NEW HAVEN, Conn. –
In unprecedented times, Yale University Athletics is rallying together as One Bulldog Nation. While the health and safety of everyone must be at the forefront of every decision, Yale Athletics celebrates the outstanding accomplishments that our winter postseason-qualifying teams and spring programs have made this season. Today we begin honoring the outstanding senior classes of our teams that had their seasons cut short. Next up is men's basketball.
The Yale men's basketball program is in the midst of the most successful era in its long history. The Class of 2020 –
Jordan Bruner, Eric Monroe and
Austin Williams – certainly has played a large role. In the last four years, Yale has won 79 games, posted a remarkable 39-17 Ivy League record, won back-to-back Ivy League championships and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two years.
"As I think about our three seniors - Austin, Jordan and Eric - one word comes to mind, unselfish," said
James Jones, The Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach of the Bulldogs. "To be really special in team sports, it takes great sacrifice. Our three leaders were nothing short of brilliant, but above all they gave up much of themselves so that our team would excel."
Bruner, of Columbia, South Carolina, earned first team All-Ivy recognition this year after leading the Ivy League in rebounding (9.2 rpg.), finishing fourth in assists (3.8 per game) and third in blocked shots (1.7 per game). In his career, he appeared in 83 games, scored more than 800 points and grabbed nearly 650 rebounds. In addition, he is fourth all-time at Yale with 149 career blocked shots. Earlier this season he became the first Bulldog and at the time just the third Ivy Leaguer to record a triple-double when he had 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a victory at Cornell.
Monroe, from San Diego, California, led the Ivy League in three-point field goal percentage (.440) and assist/turnover ratio (2.1) and was third with 129 assists. He started all 30 games at point guard and had a key role in two of the biggest plays of the season - a drive and assist on the game-winning basket in double overtime at Cornell and a block of an AJ Brodeur layup in the stunning comeback win over Penn. Monroe was a regular in the Yale rotation in each of his four seasons, appearing in 107 games.
Williams, from Jacksonville, Florida, appeared in 51 games over the last four years and shot better than 50 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free throw line. As a senior, he shot 93 percent from the foul line and played important minutes in wins over Stony Brook, Vermont and Columbia. He made his first career start in his final home game and scored the first basket of the game as the Bulldogs went on to beat Princeton. In his junior season, he appeared in 17 games off the bench and shot 72 percent from the field.
