Ivy League Showdown: Can Princeton Break Yale’s Dominance, or Will the Bulldogs Bite Again?
The battle for Ivy League supremacy intensifies as the No. 1 seed Yale Bulldogs (20-7) square off against the No. 4 seed Princeton Tigers (19-10) in the 2025 Ivy League Tournament semifinals this Saturday. A classic rivalry reignites, but with two Yale victories over Princeton this season, the Tigers are out for redemption.
The Stakes Are High—Who Moves On?
Both teams closed their regular seasons on a high note. Yale outmuscled Brown 70-61, while Princeton demolished Pennsylvania 95-71. But past wins mean nothing now—only one team will advance to face the winner of Cornell vs. Dartmouth in Sunday’s championship showdown.
Yale’s Power Players
- John Poulakidas (G): The Bulldogs’ offensive engine, averaging 19.3 PPG and shooting 40% from deep. He just dropped 27 points on Brown—can Princeton stop him?
- Nick Townsend (F): A double-double machine, averaging 15.4 points and 7.1 rebounds. His paint presence could spell trouble for Princeton.
Princeton’s X-Factors
- Xaivian Lee (G): The Tigers’ all-around superstar, posting 17 PPG, 5.4 APG, and 1.2 SPG. He’s coming off a monstrous triple-double—can he carry Princeton past their rivals?
- Caden Pierce (F): A force inside, averaging 11.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. He’s hit double figures in three straight games—a momentum builder.
The Odds & Predictions
- Spread: Yale -7.5
- Over/Under: 146.5
- Moneyline: Yale -345 | Princeton +273
Vegas favors Yale, but March Madness thrives on upsets. Will the Bulldogs continue their dominance, or will Princeton flip the script?
🔥 Tipoff: 11 a.m. ET | Paul Bailey Pizzitola Sports Center
📺 Streaming: FuboTV (Free Trial Available!)
