Adam Zielonka
@adamzielonka.bsky.social
Senior editor and writer for Field Level Media. Bylines on Substack and in your local paper. Never fly United.
Reposted by Adam Zielonka
"I just think every game comes down to four to five plays. We've been good at that lately. And again, lately being years, but not on Saturday. And I'm glad we can flush that one." Princeton's first win lessens some early concerns guardenstate.substack.com/p/princeton-...
Princeton’s first win lessens some early concerns: ‘We got to grow real fast’
Princeton's will to win was best illustrated by two sequences in the second half against Bucknell.
guardenstate.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:31 PM
"I just think every game comes down to four to five plays. We've been good at that lately. And again, lately being years, but not on Saturday. And I'm glad we can flush that one." Princeton's first win lessens some early concerns guardenstate.substack.com/p/princeton-...
"I just think every game comes down to four to five plays. We've been good at that lately. And again, lately being years, but not on Saturday. And I'm glad we can flush that one." Princeton's first win lessens some early concerns guardenstate.substack.com/p/princeton-...
Princeton’s first win lessens some early concerns: ‘We got to grow real fast’
Princeton's will to win was best illustrated by two sequences in the second half against Bucknell.
guardenstate.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:31 PM
"I just think every game comes down to four to five plays. We've been good at that lately. And again, lately being years, but not on Saturday. And I'm glad we can flush that one." Princeton's first win lessens some early concerns guardenstate.substack.com/p/princeton-...
Good stuff from our postgame talk with Mitch Henderson, Dalen and Jacob. Guarden State coming out in the morning.
FINAL: Princeton earns its first win of the year, 73-63 over Bucknell. Never trailed after Bucknell scored the first four.
Dalen Davis: Career-high-tying 25 pts
Jackson Hicke: 12 pts, 5 reb
Jacob Huggins: 11 pts, 4 ast
Two children behind me: A very long "Start the buses" chant in the final seconds
Dalen Davis: Career-high-tying 25 pts
Jackson Hicke: 12 pts, 5 reb
Jacob Huggins: 11 pts, 4 ast
Two children behind me: A very long "Start the buses" chant in the final seconds
Excellent sequence of rebounds by Princeton creates a three-point possession that also took about 50 seconds off the clock. One FT, second one missed but tipped out for an offensive rebound... then another offensive board before Dalen Davis scores a layup for a six-point lead
November 12, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Good stuff from our postgame talk with Mitch Henderson, Dalen and Jacob. Guarden State coming out in the morning.
FINAL: Princeton earns its first win of the year, 73-63 over Bucknell. Never trailed after Bucknell scored the first four.
Dalen Davis: Career-high-tying 25 pts
Jackson Hicke: 12 pts, 5 reb
Jacob Huggins: 11 pts, 4 ast
Two children behind me: A very long "Start the buses" chant in the final seconds
Dalen Davis: Career-high-tying 25 pts
Jackson Hicke: 12 pts, 5 reb
Jacob Huggins: 11 pts, 4 ast
Two children behind me: A very long "Start the buses" chant in the final seconds
Excellent sequence of rebounds by Princeton creates a three-point possession that also took about 50 seconds off the clock. One FT, second one missed but tipped out for an offensive rebound... then another offensive board before Dalen Davis scores a layup for a six-point lead
November 12, 2025 at 2:10 AM
FINAL: Princeton earns its first win of the year, 73-63 over Bucknell. Never trailed after Bucknell scored the first four.
Dalen Davis: Career-high-tying 25 pts
Jackson Hicke: 12 pts, 5 reb
Jacob Huggins: 11 pts, 4 ast
Two children behind me: A very long "Start the buses" chant in the final seconds
Dalen Davis: Career-high-tying 25 pts
Jackson Hicke: 12 pts, 5 reb
Jacob Huggins: 11 pts, 4 ast
Two children behind me: A very long "Start the buses" chant in the final seconds
New Princeton pregame hype video used parts of "Not Like Us" over a soaring instrumental. It is officially college basketball season
Game on. Follow along!
Game on. Follow along!
Princeton starters: Dalen Davis, Jack Stanton, Jackson Hicke, Malik Abdullahi, CJ Happy. Malik starts after Landon Clark did at Akron.
Bucknell starters: Williams, Spadone, McCreesh, Bijiek, Dorries. Redoing this post after Matt Lange was briefly listed among starters.
