CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday on Mar. 16. Up next: Ivy League Tournament.
The Ivy League keeps it nice and simple. Four of the conference’s eight members participate in a two-round tournament to determine the automatic bid while the other half’s season comes to an end. In this case, Harvard, Brown, Penn, and Columbia have headed home while Yale, Cornell, Princeton, and Dartmouth will battle it out in Providence, Rhode Island.
2025 Ivy League Awards
Player of the Year: Xaivian Lee, Princeton
Freshman of the Year: Robert Hinton, Harvard
Transfer of the Year: Ethan Roberts, Penn
Coach of the Year: James Jones, Yale
First Team:
- G: Xaivian Lee, Princeton (17.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.2 SPG)
- G: Bez Mbang, Yale (13.4 PPG, 5.9 APG, 5.4 RPG, 1.8 SPG)
- G: John Poulakidas, Yale (19.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.3 APG)
- F: AK Okereke, Cornell (13.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.0 BPG)
- F: Nick Townsend, Yale (15.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 3.6 APG)
Second Team:
- G: Ryan Cornish, Dartmouth (17.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.4 SPG)
- G: Kino Lilly Jr., Brown (17.5 PPG, 4.4 APG, 2.3 RPG)
- G: Robert Hinton, Harvard (14.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.3 SPG)
- G: Cooper Noard, Cornell (13.6 PPG, 3.0 RPG. 0.9 APG)
- F: Brandon Mitchell-Day, Dartmouth (13.3 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.8 APG)
2025 Ivy League Tournament Simulation
Semifinals – Sat., Mar. 15
1. Yale (20-7, 13-1)  vs. 4. Princeton (19-10, 8-6) – 11 a.m. EST on ESPNU
In terms of true talent, there is a valid argument that these are the best two teams in the Ivy League. Yale ran through the league, only falling once in the 2025 calendar year, a 74-69 loss at Harvard. Princeton slightly underperformed but they are loaded with talent, including our conference MVP, Xaivian Lee, and head coach Mitch Henderson is well-respected. Furthermore, these are the only two teams that have ever won the Ivy League Tournament since it started in 2017. In this case, talent will prevail and the Tigers will move on with the upset.
Dan’s pick: 4. Princeton
2. Cornell (17-10, 9-5)  vs. 3. Dartmouth (14-13, 8-6) – 2 p.m. EST on ESPN News
Cornell is a team that is not getting enough credit around the talking heads. They are the number one team in the nation in effective field goal percentage, shooting an absurd 60.4% from two-point range and 37.3% from deep. All five starters have the capability of spacing, shooting, and getting to the rack. Rim protection and depth can be an issue but it won’t be enough of a factor in this game. Cornell wins the season series over the Big Green, despite their lone loss coming by a margin of 39.
Dan’s pick: 2. Cornell
Championship – Sun., Mar. 16
2. Cornell vs. 4. Princeton – 12:00 p.m. EST on ESPN2
Maybe, this is the year of some new blood in Championship Week. Vermont was dethroned in the America East, Colgate was taken down in the Patriot League…why not have a new Ivy League winner while we are at it?
At the very least, Cornell is the best value pick of the tournament. Of these three matchups, the most likely result is Cornell to beat Dartmouth. Meanwhile, Yale vs Princeton is a complete crap shoot. If you want an edge in your conference tournament pools, roll with the Big Red.
Dan’s pick: 2. Cornell