SportsLine.com Report
June 8, 2000
Conference champion
Penn.
All Penn, all the time.
The Quakers played 14 games, they won 14 games, including a pair of satisfying wins over Princeton. They did have to survive a one-point decision at Harvard and a three-point affair at Cornell early on, but take that away and the Quakes weren't seriously challenged until losing in he NCAA Tournament to Illinois.
Biggest disappointment
Many thought Dartmouth was a team capable of challenging Penn and Princeton for Ivy supremacy. Instead, the Big Green was a big bust, landing in the second division.
Biggest surprise
Picked to finish dead last by most in the ancient eight, Columbia put together a 7-7 season and finished in a third-place tie with Harvard. Better yet, the starting five is back. That doesn't mean the Lions will make a run at Princeton and Penn. But it does mean they won't be picked in the cellar next season.
Player of the year
His numbers aren't always the greatest, but his name can never be questioned. More than that, Michael Jordan has set the table for the Quakes for the last four years and will be as missed by his teammates as much as any player in the nation.
Coach of the year
Fran Dunphy did a splendid job with Penn, but Columbia's Armond Hill has the Lions in position to make some noise among the big boys.
The future
This much you can count on -- Penn and Princeton will be in the money. Columbia looks like a challenger and Harvard, too, has some returning talent. In short, the top four will be picked as the top four again next season.