Bucknell starters: Williams, Spadone, McCreesh, Bijiek, Dorries. Redoing this post after Matt Lange was briefly listed among starters.
November 12, 2025 at 12:03 AM
New Princeton pregame hype video used parts of "Not Like Us" over a soaring instrumental. It is officially college basketball season
Game on. Follow along!
Game on. Follow along!
Princeton starters: Dalen Davis, Jack Stanton, Jackson Hicke, Malik Abdullahi, CJ Happy. Malik starts after Landon Clark did at Akron.
Bucknell starters: Williams, Spadone, McCreesh, Bijiek, Dorries. Redoing this post after Matt Lange was briefly listed among starters.
Bucknell starters: Williams, Spadone, McCreesh, Bijiek, Dorries. Redoing this post after Matt Lange was briefly listed among starters.
November 11, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Princeton starters: Dalen Davis, Jack Stanton, Jackson Hicke, Malik Abdullahi, CJ Happy. Malik starts after Landon Clark did at Akron.
Bucknell starters: Williams, Spadone, McCreesh, Bijiek, Dorries. Redoing this post after Matt Lange was briefly listed among starters.
Bucknell starters: Williams, Spadone, McCreesh, Bijiek, Dorries. Redoing this post after Matt Lange was briefly listed among starters.
Hello from Jadwin Gym for the first time in a long time.
Princeton entertains Bucknell for its home opener here at 7. Stay tuned for an in-game thread.
Princeton entertains Bucknell for its home opener here at 7. Stay tuned for an in-game thread.
November 11, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Hello from Jadwin Gym for the first time in a long time.
Princeton entertains Bucknell for its home opener here at 7. Stay tuned for an in-game thread.
Princeton entertains Bucknell for its home opener here at 7. Stay tuned for an in-game thread.
The Princeton women's basketball team is second in the "Others Receiving Votes" category in the new AP poll. Got 19 votes, two more than the preseason, after beating Georgia Tech. (Ohio State first in ORV, a good distance behind No. 25 Washington.)
November 10, 2025 at 5:04 PM
The Princeton women's basketball team is second in the "Others Receiving Votes" category in the new AP poll. Got 19 votes, two more than the preseason, after beating Georgia Tech. (Ohio State first in ORV, a good distance behind No. 25 Washington.)
Princeton's gonna win
Just switched over to the Princeton WBB game, saw this. 😬 college teams around the country must be going through similar nightmares these days.
November 9, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Princeton's gonna win
Just switched over to the Princeton WBB game, saw this. 😬 college teams around the country must be going through similar nightmares these days.
November 9, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Just switched over to the Princeton WBB game, saw this. 😬 college teams around the country must be going through similar nightmares these days.
Reposted by Adam Zielonka
New Guarden State: I've got more on Saint Peter's high-scoring win over FDU, Brent Bland's career day and everything Bashir Mason shared postgame. "Right now we got a player-led locker room and in those huddles, there’s a lot of player talk." guardenstate.substack.com/p/one-battle...
One battle after another: Saint Peter’s scores, scraps its way past FDU
Brent Bland and the Peacocks fought their way to a win coach Bashir Mason believes last year’s team would have let slip away.
guardenstate.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:11 PM
New Guarden State: I've got more on Saint Peter's high-scoring win over FDU, Brent Bland's career day and everything Bashir Mason shared postgame. "Right now we got a player-led locker room and in those huddles, there’s a lot of player talk." guardenstate.substack.com/p/one-battle...
New Guarden State: I've got more on Saint Peter's high-scoring win over FDU, Brent Bland's career day and everything Bashir Mason shared postgame. "Right now we got a player-led locker room and in those huddles, there’s a lot of player talk." guardenstate.substack.com/p/one-battle...
One battle after another: Saint Peter’s scores, scraps its way past FDU
Brent Bland and the Peacocks fought their way to a win coach Bashir Mason believes last year’s team would have let slip away.
guardenstate.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:11 PM
New Guarden State: I've got more on Saint Peter's high-scoring win over FDU, Brent Bland's career day and everything Bashir Mason shared postgame. "Right now we got a player-led locker room and in those huddles, there’s a lot of player talk." guardenstate.substack.com/p/one-battle...
Plenty of good insight from Bashir Mason after that one. Asked about Akil Watson, he said the transfer forward hopefully won't be out much longer with his injury, maybe ready Wednesday or next Saturday.
