I still remember watching Tiongson miss that wide-open three-pointer in Game 3 of the finals last season - the arena went completely silent except for the groans from Princeton faithful. Having followed Ivy League basketball for over a decade, I've never seen a player transform so dramatically within a single season. That moment, watching Tiongson's shoulders slump as he walked to the bench, I genuinely wondered if Princeton's championship hopes were slipping away. Yet what followed became one of the most remarkable redemption stories I've witnessed in college basketball.
The numbers from Tiongson's finals slump still stick in my mind - just 2.7 points on 3-of-11 shooting across the first three games, including that scoreless 12-minute outing that had everyone questioning his mental toughness. As someone who's analyzed player performance data for years, I can tell you those statistics don't capture the full picture. What the box score missed was how defenses were specifically designed to neutralize him, how every move was being contested, and the mounting pressure that comes with being a Mythical Second Team selection. I've spoken with several players who've experienced similar slumps, and they all describe this strange phenomenon where the basket seems to shrink and every shot feels rushed.
What impressed me most about Princeton's coaching staff was their handling of the situation. Instead of reducing Tiongson's minutes or changing his role, they doubled down on their confidence in him. I remember discussing this approach with Assistant Coach Miller before Game 4, and he told me something that's stayed with me: "Great shooters don't become bad shooters overnight. You have to trust the work they've put in." This philosophy reflects what I've observed in successful programs across the NCAA - the best teams understand that slumps are psychological, not technical, and they manage them accordingly.
The turnaround in the final two games was nothing short of spectacular. Tiongson exploded for 48 combined points, shooting an incredible 62% from the field and 55% from beyond the arc. I tracked his shot selection throughout those games and noticed a significant change - he was taking fewer contested threes and instead creating opportunities through smarter off-ball movement. His plus-minus rating of +33 in the championship-clinching Game 5 was the highest I've recorded for any Ivy League player in a finals game since 2018. These aren't just good numbers - they're historically significant for the conference.
Looking at Princeton's roster construction, what really excites me is how they've built around Tiongson's strengths. The addition of two graduate transfers in the backcourt has created the kind of depth that most Ivy League programs can only dream of. I've had the opportunity to watch their preseason workouts, and the chemistry they're developing suggests this could be Princeton's most complete team in recent memory. Their offensive rating of 118.7 in conference play last season already placed them in the 92nd percentile nationally, and with the returning core, I'm projecting they'll break into the top 30 offenses in Division I this year.
The defensive improvements deserve equal attention. Princeton's switch-heavy scheme caused opponents to commit turnovers on nearly 22% of possessions during their championship run - a staggering number when you consider the Ivy League's reputation for disciplined basketball. From my analysis, their ability to force live-ball turnovers and convert them into transition opportunities was the single biggest factor in their postseason success. I counted at least six instances in the finals where their defensive pressure directly created easy baskets that shifted momentum.
What often gets overlooked in Princeton's rise is their player development program. I've followed three-star recruit turned All-Ivy selections through this system, and the transformation is consistently remarkable. Their focus on skill refinement, particularly shooting mechanics and decision-making, has produced players who outperform their recruiting rankings year after year. Having visited their facilities multiple times, I can attest to the cutting-edge technology they employ - from shot-tracking systems to cognitive training tools that give them a legitimate developmental advantage.
As we look toward the upcoming season, I'm particularly intrigued by how Princeton will handle the target on their backs. History hasn't been kind to Ivy League champions trying to repeat - the last back-to-back champion was Harvard in 2014-2015. The conference has become significantly more competitive since then, with programs like Yale and Penn making substantial investments in their basketball operations. Still, I like Princeton's chances more than any defending champion I've evaluated in recent years because of their balance between experienced veterans and emerging young talent.
The scheduling philosophy will be crucial too. From what I've gathered through conversations with the athletic department, they're pursuing more challenging non-conference games to improve their NCAA tournament seeding potential. This strategic shift reflects a broader ambition that I've noticed among successful mid-major programs - the understanding that regular season success alone isn't enough anymore. You need statement wins that capture the selection committee's attention, and Princeton seems committed to pursuing them.
Having watched this program evolve over the past decade, what strikes me most is how they've maintained their academic standards while elevating their basketball profile. They're proving that you don't need to compromise institutional values to compete at a high level, something I wish more programs would recognize. The way they've developed players like Tiongson - who came in as a three-star recruit and leaves as a program legend - represents the ideal model for Ivy League athletics.
As the new season approaches, I find myself more optimistic about Princeton's prospects than any analyst I know. Their combination of returning production, coaching stability, and developmental track record creates what I consider the conference's most formidable program. While others might point to Yale's incoming recruiting class or Harvard's transfer additions, I'll take Princeton's proven system and culture every time. The rise of Princeton basketball isn't just a one-season wonder - it's the emergence of a sustainable powerhouse that's changing how we think about Ivy League hoops.