The Cornell Big Red and Pennsylvania Quakers are set to face off at The Palestra, with the home team looking to capitalize on their 4-4 Ivy League record and improve their NET ranking of 178. Cornell, meanwhile, aims to build on their recent 3-2 stretch, which has seen them climb to a NET rank of 155. With both teams sporting identical 11-10 overall records, this matchup could have real consequences for their quad records, as they both seek to bolster their Q1 and Q2 win totals, currently standing at 0-2 Q1 and 0-2 Q2 for Cornell, and 0-1 Q1 and 0-3 Q2 for Pennsylvania.
Cornell Big Red's 3-Point Shooting Could be the X-Factor
The Cornell Big Red at Pennsylvania Quakers game is scheduled for February 14, 2026, at 7:00 PM ET, and will take place at the historic Palestra in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Fans can catch the action on various streaming platforms, with the exact channel and streaming information to be announced closer to the game date.
The Cornell Big Red have been on a tear lately, winning 3 of their last 5 games, including a thrilling 82-75 victory over Brown. Led by their high-powered offense, which averages 75.6 points per game, Cornell has been able to overcome their defensive struggles, allowing 73.4 points per contest. With a NET rank of 155 and a quad record of 0-2 Q1, 0-2 Q2, 2-3 Q3, and 7-3 Q4, the Big Red are in desperate need of quality wins to boost their tournament resume. Their recent form, which includes a 3-2 record over their last 5 games, suggests they may be peaking at the right time, with an average margin of +2.8 points per game during this stretch.
Key Matchups
The Pennsylvania Quakers, on the other hand, have struggled to find consistency, losing 3 of their last 5 games, including a heartbreaking 78-76 defeat to Harvard. Despite their recent slump, Pennsylvania boasts a potent offense, averaging 74.5 points per game, while their defense has allowed 72.1 points per contest. With a NET rank of 178 and a quad record of 0-1 Q1, 0-3 Q2, 3-5 Q3, and 7-1 Q4, the Quakers are in a similar situation to Cornell, needing quality wins to bolster their tournament hopes. Their conference record of 4-4, which includes a 2-2 mark at home, will be put to the test against the visiting Big Red.
The matchup between Cornell and Pennsylvania will be a clash of styles, with the Big Red's fast-paced offense, which averages 72.5 possessions per game, facing off against the Quakers' more methodical approach, which averages 68.2 possessions per contest. Cornell's offense, which shoots 46.2% from the field and 37.5% from three, want to exploit Pennsylvania's defense, which allows 44.5% shooting from the field and 35.1% from beyond the arc. On the other hand, the Quakers' offense, which averages 14.5 assists per game, will aim to move the ball effectively against Cornell's defense, which allows 13.4 assists per contest. The tempo of the game matters, as Cornell's offense thrives in transition, scoring 1.12 points per possession in transition, while Pennsylvania's defense allows 1.05 points per possession in transition.
CHD Scout Prediction
Cornell
82
Pennsylvania
82
For Cornell, guard Greg Dolan has been on fire, averaging 18.5 points per game over his last 5 contests, including a 25-point outburst against Brown. Meanwhile, forward Keller Boothby has been a force on the glass, grabbing 7.8 rebounds per game over his last 5 outings. For Pennsylvania, guard Jordan Dingle has been the team's top scorer, averaging 17.2 points per game, including a 28-point performance against Harvard. Forward Max Martz has been a consistent contributor, averaging 12.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game over his last 5 contests.
Tournament Stakes
The CHD Scout prediction has Pennsylvania winning a tightly contested matchup, 82-82, with a margin of 0.9 points and a 53.1% win probability for the Quakers. This prediction suggests that the game will be a back-and-forth affair, with both teams having opportunities to take control. The favored team, Pennsylvania, want to capitalize on their home-court advantage, while Cornell will aim to use their recent momentum to pull off the upset.
This game has real consequences for both teams' tournament resumes, as they both seek to bolster their quad records and improve their NET rankings. A win for either team would be considered a Quad 3 victory, which could help to offset their lack of Q1 and Q2 wins. For Cornell, a win would improve their quad record to 1-2 Q1, 0-2 Q2, 3-3 Q3, and 7-3 Q4, while a loss would drop them to 0-2 Q1, 0-2 Q2, 2-4 Q3, and 7-3 Q4. For Pennsylvania, a win would improve their quad record to 0-1 Q1, 0-3 Q2, 4-5 Q3, and 7-1 Q4, while a loss would drop them to 0-1 Q1, 0-3 Q2, 3-6 Q3, and 7-1 Q4.