Guarden State will be out in the morning 🏀
Guarden State will be out in the morning 🏀
November 8, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Plenty of good insight from Bashir Mason after that one. Asked about Akil Watson, he said the transfer forward hopefully won't be out much longer with his injury, maybe ready Wednesday or next Saturday.
Guarden State will be out in the morning 🏀
Guarden State will be out in the morning 🏀
FINAL: Saint Peter's beats FDU 93-83 thanks to a career-high 27 points, seven rebounds and five steals from Brent Bland and a promising showing by the frontcourt. Guards TJ Robinson (16 pts, 6 a) and Bryce Eaton (13 pts, 8 a) also put in work.
TJ Robinson has hit two clutch buckets for Saint Peter's to get this lead back up to 10 for a bit.
November 8, 2025 at 9:18 PM
FINAL: Saint Peter's beats FDU 93-83 thanks to a career-high 27 points, seven rebounds and five steals from Brent Bland and a promising showing by the frontcourt. Guards TJ Robinson (16 pts, 6 a) and Bryce Eaton (13 pts, 8 a) also put in work.
Peacocks swap in Jakhi Gupton for Zaakir Williamson at the last minute.
Also looks like Akil Watson, who didn't play Monday at Seton Hall, isn't dressed.
Game on! I'll have some sporadic updates, follow along.
Also looks like Akil Watson, who didn't play Monday at Seton Hall, isn't dressed.
Game on! I'll have some sporadic updates, follow along.
Saint Peter's starters: Brent Bland, Shaedon Simpson, TJ Robinson, J'Quan Ewing, Zaakir Williamson.
Robinson (top scorer vs. Hall) and Ewing draw in for their first starts of the season.
FDU starters: Joey Niesman, Eric Parnell, David Jevtic, Taeshaud Jackson, Cyril Martynov.
Robinson (top scorer vs. Hall) and Ewing draw in for their first starts of the season.
FDU starters: Joey Niesman, Eric Parnell, David Jevtic, Taeshaud Jackson, Cyril Martynov.
November 8, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Peacocks swap in Jakhi Gupton for Zaakir Williamson at the last minute.
Also looks like Akil Watson, who didn't play Monday at Seton Hall, isn't dressed.
Game on! I'll have some sporadic updates, follow along.
Also looks like Akil Watson, who didn't play Monday at Seton Hall, isn't dressed.
Game on! I'll have some sporadic updates, follow along.
Saint Peter's starters: Brent Bland, Shaedon Simpson, TJ Robinson, J'Quan Ewing, Zaakir Williamson.
Robinson (top scorer vs. Hall) and Ewing draw in for their first starts of the season.
FDU starters: Joey Niesman, Eric Parnell, David Jevtic, Taeshaud Jackson, Cyril Martynov.
Robinson (top scorer vs. Hall) and Ewing draw in for their first starts of the season.
FDU starters: Joey Niesman, Eric Parnell, David Jevtic, Taeshaud Jackson, Cyril Martynov.
November 8, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Saint Peter's starters: Brent Bland, Shaedon Simpson, TJ Robinson, J'Quan Ewing, Zaakir Williamson.
Robinson (top scorer vs. Hall) and Ewing draw in for their first starts of the season.
FDU starters: Joey Niesman, Eric Parnell, David Jevtic, Taeshaud Jackson, Cyril Martynov.
Robinson (top scorer vs. Hall) and Ewing draw in for their first starts of the season.
FDU starters: Joey Niesman, Eric Parnell, David Jevtic, Taeshaud Jackson, Cyril Martynov.
Run baby run, don't ever look back...
Checking out another all-New Jersey affair this afternoon for Guarden State. FDU and Saint Peter's about 20 minutes away from tipoff. One team will walk out of here with its first W of the year.
Checking out another all-New Jersey affair this afternoon for Guarden State. FDU and Saint Peter's about 20 minutes away from tipoff. One team will walk out of here with its first W of the year.
November 8, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Run baby run, don't ever look back...
Checking out another all-New Jersey affair this afternoon for Guarden State. FDU and Saint Peter's about 20 minutes away from tipoff. One team will walk out of here with its first W of the year.
Checking out another all-New Jersey affair this afternoon for Guarden State. FDU and Saint Peter's about 20 minutes away from tipoff. One team will walk out of here with its first W of the year.
