For avid Princeton Tiger fans, there's nothing quite like the atmosphere of Ivy League basketball! Every year, after the conclusion of the regular season, the Ivy League hosts its famous Ivy Madness tournament. This year the tournament was held at Columbia, just a short bus ride away from campus. Naturally, I just had to attend, sporting my finest orange attire to support our men’s and women’s basketball teams.
The energy was electric, as many dedicated fans had traveled from all over in hopes of seeing their team advance to the NCAA March Madness tournament. Our women first matched up against the UPenn Quakers in the semifinal round. Sitting in the Princeton student section at a playoff game is an experience I highly recommend to anyone who has the chance. We cheered, chanted, and rallied behind our players, making new friends throughout the day. The following day, our women’s basketball faced off against the Columbia Lions, brandishing an impressive crowd and home court advantage. Neither our fans nor our players were daunted by the opposing team’s section, and the Tigers secured a hard-fought win against the Lions, earning them the Ivy League Championship and a spot in the March Madness tournament.
Between the men and women’s games, I stopped by a local café to charge my phone and complete some work. I ended up sharing a table with a kind alumnus who had spotted my Princeton gear and initiated a conversation. We talked about life at Princeton, past and present, and I learned that he had been a member of my eating club during his time at the university. I have always loved how athletics at Princeton can bridge the gap between students and alumni, and I hope to one day return and support the Tigers after I graduate next May.
The men’s game went differently than most had anticipated. Despite playing aggressively, the Tigers concluded the first half trailing Brown 31-44. In the second half, Brown’s lead was cut to just 3 points, but our men’s team could not keep up the momentum, and we fell to Brown in the semifinals. While it was sad to have lost so early in the tournament, I am so grateful to have seen such an interesting and energetic game.
I make an effort to travel to our basketball tournament games every year, and I will definitely do so next year as a senior. These games are such special opportunities to showcase Princeton pride and befriend cheerful students and alumni. Whether we play at Harvard, Columbia, or beyond, I always enjoy supporting our wonderful athletes. Go Tigers!