SPECIAL DAY: Princeton University men’s basketball player Dalen Davis dribbles upcourt against visiting Bucknell last week. Junior guard Davis matched his career-high with 25 points in the November 11 contest to help the Tigers prevail 73-63 in their home opener. Last Saturday Davis scored 21 points in losing cause as Princeton fell 76-57 at No. 25 Kansas to move to 2-2. Davis was later named the Ivy League Co-Player of the Week with Cooper Noard of Cornell. The Tigers host Northeastern on November 20 and then head south to play in the Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational from November 24-26 in Kissimmee, Fla. On the trip back from Ohio, the Tigers engaged in some intense film study. “We drive back and they let me watch video with them on Saturday night,” said Princeton head coach Mitch Henderson, whose rotation featured three juniors, four sophomores and five freshmen with no seniors on the roster. “I say that because they don’t have to do that but they were receptive so we were able to put Akron to bed. Akron is really good.” Hosting Bucknell in their home opener last week, the Tigers made a good bounce back, pulling away to a 73-63 win before a crowd of 1, 134 at Jadwin Gym. Henderson liked the progress he saw from his players in the November 11 contest. “Just even where we were in the preseason and what happened to us on Saturday, which I take responsibility for, that is just a really nice win for us,” said Henderson. “That is a good team. It felt like a league game, it was sloppy, super physical.” In the win over Bucknell, the Tigers got a super performance from junior guard Dalen Davis, who matched his career high with 25 points, hitting several key shots late in the second half and making four free throws in the last minute of the game. “Dalen was awesome,” said Henderson. “I thought he was very good down the stretch, he made the biggest buckets when they mattered the most. I think Dalen understands that it is nice to be in this spot. We understand that the way a group comes together, Dalen is going to have a lot to do with that too.” Davis, for his part, was proud of the way the Tigers rebounded from the loss to Akron. “Nobody likes to lose, but we are inexperienced,” said Davis. “The captains and a lot of the freshmen and sophomores pulled in today and got us a win. I think the word for it is resiliency. We are all bought in, it is a good group to be around.” In assessing his good play down the stretch, Davis credited the support he is getting from his teammates and the coaches. “The guys really trust me, coaches trust me to get the ball in my hands,” said Davis. “I am now a captain so I have to make a play. It was me today but it can be anybody, a freshman, sophomore, or a junior. I am just glad that we got the win today.” While Henderson was happy with the win over Bucknell, he knows that his young squad needs to mature in a hurry to keep on the winning track. “Dalen mentioned that we are young and we all know that,” said Henderson. “We have to grow real fast, like real fast, because the schedule is just so hard and we have some tough ones coming up. I am pleased about this one.” Against the Bison, the Tigers showed some toughness at the defensive end as they held Bucknell to 27 points in the second half. “They hurt us in the first half a little bit off that was our own doing,” said Henderson. “We were learning as the game went on. I thought we were able to wear them down a little bit. They are a terrific team. We toughened up in the right spaces.” While Princeton fell 76-57 to a terrific Kansas team last Saturday, Henderson wanted the Tigers to get steeled by facing that kind of competition. “It is stay level-headed, our schedule is brutal; we are not going to discount anything on Thursday,” said Henderson, whose team defeated Division III John Jay 100-59 in that game and hosts Northeastern on November 20 and then heads south to play in the Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational from November 24-26 in Kissimmee, Fla. “It is Kansas, this is the stuff that we want. We want to be a part of that. We also know how difficult it is going to be. We appreciate the opportunity of preparing them to win every single game. That is my approach. Good players make good coaches so hopefully they will be ready to go.” Davis is ready to keep leading the way for Princeton. “I think Jacob [Huggins] and Jackson [Hicke] do a good job of talking a lot; I am not that talkative but I am trying to do more of it,” said Davis, who scored 21 points in the loss to Kansas and was later named the Ivy League Co-Player of the Week with Cooper Noard of Cornell. “The sophomores are really good at talking. When I am down they pick me up, when they are down I pick them up. Even though the freshmen are just coming into college basketball with their energy, they are always engaged. It is nice to be around a group of guys that is motivated and wants to go at each other every day and get better. That really motivates me to be more of a leader and help this team out.”.
https://www.towntopics.com/2025/11/19/with-junior-guard-davis-stepping-into-lead-role-pu-mens-hoops-bounces-back-from-loss-in-opener/
With Junior Guard Davis Stepping into Lead Role, PU Men’s Hoops Bounces Back from Loss in Opener
