Princeton basketball returns a superstar in Xaivian Lee and hopes that’s enough to bring them back to the NCAA Tournament.
The tradition continues! CBB Review is again ranking the top 100 teams heading into the new college basketball season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Princeton basketball.
Princeton basketball has become a mighty team in the Ivy League, making the NCAA Tournament in 2023, moving on to the Sweet Sixteen, and winning 23+ games in each of the last three seasons. Heading into 2024-25, the expectations remain the same. A one-two punch of Xaivian Lee and Caden Pierce gives the Tigers an advantage over the whole conference, with sights on making it back to the big dance.
Head coach Mitch Henderson may have to find a few depth pieces along the way, with a pair of key players on last year’s team moving on. While Matt Allocco and Zach Martini were both important to the Tigers’ success last year, guys like Blake Peters, Deven Austin, and Dalen Davis have the chance to step into new roles and take the new season by storm.
However, the biggest reason Princeton basketball can taste a lot of success next season is Lee’s stardom. The rising junior started to become a household name for college basketball fans as a sophomore and could be in for a major season.
Click here to learn more about our preseason top 100 teams heading into the 2024-25 college basketball season.
Head coach: Mitch Henderson (14th season overall, all at Princeton)
2023-24 record: 24-5 (12-2)
2024 postseason finish: Lost to UNLV (84-77) in first round of NIT
Notable departures:
- Matt Allocco (12.7 PPG, 3.3 APG, 2.9 RPG, 42.7 3P%)
- Zach Martini (8.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 0.9 APG, 38.5 3P%)
- Jack Scott (2.3 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 0.6 APG)
Notable non-conference games:
- vs. Duquesne (Nov. 8)
- Myrtle Beach Invitational (Nov. 21, 22, & 24)
Projected Rotation
PG: Xaivian Lee (6-3, 171, Jr.)
2023-24 stats: 17.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.0 SPG
SG: Blake Peters (6-1, 197, Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 7.8 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 0.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 33.3 FG%
SF: Deven Austin (6-6, 195, Rs.-So.)
2023-24 stats: DNP (Injury)
2022-23 stats: 5.4 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 0.6 APG, 57.9 3P% (11-19), 51.2 FG%
PF: Jacob Huggins (6-8, 210, So.)
2023-24 stats: 1.5 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 0.2 APG
C: Caden Pierce (6-7, 220, Jr.)
2023-24 stats: 16.6 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 34.2 3P%, 56.6 FG%
6: Dalen Davis (6-0, 196, So.)
2023-24 stats: 6.6 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 0.9 APG, 36.9 3P%
7: Malik Abdullahi (6-7, 200, Fr.)
247Sports Composite #216 ranked recruit
8: Darius Gakwasi (6-6, 195, Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 2.2 PPG, 0.5 RPG, 0.3 APG
9: Jack Stanton (6-2, 165, Fr.)
247Sports Composite #284 ranked recruit
Princeton Basketball team MVP: Xaivian Lee
The 6-foot-3 guard plays with tremendous speed, which includes a burst of energy and a spin move that is nearly impossible to defend. However, like all great players, he knows when to slow it down and when to use his moves, and still plays under control.
Lee will get into the lane, facilitate, and has really good range. Once he has the ball, defenders need to pick him up, even before halfcourt, because of his heads-up style of play. The Tigers were 29th in offensive efficiency last season and Lee was a big reason why. He has a certain confidence that has put him in an elite category when it comes to current guards in college basketball.
Princeton Basketball make-or-break player: Deven Austin
A knee injury ended Austin’s freshman season short and also kept him out of the entire 2023-24 campaign. Assuming he’s good to go for next season, he has the potential to replace what was lost in Allocco.
In 22 games as a freshman, Austin saw the floor quite a bit and was remarkably efficient, draining 11 of the 19 three pointers he attempted. He also chipped in on the boards and defensively, with a season best three blocks in a game against UMBC.
Lee is Princeton basketball’s star and Pierce is his ‘Robin.’ Peters and Davis look to be in roles where they can replace what was lost, but if Austin can revisit the start to his freshmen campaign, the Tigers might have their hidden gem.
Key analytic: TOV
There’s a reason teams don’t like to schedule Princeton. The Tigers will be ready to go to battle against anyone and will beat opponents in different ways. Three pointers? They averaged the seventh most last season. Free throws? As a team, they hit over 80%, second-best in the country.
But it’s the way Princeton basketball values the basketball that cathces my eye. Like Yale, who also made our CBB Rank countdown, Princeton is tremendous at keeping ahold of the basketball. Last year, they only coughed it up an averaged of 8.2 times per game. That was the second best mark in the country.
Princeton has a unique style of basketball and they know what it takes to beat great teams. Just ask Arizona in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Part of that gameplan is staying tough with the basketball in their hands, and like usual, you can thank Lee for leading the pack there.
Princeton Basketball 2024-25 projections
Projected conference finish: 1st in Ivy League
Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament Appearance