Parity abounds among top squads in Ivy League hoops

Last season, the Ancient Eight was as unbalanced as ever, with Penn, Princeton and Brown going a combined 30-0 against the rest of the league, as the Quakers cruised to an undefeated Ivy record and second straight league crown.

But it's a new season and a new story in 2003-2004. Having lost Ugonna Onyekwe, Koko Archibong, Andrew Toole and David Klatsky to graduation, Penn should have a much harder time managing a three-peat. Throw in a more balanced league top to bottom and there is possibly the most wide open title chase the league has seen in many years. Despite Penn's losses, the Quakers were still picked No. 1 in the preseason poll, receiving 114 points and eight first-place votes. Here's a look at how the Quakers' seven challengers stack up with the results of that poll:

PRINCETON:

107 points, T-2nd

The Tigers had great success last year against every school not named Penn or Brown. They finished 16-11 overall and 10-4 in the Ivies. The Tigers were invited to the NIT despite finishing third in the Ivy League. Expectations are higher in New Jersey this year as Princeton hopes to capitalize on other schools' losses.

The team is led by 6'9" junior center Judson Wallace, widely considered to be the league's best big man. Wallace posted 20 points in four of the Tigers' last five games and figures to be even more dominant this year.

Senior point guard Ed Persia and junior Will Venable lead an experienced backcourt. They are joined by former Ivy League Freshman of the Year Konrad Wysocki. The sixth man last year should start at forward.

Coach John Thompson has augmented last year's roster with an impressive recruiting class, considered to be in the top 50 nationally. The group is headlined by 6'9" forward Harrison Schaen from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif., a powerhouse on the West Coast.

Princeton will be even more formidable if they can get two of their seniors back on the court.

Forward Spencer Gloger dropped out of school last year with academic problems, but could return for the second semester this year. If eligible, he is a formidable offensive threat. Another senior, 6'6" Andre Logan, is attempting to return from two ACL injuries that have limited him to 14 games the past two years.

The Tigers are considered by many to be the league favorites, even without the two seniors. It appears that, as usual, for Penn to win the Ivy they will have to best the Tigers.

YALE:

107 points, T-2nd

The Elis were a huge disappointment last season, suffering many injuries and finishing fourth, going just 8-6 in the league a year after tying for the Ivy championship. But they again field a contender this year with maybe their best team since their last NCAA appearance in 1962.

After sitting out last year, forward Dominick Martin, a transfer from Princeton, finally gets to suit up. Penn coach Fran Dunphy believes that Martin may have the biggest impact of any of the league's new additions. He is a potential force in the post.

Yale coach James Jones' balanced attack will once again be led by returning starters Edwin Draughan and Matt Minoff. Both guards could challenge for All-Ivy honors. Draughan is a three-point specialist who has led the Elis in scoring each of his first two years. Minoff boasts an all-around game (7.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.7 apg, 42 steals, 28 blocks) and plays great defense on the perimeter.

Yale also has great depth, led by former Ivy League Freshman of the Year, guard Alex Gamboa, and another three-point specialist, senior Scott Gaffield. Highly touted freshman forward Casey Hughes, who led the state of Connecticut in scoring last year, should see significant playing time.

Many feel that this is the year for the Elis to finally make it back to the NCAA Tournament. With the losses sustained by Penn and Brown and the addition of Martin, Yale seems ready to take the next step. Perhaps their most ringing endorsement comes from Blue Ribbon Basketball Yearbook, which says, "Anything less than an Ivy League Championship come March would be a major disappointment in New Haven." After leading No. 1 Connecticut at halftime in their opener before falling, the Elis appear to have the talent to contend.

BROWN:

73 points, T-4th

The Bears had a successful season last year despite playing bridesmaids to the Quakers. They finished 12-2 in the league, and made an NIT appearance. They lost their two best players -- Earl Hunt and Alaivaa Nuualiitia -- to graduation, but they still expect to compete in the more balanced Ivy League.

All-Ivy League point guard Jason Forte returns for his junior season. The little brother of former North Carolina star Joseph Forte, is a frontrunner for Player of the Year honors. Last year, he posted 13.0 ppg, 5.3 apg and a league-high 2.1 spg.

Forte is joined in the backcourt by seniors Patrick Powers and Mike Martin, who both start in coach Glen Miller's motion offense. Powers is the team's best shooter. But both players must contend with greater attention from defenses as Brown attempts to fill the void left by Hunt and Nuualiitia.

Where the Bears may be overmatched (and undersized) is in the frontcourt. Senior Jaime Kilburn is the only key contributor returning. The captain nearly set the NCAA record for consecutive shots made last year, but he's only 6'5". The others are very inexperienced.

