College basketball typically takes a night off on Fridays to allow for a major slate of games on Saturday and Sunday. Such is not the case tonight as the college hoops world will turn its eye to the Northeast and a full schedule of Ivy League games.

While the conference season is early in the going, all four Ivy League games on Friday (and four more on Saturday) will either tighten the overall race to see which team gets into the NCAA Tournament or the results will further separate the “haves” from the “have nots” in the nation’s most prestigious academic conference.

Here is a rundown of all four Friday games (plus a look ahead to the Saturday slate) along with players to watch in each contest.

Friday January 30

Harvard (11-5, 1-1) at Princeton (8-9, 1-0): 6pm

The Crimson started the season ranked in the top 25 but Tommy Amaker’s team has failed to live up to those expectations. Despite its 11-5 overall record, Harvard has already lost to conference foe Dartmouth and faces a must win game against the Tigers to avoid slipping to a losing record in the standings. Look for Senior guard Wesley Saunders (15.6 ppg) to carry the Crimson against Princeton.

Meanwhile, the Tigers are looking to build on their initial conference victory over Penn, and a win over Harvard would do much to bolster their confidence going forward. Leading scorers Spencer Weisz and Hans Brase combine for over 25 points per game and provide a quality inside-outside attack for the Tigers.

Harvard opens as the early favorite in a game that features two of the more successful programs in the League.

Brown (9-10, 0-2) at Cornell (9-9, 1-1): 7pm

Both teams enter this contest looking for a much-needed win in Ivy League play. The Brown Bears have started with two straight losses - both to conference leader Yale - and another defeat would render them a non-factor going forward. The Bears hope that forward Leland King (15 points and 8 rebounds per game) can get them over the hump and back into contention.

Cornell is led by Senior Shonn Miller, whose 17 points and 8 boards per game will be pivotal in keeping the Big Red in the Ivy League hunt. Cornell split with Columbia over the last two weeks and a win over the Bears will keep them near the top of the standings.

Dartmouth (8-8, 1-1) at Penn (5-10, 0-1): 7pm

The Big Green scored big by splitting with conference favorite Harvard and look to stay near the top of the League as the travel to Philadelphia to play Penn in the famous Palestra. Dartmouth is led by Junior guard Alex Mitola who scores at just over 14 points per game, and the team will rely on a defense that gives up only 60 points per game.

Penn comes into the game with the worst overall record in the Ivy League and a loss to Princeton in its only conference game so far. The Quakers are riding somewhat high after beating St. Joe’s at home last Saturday. To stay in contention Penn will have to get a strong effort from guard Tony Hicks (14 ppg) and a defense that gives up nearly 70 points per contest.

Yale (13-6, 2-0) at Columbia (9-7, 1-1): 8pm

The Bulldogs can score (70 points per game) and defend (62 ppg) and that combination has allowed them to sit alone atop the conference standings. Yale relies on Javier Duren and Justin Sears to pace a balanced offense. The duo combines for almost 28 points a game and leads a balanced lineup that goes nine players deep - 7 of which average at least 5.4 points per game. A win over the Lions will go a long way towards solidifying a lead in the standings and puts them towards their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1962.

Columbia will try and stop the Bulldogs with German guard Maodo Lo who puts in nearly 16 points per game. The Lions will hope to unleash a defense that ranks 19th in the nation for points allowed (58.4) while searching for a more potent offensive attack that has racked up only 62 points per game.

A Columbia win at home - providing Harvard and Dartmouth also prevail - would result in a log-jam at the top of the Ivy League between four teams.

Saturday January 31

Yale at Cornell: 6pm

Dartmouth at Princeton: 6pm

Brown at Columbia: 7pm

Harvard at Penn: 7pm

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