Opposing teams just don’t have to worry about Dartmouth. Friday games versus the Big Green are just foreplay to Saturday night against Harvard. I expect Princeton will be ready for the Crimson tomorrow.

Pick: Princeton 70, Dartmouth 57

YALE (14-12, 7-5 Ivy) at COLUMBIA (14-12, 5-7 Ivy)

With two games left, it’s time to kick off the Ivy League Player of the Year discussion. It has to start with Bulldogs big man Greg Mangano, right? He’s arguably the best scorer in the conference and definitely the best rebounder and shot blocker. While the Bulldogs won’t finish in the top tier of the league, I don’t think a single player has done more for his team.

A strong finish to the season would do wonders for his candidacy. I think Yale continues its winning streak over Columbia in New York.

Pick: Yale 70, Columbia 68

BROWN (11-15, 4-8 Ivy) at CORNELL (8-18, 4-8 Ivy)

Brown had Harvard on the ropes last weekend until sophomore Andrew McCarthy missed a wide-open layup that would have tied the game with just over three minutes left. Had the end of that contest played out differently, the Bears would be riding the longest winning streak in the league.

I like the way this team is coming together. Tucker Halpern, Sean McGonagill, and company should be able to climb up the Ivy ranks next year, with the squads ahead of them losing seniors from their core. In the meantime, I see Brown picking up its second conference road win.

Pick: Brown 76, Cornell 75

PENN at DARTMOUTH

Aside from Princeton-Harvard, none of the Saturday games will even register on the college basketball Richter scale. If the Quakers beat Dartmouth and nobody is paying any attention, does it still count?

Pick: Penn 69, Dartmouth 58

BROWN at COLUMBIA

By tonight, Columbia will have played the top four teams in the league in succession. Brutal. The Lions are another team that will be on the rise next year, so this Columbia-Brown matchup will be a lot more interesting in 12 months. Tomorrow’s game, however, will be merely a footnote in the 2010-11 Ivy season. I like the Lions at home.