Yale didn't exactly have a stellar non-conference season at 5-9.
But after two contests with Brown, the Bulldogs boast a five-game win streak and their first 2-0 Ivy start since 2001-2002.
Two tight wins over last year's Ancient Eight runner-up are impressive. Now, the questions for the Bulldogs are road wins and points.
In ten non-conference road games this year, Yale managed just two victories. The next two weekends feature four road contests for the Bulldogs, an immediate test of their ability to win outside of New Haven, Conn.
Whether home or away, the Bulldogs are managing just 64 points per game.
After graduating the program's No. 2 all-time three-point shooter, Eric Flato, the Bulldogs are shooting an abysmal 29 percent from behind the arc.
"We're not a great scoring team," coach James Jones said. "We're not going to go out and score 90 points a game."
The bright spot so far has been defense. On their latest stretch of five wins, the Bulldogs are giving up fewer than 59 points per game.
In addition, they've racked up 7.4 steals per contest, and have outrebounded opponents by a 0.9 average margin.
"Our defense has carried us all year and given us the opportunity to be in a lot of games," associate coach Curtis Wilson added.
One personnel surprise has been the resurgence of senior guard Chris Andrews, who played just two games combined during his sophomore and junior years while battling a knee injury.
Andrews is now contributing on a regular basis with three starts to his credit.
Fellow seniors Ross Morin and Travis Pinick are about all the size Yale has. But the 6-foot-7 forwards are averaging a respectable 24 points per game combined.
Jones has confidence in the experience of his crew heading into conference play featuring teams with "less athleticism" than his Bulldogs saw the first half of the season.
"In terms of carrying us, you always want to go with your seniors," Jones said. "Those are the guys you expect to come out and lead you."
