Know Thy Opponent: Cornell Big Red

by Alex Bozich in Opponents | November 28th, 2008

Indiana will return to Assembly Hall on Sunday for a matinee matchup with the Cornell Big Red (4-2).

After capturing their first league title in 20 years a season ago, Cornell was the unanimous pick to win the league again by Ivy League coaches.

It’s the first meeting between the two schools, but three Cornell players have Indiana ties.

The Big Red’s leading scorer is junior Ryan Wittman, the son of IU Hall of Famer and Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Randy Wittman. Ryan was a first team All-Ivy League selection last season and is averaging 19.8 ppg this season.

Senior Adam Gore, who will miss the entire pre-conference season with a knee injury, is from Monrovia and has a famous IU coach for a great-uncle: Branch McCracken. Sophomore Adam Wire’s great-grandfather played for McCracken.

Besides containing Wittman, the Hoosiers will have their hands full with 7-footer Jeff Foote (14.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and Geoff Reeves (15.8 ppg).

After a 74-56 loss to Siena in the preseason NIT, the Big Red bounced back in the consolation round of the NIT with a 78-53 win over Loyola-Chicago and a 67-54 win over Eastern Michigan.

An NCAA Tournament team a season ago, Cornell has the experience to cause plenty of problems for IU and they’re looking to become the first Ivy League school ever to win in Assembly Hall.

Kelin Blab

I hate to say it but under these circumstances. Beating this team with our youth would be a big win, given there size and experience.

Hoosiergirl

Are you kidding? It would be an incredible upset for us to win over them

What channel is it on?

Kelin Blab

HG..I agree with you, that is what I was saying.....an IU win on sunday would be huge for these kids.........I think it is on BTN

HoosierSmitty

Any win is basically an upset for this year's band of Hoosiers. We'll see how they fare today. I'm hopeful that being in Assembly Hall helps them out.

h09sier

i'm afraid

Hoosiergirl

Another loss coming right up

Uncle Joey

Pessimism has no place here.

silkyslim

hoosiergirl,
with that attitude are you sure your name isn't boilergirl? :o)

I believe that the Hawaiian sunshine (& the tough opponents) have gave our boys a metaphorical 'good shot of coffee' to improve their BBall senses and they will surprise the ivy poofters. Is Bif with a sweater tied around his neck, their cornell team captain?!

Hoosiergirl

I am quite sure that it is not boilergirl - pitty anyone who has to live with that. lol Sorry, the last games have been hard.... hoosier nation wants to win.....!!

stumpy

What is a "poofter" exactly? And what is so wrong with wearing a sweater around your neck? Silky, maybe you've done one too many Carb Days at the 500! :)

Speaking as a Cornell fan, I couldn't be happier that we drew Indiana on our schedule this year. Any other year would certainly be an IU win. This year, we can win.

Looking for info on Cornell: Google "Cornell Basketball Blog".

silkyslim

Hey Stumpy, a poofter is someone who is soft & spoiled. The sweater thing is quite cliche, (& don't forget your fraternity pin, cue the scene from Animal House.)
And it is not the Carb days, it is the smell popcorn & the sound of the basketball in Assembly Hall that gets my bball fever up and I lose rational thought.
Your team will do well this year in the Ivy, I really liked Wittman's son, how did so many miss that hot hand? There are many top 25 teams that could use his shooting.

JerryCT

No game this year is a gimme and this one is no exception.

Another Cornell tie to IU basketball of course was Dave Bliss, an ass't under Knight

jgongora86

If you guys want something to root for, Saturday the IU soccer team is playing michigan in the NCAA tournament. Lets go hoosiers! Bring back the dynasty.

MikeinNC

Wow, interesting about all the IU ties at Cornell...this will be a really interesting match-up. Looks like they can hurt you inside and outside. We'll see how much progress Pritchard has made.

cooper

by my count we have 8 winnable games left and that is including PSU and Northwestern, which I'm not sure are that winnable. I really don't see this team getting 10 wins. Thats not pessimism either its just not being a homer kool-aid drinker. though its early at this point figure out who will be able to play next year and play them constantly so they can learn. Everyone else should be warming the bench. The only exception would be Jobe as a big man he might be needed next year. Plus watching him play is hilarious

Uncle Joey

are you kidding me? have you seen the bigs coming in next year? Jobe will ride the pine harder than Ahlfield. In fact, I think we'll probably end up giving away Jobe's scholly to one of the new guys coming in next year.

HoosierSmitty

Sunday will be an interesting test. Let's not discount what playing at home can do for a team. I think that will help us stay competitive, but it looks like this will be a tough match up.

Hopefully the guys learned a few things in Maui and have had enough time to rest and acclimate to Bloomington again.

Go Hoosiers!

JerryCT

If "CARDS" is out there I hope he streams the game on SUnday for those of us w/o BTN like he did with the ESPNU game.

I too am havign a hard time seeing 10 wins on the schedule unless we radically improve 1) FT %, 2) 3 pt %, 3) ability to contest the perimeter

Kelin Blab

I think we beat Illinois at home based on the whiners mouth this summer and IU fans will produce that win for the team....

JerryCT

Now that would make my season. Still, of the things we can most control we need those three things to improve to have a shot.

Not sure we can really improve turnovers , rebounding and man to man D , especially on the ball enough to add more wins.

Did I say you were right about Moore ?

Kelin Blab

Thanks for the D. Moore love....going to see IU at Lucas Next weekend....saw Gonzaga last night.....might get ugly, they are good....

Sallad

Honestly, if we lose every other game this season, but beat Illinois at home, I'll be thrilled.

Know Thy Opponent: Cornell Big Red

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