The Yale Bulldogs will be at Newman Arena at The Fieldhouse to face off against the Cornell Big Red in an Ivy League matchup. The game gets underway at 6:00 pm ET on Friday, Mar. 4.
The Big Red are hoping for a better outcome after their 74-60 loss to Princeton in their last matchup. Matt Morgan was the game’s leading scorer, contributing 20 points. The Bulldogs are coming off a 76-71 win over Dartmouth in their last outing. Justin Sears had a big game and claimed his fifth double-double of the season, posting 14 points and 11 rebounds.
The ineffective offense of Cornell (314th in the nation with an offensive efficiency of 97.3) will square off against the stingy defense of Yale (15th in the nation with a defensive efficiency of 94.6). The Bulldogs figure to have the advantage on that end of the court. The Bulldogs could also control the offensive glass in this matchup, as they rank fifth in the nation in OR% at 39.5%. The Big Red, meanwhile, place near the bottom of the nation (264th) on the defensive backboards with a DR% of 64.3%.
This is the second game of the season between these two teams, with the Bulldogs winning the first matchup 83-52. Sears was a standout player in the game, producing 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists, one steal, and two blocks.
The Big Red enter the game with records of 9-17 Straight Up (SU) and 7-11-1 Against The Spread (ATS). The Cornell defense has been on fire lately, allowing an average of 63.1 points per game, well under their season average of 78.2. The Big Red are 41st in the country in steals with 7.7 per game.
As for their opponent, Yale has a SU record of 20-6 and an ATS record of 9-6-2. The Bulldogs have controlled the glass with an average of 40.5 rebounds per game, 21st in the country. The Bulldogs are one of the top defensive teams in the nation, essentially shutting down opponents to the tune of 63.4 points allowed per game. The Bulldogs have one of the best opponent field-goal percentages in the nation at .406.
Following the Bulldogs’ latest win over Cornell, their SU record is now 7-3 over Cornell in their most recent meetings. With a 7-3 record, the Bulldogs also have the advantage ATS. When it comes to field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers, Yale held the edge in all three of these categories three times in the last five meetings. Cornell never did so in those games.
Predictions: SU Winner – Yale, ATS Winner – Yale
Notes
Cornell averages 71.3 points per game, placing the team just 175th in the nation. Yale ranks 14th in points allowed, giving up 63.4 points per game.
The Yale Bulldogs have a defensive rating of 94.6 (ranked 15th), while the Cornell Big Red have an offensive rating of 97.3 (ranked 314th).
The Cornell Big Red average 73.2 possessions per game and .973 points per possession, while the Yale Bulldogs earn fewer possessions (66.9) but more points per possession (1.120).
Yale has an average effective field goal percentage of 52.2%. Cornell is an underachieving 1-9 when opponents have a similar or higher effective field goal percentage.
On average, Cornell attempts 24.0 three pointers and Yale attempts 16.0. In games where they have 20 or more three point attempts, the Cornell Big Red have a 7-15 record while the Yale Bulldogs have a winning 5-2 record.
Yale, the 54th-ranked team in blocked shots, registers an average of 4.5 per game. Cornell does worse, ranked 133rd with 3.7.
Cornell ranks 304th in offensive rebounds, while Yale ranks 76th in defensive rebounds.
Cornell makes an average of 7.7 steals per game. When Yale gives up 7 or more steals, the team has an even 6-6 record.
