ELynah Forum

The team can score but cannot defend to save their lives.  2 Ivy losses at home-cannot see this team making Ivy tornament.

Cornell's opponents know they drive right to the hoop.  The lack of size was really telling in this game with Columbia denying inside shots especially in 2nd half.  Give Columbia credit as they showed excellent spacing on offense. Yes need to win on Saturday against Dartmouth.

Did not see this one coming: Cornell over a good Columbia team 67-60.  Credit to Emily Pape, Rachel Kaus, Clarke Jackson, and others.  Certainly helped that Columbia's top scorer Riley Weiss went 1-14. Biggest win for the program in years. GBR!!

When hitting the 3s we can match up up but the defense is our Achilles heel-regardless of playing a Michigan or a Kent State.

Was talking to another CU basketball fan and he told me Cornell has a surplus of 2s (Shooting guards) and 4s (Power Forwards) and no true point guard.

Mike Toerper impressed many with his presentations at the Tompkins County Sports Council Luncheons.  Good Hire IMO! If one has read the biography of late Jim Butterfield (Long time coach at Ithaca College) written by his wife Lois Butterfield-she references that twice he interviewed for Cornell job.  Glad that the Athletic Department has seen the value of hiring coaches from Ithaca College.  Its a program with a long-time winning tradition.

Agreed on Ken711 points. I thought Backus got the best out of the talent available to him. I questoined his reliance on man coverage on pass plays.

Yes to both points and they get caught up double teams leading to open 3s from the opposing team.  In other words not rotating off of the double teams to the open guy.  On the other gambling on the doubling teams is a gamble worth taking when a team is undersized like this year's edition of the Big Red. 

Continuing on the thread from the Cornell-Columbia as per Schoellkopf Field I agree that the facility is showing its age. Given Cornell's current financial challenges am doubtful that they will be addressed any time soon.  My wish list:

Much needed renovations to the ancient bathrooms
Renovate the concession operation
Having a set of stands on the Cornell bench side of the field
Spruce up the Crescent itself
Bring back the class flags that used to rim the Crescent
A magic wand to increase attendance outside of Homecoming.

Otherwise Happy Thanksgiving

Coach Swanstrom freely admitted during the season that the level of talent on the team needed to be upgraded. I think he has gotten a huge "buy in" from his team.  I cannot recall a time when there were 30 seniors on a Cornell squad. Per the Columbia I have to admit I was a  bit disheartened.  Admittedly Cornell's defense got pushed around but lack of execution, turnovers, and untimely penalties also hurt the cause.

Start the thread.  Cornell secondary will have a rough time covering Penn's NFL prospect-the wideout Richardson.

Fiegen is injured.  Was impressed with 2nd half comeback against a really good Kent State team.  The 3 straight turnovers in the last 2 minutes really hurt.  As per usual wish we had more size.

Starting the thread:
Last Saturday Cornell's defensive backfield had trouble covering the deep pass routes.  Credit has to go to the Brown qb  who was dropping the passes in great position for his receivers.  Cornell's receivers stepped up last week and lets hope they keep it going and that Doryn Smith is available to play.  Princeton is beatable IMO and am hopeful that Cornell steps up tomorrow.

Agreed with the strange play calling on that one drive deep in Colgate territory in the 4th quarter.  2nd and 3 and call for 2 straight pass plays-at least mix in a run.  In spite of the turnovers when the Red got it down to 28-21 I thought they had a chance.  Unfortunately immediately after Cornell's TD the defense could not get off the field during Colgate's drive to go up 2 TDs.  The games as they say are won in the trenches and Colgate's offensive and defensive lines respectively  were better than ours. 

Swanstrom announced at yesterday's sports luncheon that they are going with Page for a majority of snaps plus shaking up the offensive lineup a bit