Brown hopes to avoid a bad season as they recover from the losses of Hunt and Nuualiitia. But the Bears believe they will avoid a huge drop as Miller has once again stacked his team with young talent. Brown has a lot of speed, but could have trouble rebounding. While it probably won't slip back to the bottom of the league, Brown likely won't crack the top three, either.

CORNELL:

73 points, T-4th

The Big Red haven't had much success in previous years, winning the fewest league games of anyone the past six years and going just 4-10 in the league last year. But this is former Penn assistant Steve Donahue's fourth year and the season his rebuilding plan is supposed to come to fruition. Cornell returns its top nine scorers from a year ago.

Cornell is led by senior guard Ka'Ron Barnes and his 14.0 ppg and 4.0 apg. Dunphy lists Barnes -- the Ivies' top returning scorer -- as one of his favorites for Ivy League Player of the Year, along with his own Jeff Schiffner. But Barnes needs to trust his teammates more, as his 2.5 turnovers per game last year was attributed to his trying to win games by himself.

Junior guard Cody Toppert has started every game since coming to Cornell, and will be counted on to provide leadership from his shooting guard spot. Last year's Ivy Rookie of the Year Lenny Collins has the ability to defend both guards and post players.

Junior forward Eric Taylor can be an offensive force, but is hampered by his 43 percent free-throw shooting from last year. Unless he improves, teams will continue to play "Hack-a-Shaq."

The Big Red have done little since winning the Ivy back in 1988, the last team other than Princeton or Penn to do so. But this is a team on the rise; Barnes is the only senior, and the team expects to make a jump to the league's top half.

HARVARD:

42 points, 6th

The one word that comes to mind about the Crimson this season is "rebuilding." They have just one player, small forward Jason Norman, who has started a college game. Even Norman is a question mark, coming off knee surgery.

Coach Frank Sullivan is building around 7'0" sophomore center Brian Cusworth. In a league lacking in strong big men, Cusworth should be able to match his 50 percent shooting percentage from last year. He is also impressive at the line, hitting 82 percent a year ago.

Beyond Norman and Cusworth, this team is a mystery. The rest of the frontcourt is inexperienced, and their likely starting shooting guard, junior Kevin Rogus, has never scored more than 12 points in a game. Whether Rogus can be the man at a scoring position remains to be seen.

Harvard has won more games in the Ivy League than any team other than Penn or Princeton since 1995. But they will be hard-pressed to finish in the middle of the pack this season. Hope is on the horizon, as the Crimson have some talented rookies and second-year players. They should be able to compete again in a year or two.

DARTMOUTH:

35 points, 7th

Last season, the Big Green were close to winning many of their league games, only to lose in heartbreaking fashion. This season, if they are to turn things around, it will be because of a strong frontcourt.

Dartmouth boasts three legitimate centers, giving them more size than anyone else in the league. Junior David Gardner (6'10") is a good passer, but has not proven to be a scoring or rebounding threat. He will play power forward this year as 6'11" senior Scott Klingbeil gets a chance to start. This will allow athletic sophomore Calvin Arnold (6'9") to move to small forward.

Dunphy likes junior point guard Steve Callahan. Dartmouth's captain shoots just below 40 percent from three-point range and is Dartmouth's best all-around player. Joining him in the backcourt is leading returning scorer Mike McLaren. He will be the top option on offense.

Leon Pattman is the best of three freshman guards. Pattman was considered a top-100 prospect nationally and led his high school team to three state championships.

With Klingbeil, Gardner and Arnold, the Big Green have one of the tallest frontlines in the country. But outside of Arnold, this is not the most talented team and there is little evidence to suggest that they will be able to challenge the league's top three.

COLUMBIA:

25 points, 8th

If any team was in need of a complete makeover, it was the Lions, who won just two games all season, none in the Ivies. One of the nation's worst teams a year ago has a new coach, Joe Jones, the brother of Yale coach James Jones. The younger Jones hopes to bring an up-tempo offense to the Upper West Side.

Columbia's leading returning scorers are junior guards Jeremiah Boswell and Tito Hill. They both had modest numbers, combining for 12.4 points per game a year ago. Boswell is a three-point shooter while Hill's specialty is going to the basket. Both should benefit from Jones' new offense.

The Lions have some depth at guard as Maurice Murphy, the team's only experienced senior, returns along with sophomore Dalen Cuff, perhaps their best all-around player. Cuff has a reputation for playing good defense and being a good passer.

In the frontcourt, sophomore Dragutin Kravic has by far the most potential of any player on Columbia's roster. He can shoot the outside shot, but needs to become tougher down low. For now, he is the centerpiece of the team.

This team, already suffering from a serious lack of talent, was further hindered by Jones' late hiring and his subsequent late start on the recruiting trail. It will take at least two years for Columbia to get back to where it was a couple of years ago, when it was considered an up-and-coming squad. For now, the school is entrusting Jones with its future. Columbia would be well-advised to be patient with its new coach.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.