Non-conference play began on November 12, 2010.[2] The first conference game took place on January 8, 2011.[3] Although no Ivy League teams appeared in the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings, for a few weeks during the season Harvard received a vote in the AP Poll.[4][5][6] When Harvard earned its 20th win on February 19, against Columbia,[7] it marked the eighth time that two Ivy League teams totalled 20 wins.[8] On March 7, Harvard received a vote in both the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll.[9] Then, in the final regular season poll on March 13, Princeton received 3 points in the Coaches' Poll.[10]
Prior to the game both teams received championship trophies.[19] Princeton prevailed in the playoff with a final score of 63–62, on a last-second jump shot from Douglas Davis. This earned them the conference's automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament for being the regular season champion.[19][20] The 2011 one-game playoff was the eighth in Ivy League history. Princeton appeared for the eighth time, and have won at least a share of twenty-six league titles.[14][21]
Entering selection Sunday (March 13), Harvard ranked 35th in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) and Princeton ranked 40th.[22] Princeton was a #13 Seed in the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, while Harvard was not selected, denying the Crimson its first tournament appearance since 1946.[23] Harvard's wins against major-conference opponents Colorado and Boston College were not enough to secure it an at-large bid (both Colorado and Boston College were left out of the NCAA tournament and received one-seeds in the NIT tournament.)[24] As a regular season champion not invited to the NCAA tournament, Harvard earned an at-large selection for the 2011 National Invitation Tournament, where it was seeded #6.[25] On March 15, Harvard was defeated by Oklahoma State by a 71–54 margin in the first round.[26] It was the school's first appearance in the National Invitation Tournament.[27] Princeton lost its opening game against the fourth-seeded and eventual national semifinalist Kentucky Wildcats by a 59–57 margin on a last second layup.[28][29]
Honors
In season
Each week the Ivy League selects a player of the week and a rookie of the week.[30]
The league selected its postseason awards on March 9.[31] Player of the Year: Keith Wright, Harvard (Jr., F, Suffolk, VA) Defensive Player of the Year: Kareem Maddox, Princeton (Sr., F, Oak Park, CA) Rookie of the Year: Sean McGonagill, Brown (Fr., G, Brookfield, IL) All-Ivy League (ALL CAPS: Unanimous)
First Team All-Ivy: Noruwa Agho, Columbia (Jr., G, New City, NY); KEITH WRIGHT, Harvard (Jr., F, Suffolk, VA); Zack Rosen, Penn (Jr., G, Colonia, NJ); KAREEM MADDOX, Princeton (Sr., F, Oak Park, CA); GREG MANGANO, Yale (Jr., C, Orange, CT)
Honorable Mention: Tucker Halpern, Brown (So., F, Brookline, MA); Brian Barbour, Columbia (So., G, Alamo, CA); Christian Webster, Harvard (So., G, Washington, DC); Jack Eggleston, Penn (Sr., F, Noblesville, IN)