue.
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Rider Gameday: vs. Siena


Who: Siena (3-5, 1-0) at Rider (3-3, 0-1)

When: Monday, 7 p.m., Alumni Gymnasium

TV/ Radio: None/ 107.7 FM The Bronc

Last Time Out: Rider lost to Fairfield, 76-67; Siena def. Fairfield, 80-73.

Series History: Siena leads 30-15

Background: Looking to avoid an 0-2 start in the MAAC, the Broncs host the Saints to finish a mini two-game homestand.
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