Cornell’s men’s basketball game against UNC Greensboro, scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Newman Arena, has been postponed.
The Spartans could not travel out of Charlotte because of a nationwide ground stoppage, Cornell Athletics announced Friday. The programs are arranging another date and will announce it later.
The Big Red are 2-2 overall and 2-0 at home. They had been preparing to pursue a third consecutive home victory, according to Cornell Athletics’ official preview.
Home shooting offers Cornell a starting point
Cornell opened its home schedule with an 86-85 victory over Pepperdine and followed with a 99-59 win against Keuka. Across those two games, the Big Red have averaged 15.5 made 3-pointers while shooting 44% from beyond the arc and recording 22 assists per game.
That production contrasts with Wednesday’s 88-64 loss at St. Bonaventure, where the Bonnies outscored Cornell 60-28 in the paint.
Cornell has gone 49-15 at home over the past five seasons, including a 25-3 mark against nonconference opponents.
Gibson leads a deep rotation
Freshman Quinn Gibson, the reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Week, led Cornell with 11 points and six rebounds against St. Bonaventure. He has led the team in rebounding in each of its first four games.
The scoring load has been spread widely. Ten Cornell players average between 4.0 and 11.8 points, and 11 rotation players average at least nine minutes per game.
Several younger players contributed milestones Wednesday. Freshman Sage Mateo scored his first eight collegiate points, including two 3-pointers, while freshman Mikehi Williams made his first career 3. Sophomore Ryan Burbach made both of his attempts from outside and is 5-for-7 over the past two games.
The broad rotation fits coach Jon Jaques’ approach. Cornell regularly substitutes players in groups, and no Big Red player has averaged 30 minutes per game in a season since 2019-20.
Early defensive improvement accompanies familiar offense
Through four games, Cornell has held opponents to 42.2% shooting overall and 22.7% from 3-point range, with opponents making 20 of 88 attempts from outside. Last season, those figures were 47.7% and 37.2%, respectively.
The Big Red continue to build their offense around pace, spacing, passing and perimeter shooting. Cornell has ranked among Division I’s eight fastest teams in offensive pace in each of the past five seasons, while also finishing in the top 10 in assists and top 20 in scoring each year.
Last season, Cornell led the nation with 21.3 assists and 12.9 made 3-pointers per game. Its 362 3-pointers and 596 assists set school and Ivy League single-season records.
This season’s roster returns one starter and eight letter winners from a 15-13 team. Picked fifth in the Ivy League preseason media poll, Cornell is pursuing a sixth consecutive appearance in the four-team conference tournament.
Syracuse trip scheduled for Wednesday
Cornell is scheduled to visit Syracuse at the JMA Wireless Dome at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18. That game will air on ACC Network Extra.
The Big Red will try to end a 44-game losing streak against the Orange that dates to the 1968-69 season.
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