SPORTS BRIEF: Both men’s and women’s basketball picked to finish second in the Ivy League this year

Penn and Dartmouth were named the unanimous favorites to win the men’s and women’s Ivy basketball titles, respectively, in the league’s preseason media poll that was released yesterday. Both the Crimson men and women immediately trailed behind the winners, as the men picked up 96 points—13 better thaan third place Princeton—and the women garnered 95—two better than the Tigers.
Three starters for the women’s team, including Ivy Player of the Year Reka Cserny, have departed from a team that grabbed a share of the league title last season.
But the return of second-team All-Ivy pick Jessica Holsey and a strong group of freshmen prompted the media to slot the Crimson second.
The co-Ivy champs and preseason first place Big Green returns first-team All-Ivy center Elise Morrison and also keeps its backcourt intact, as Jeannie Cullen and Angie Soriaga will take the floor for their senior seasons.
The men’s team also graduated three starters, but returns the league’s top two frontcourt men in Matt Stehle and Brian Cusworth.
Finding replacements for the wing players Kevin Rogus and Jason Norman as well as point guard David Giovacchini should be the focus of the non-league schedule and will be important to the Crimson’s success on the season.
Over the past seven seasons, the team slotted second in the men’s preseason media poll has won the league four times, compared to three for the top squad.
The last time the Quakers were the unanimous favorites to win the Ivy title (2000-01) they finished in a tie for second with Brown behind Princeton.
—MICHAEL R. JAMES