Cornell Basketball 2025-26 Thread

[stereax]

Thinking about it a little more, if a loss to Dartmouth means it's more likely we get stuck in the 16-seed play-in if we win the ILT i'm even more in favor of letting myself sub in for a few minutes to guarantee an L.

Genuine question - why is the 16-seed play-in better than presumably qualifying outright? Wouldn't we then go up against the 1 ranked team?

[chimpfood]

I would be surprised if we were a bottom 4 team. I think we're a 15 if we beat Dartmouth then win and a 15/16 if we lose to D.

[ugarte]

Thinking about it a little more, if a loss to Dartmouth means it's more likely we get stuck in the 16-seed play-in if we win the ILT i'm even more in favor of letting myself sub in for a few minutes to guarantee an L.

Genuine question - why is the 16-seed play-in better than presumably qualifying outright? Wouldn't we then go up against the 1 ranked team?

Yes! but we are going to get rinsed by any team in the top 8 seeds so I'd rather have a shot at beating the MEAC champ in the play-in.

chimpfood, i also doubt that given the way conference tournaments usually shake out that we'd be a bottom-four team if the resume includes two wins over Yale. but!

[billhoward]

>>> Genuine question - why is the 16-seed play-in better than presumably qualifying outright? Wouldn't we then go up against the 1 ranked team?
If this was the NBA Cornell played in, there'd be concerns about the tanking rules?

[chimpfood]

>>> Genuine question - why is the 16-seed play-in better than presumably qualifying outright? Wouldn't we then go up against the 1 ranked team?
If this was the NBA Cornell played in, there'd be concerns about the tanking rules?

You get money for every win you get in the NCAA tourney. Play ins count. Plus it's another winnable game to watch.

[ugarte]

>>> Genuine question - why is the 16-seed play-in better than presumably qualifying outright? Wouldn't we then go up against the 1 ranked team?
If this was the NBA Cornell played in, there'd be concerns about the tanking rules?

no there wouldn't because we'd be trying to win

[chimpfood]

59 first half points. Good to get hot before Ivy madness

[scoop85]

111-90 blowout at Dartmouth to finish the regular season 15-12, 8-6 in the Ivies. I admit I thought we were dead in the water after losing the 1st 3 league games, giving up 100+ in each game. But Jaques showed some coaching chops in leading the team to an 8-3 league finish, and the team is playing with confidence heading into the ILT, and are really playing with house money going into next weekend.