Judson Wallace wants to be playing in March, and he's willing to do just about anything.
"That's my goal -- getting to the tournament," the Princeton junior center said.
So it's no surprise that the Atlanta native was willing to spend this past summer preparing for an Ivy title run, undergoing one of the most grueling training regiments in the nation.
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"Working out with those guys, you're kind of in awe," Wallace said. "They're the best at what they do. If they're working this hard and you want to be the best, you'll have to work just as hard or harder."
To the Tigers' center, the experience proved invaluable, adding "speed and explosion" to his game.
"The summer time is the most important time of year for me, just because I've always had trouble gaining weight," Wallace said. "Strength is a big thing for me. I needed somebody to max the intensity that I bring."
Wallace's summertime workouts seem to be paying off this season, as the junior leads the team with 12.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. He started the season as one of the nation's leading scorers, dropping 26 against Fresno State, 28 points against Colgate and a career-high 31 against Holy Cross.
Lately, however, the center's numbers have declined as defenses place more attention on Princeton's inside game.
"I haven't been playing well recently," Wallace said. "I think that everyone goes through a type of rollercoaster. I started the season off pretty well. Hopefully I can get back into a groove."
In Princeton's vaunted offense, the center position is the most important component, setting screens and distributing the ball while also taking open shots.
"All that I've read about it and all that I've studied about it and all that I've watched about it, he's the critical piece to running their offense," Penn coach Fran Dunphy said.
Last year's All-Ivy honorable mention has executed the complicated offensive system with precision this season, hitting clutch three-pointers and making timely assists.
And luckily for Wallace, the Tigers have another big man who can share the load in junior Mike Stephens. While Stephens backs up Wallace, the two often play side-by-side, with Wallace at power forward and Stephens at center.
"I guess it doubles your trouble," Dunphy said of the two-headed monster.
Despite Wallace's success in the Ivy League, the center was passed over by many Ancient Eight programs, including Penn. The Quakers had already recruited three big men that year, Jan Fikiel, Conor Tolan and Nameir Majette.
However, the center was looked at by many schools in the South, such as UNC-Wilmington. Major programs like Georgia, Georgia Tech, Memphis and Louisville also expressed interest in Wallace redshirting.
After weighing his options, and with a little help from his relatives, Wallace ultimately settled on the New Jersey school.
"An Ivy League education was important for me and my family," he said. "My mom was probably Princeton's best recruiter."
One Penn player, junior guard Pat Lang, is not surprised by Wallace's success in the Ancient Eight.
The two Peach State natives were rivals in middle school basketball and have since become friends.
"He's a serious kid but also a very funny kid," Lang said. "He knows when to turn it on, when to turn it off. I always have a good time when I'm around him."
