BYU basketball: Previewing the Princeton Tigers

BYU basketball travels east this week to take on the Princeton Tigers. The game will be the Cougars’ first test of the season. Here’s a quick glance at the Ivy League team.

BYU basketball is 1-0 after defeating Mississippi Valley State. But now the Cougars will face a legitimate test in the form of the Princeton Tigers.

The Tigers are 0-1, falling to the Butler Bulldogs 85-75 to open the season. In that game, Princeton shot 55.6 percent from the field and 60 percent from 3-point range – so the team is still potent offensively.

A trio of guards led the way against Butler. Amir Bell, Myles Stephens and Devin Cannady all logged major minutes and led the team in scoring.

Amir Bell: 37 minutes, 22 points (7-13 shooting), 4 rebounds, 2 assists

Myles Stephens: 38 minutes, 21 points (9-14 shooting), 4 rebounds, 4 assists

Devin Cannady: 32 minutes, 12 points (4-10 shooting), 3 rebounds

No other Tiger scored in double figures, or played more than 19 minutes. Only one other player (forward Alec Brennan) hit more than two 3-pointers.

So, in short, Princeton doesn’t appear to be very balanced. But at the same time, it’s just one game. It wouldn’t be surprising to see things balance out as the year rolls along.

In addition to Bell, Stephens and 2016-17 All-Ivy League honorable mention Cannady, the Tigers have a pair of incoming impact freshmen.

Jerome Desrosiers and Sebastian Much – a pair of three-star forwards – should contribute at a high level for Princeton.

While Princeton returns just four major rotation players from a season ago, the Tigers will likely compete for the Ivy League title. If any coach can rebuild on the fly in the Ivy League, then I’d bet on Mitch Henderson.

Henderson is 119-60 in his career, after going 23-7 last season. He nearly led the Tigers to an upset over Notre Dame in one of the 5-12 matchups in the NCAA Tournament.

We’ll see how BYU basketball can respond to its first road test of the young season on Wednesday.