This weekend last year, Seton Hall lost to Fordham in that building and it was quickly evident the Pirates were in for a long season. Similar tonight. The main difference this time is they won. The other key difference: Holloway kept in his starters through tough times
My God, Seton Hall.
November 8, 2025 at 3:04 AM
This weekend last year, Seton Hall lost to Fordham in that building and it was quickly evident the Pirates were in for a long season. Similar tonight. The main difference this time is they won. The other key difference: Holloway kept in his starters through tough times
My God, Seton Hall.
November 8, 2025 at 2:15 AM
My God, Seton Hall.
I never talk about giving or charitable work, but I donated some canned and boxed food to a local charity today and I'd highly encourage anyone who can to do the same. Between the coming holiday season and what's gone on with SNAP, food insecurity will be even more keenly felt.
November 6, 2025 at 11:11 PM
I never talk about giving or charitable work, but I donated some canned and boxed food to a local charity today and I'd highly encourage anyone who can to do the same. Between the coming holiday season and what's gone on with SNAP, food insecurity will be even more keenly felt.
One game against a lower-tier opponent can only tell you so much, but Rutgers had its share of bright spots and concerns vs. Rider. Plus one takeaway from every team's opener so far, now on Guarden State: guardenstate.substack.com/p/tariq-fran...
Tariq Francis shines as Rutgers wallops Rider to tip off season
Plus: One takeaway from every team’s opener so far.
guardenstate.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:26 PM
One game against a lower-tier opponent can only tell you so much, but Rutgers had its share of bright spots and concerns vs. Rider. Plus one takeaway from every team's opener so far, now on Guarden State: guardenstate.substack.com/p/tariq-fran...
We heard from Pikiell, Francis, Davis and Grant postgame. Newsletter coming tomorrow mid-morning. Good to be back!
November 6, 2025 at 1:48 AM
We heard from Pikiell, Francis, Davis and Grant postgame. Newsletter coming tomorrow mid-morning. Good to be back!
Pikiell: "Didn't love how we played, but I like this team." Definitely wasn't a fan of their rebounding.
November 6, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Pikiell: "Didn't love how we played, but I like this team." Definitely wasn't a fan of their rebounding.
I wonder how the people who were posting crappy things about Tariq Francis' commitment in April are doing tonight.
One game vs. Rider, I know, but he not only scored 20 points and was 4-for-8 from three, he had a game-high +30 plus/minus. Drew 5 fouls. Very good player.
One game vs. Rider, I know, but he not only scored 20 points and was 4-for-8 from three, he had a game-high +30 plus/minus. Drew 5 fouls. Very good player.
November 6, 2025 at 1:25 AM
I wonder how the people who were posting crappy things about Tariq Francis' commitment in April are doing tonight.
One game vs. Rider, I know, but he not only scored 20 points and was 4-for-8 from three, he had a game-high +30 plus/minus. Drew 5 fouls. Very good player.
One game vs. Rider, I know, but he not only scored 20 points and was 4-for-8 from three, he had a game-high +30 plus/minus. Drew 5 fouls. Very good player.
FINAL: Rutgers 81, Rider 53.
Tariq Francis' 20 points led four Scarlet Knights in double figures, and they overcame a first-half shooting drought to put away a team they're supposed to beat by holding them to 27.7 FG%. Caleb Smith put up 14 pts, 10 reb to lead Rider.
Tariq Francis' 20 points led four Scarlet Knights in double figures, and they overcame a first-half shooting drought to put away a team they're supposed to beat by holding them to 27.7 FG%. Caleb Smith put up 14 pts, 10 reb to lead Rider.
U-8: Rutgers 66-38. Was a 30-point game when Davis converted a three-point play. See you postgame 👋
November 6, 2025 at 1:09 AM
FINAL: Rutgers 81, Rider 53.
Tariq Francis' 20 points led four Scarlet Knights in double figures, and they overcame a first-half shooting drought to put away a team they're supposed to beat by holding them to 27.7 FG%. Caleb Smith put up 14 pts, 10 reb to lead Rider.
Tariq Francis' 20 points led four Scarlet Knights in double figures, and they overcame a first-half shooting drought to put away a team they're supposed to beat by holding them to 27.7 FG%. Caleb Smith put up 14 pts, 10 reb to lead Rider.