 The 2011 – 12 Ivy League men 's basketball season marked the continuation of the annual tradition of competitive basketball among Ivy League members that began when the league was formed during the 1956 – 57 season , continuing from the predecessor Eastern Intercollegiate Basketball League , which was formed in 1902 . Harvard was the preseason favorite for the first time and spent most of the season receiving vote in the 2011 – 12 national rankings . The season marked the first time that four Ivy League teams ( Harvard , Penn , Princeton and Yale ) participated in the postseason . The season marked the second time that the Ivy League had three 20 @-@ win teams ( Harvard , Penn and Princeton ) . 
