Harvard Hoops '13/'14: Big Dreams

[Mugsy's Jock]

Astoundingly talented roster this year, with the return of Kyle Casey and Brandyn Curry, and prized recruits Zena Edosamwan and Hunter Myers -- added to a team that returns practically intact from an Ivy Champiosnhip and a fairly stunning upset of New Mexico in the NCAAs. So long as the kids don't get carried away on their take-home exams, it should be a great season in Allston.

I'm kicking this thread off looking to the future though -- two top-drawer recruits committed to the Crimson this week. Andre Chatfield is a 6' 5" shooting guard from Norcross, GA carrying a 4.0 GPA, captain of the Georgia AAAAAA champion, and a 3-star rating. And Harvard also got a commit from four-star prospect Chris Egi -- a Canadian prepping at Montverde Academy in Florida. Egi is a 6' 8", 215-pound center with room to grow.

Harvard's schedule remains pretty underwhelming so it'll be tough for them to land much of a seed, but anything less than a league Champiosnhip and a tourney victory this season would be very disappointing.

 

[DukeSox]

I mean, you guys are going to demolish your league schedule.  Outside of that, where are potential losses?  Great Alaska shootout probably, gotta play at UConn, but that's about it.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

Champions of the Great Alaska Shootout return home to dismiss their Beanpot pals from Northeastern and BU, though the latter took OT. I wonder if the computers look more favorably on a regulation 2-point win, or an 11-point OT runaway like Harvard got over BU this afternoon?

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

Maybe even bigger for Harvard than their own win over BU is that the one team that's beaten the Crimson so far this year, Colorado, took Kansas on a bUzzer beater today

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

Bumping this coming off a solid road win against a very decent Fordham team. My first chance to see the Crimson in person this year, and I'm encouraged.

Chambers' floor generalship remains first-rate, and he's really improved his three point shooting. I think we're not too far from anointing him the greatest player in Harvard history (beating out....James Brown?). Casey, Mondou-Missi, Okole and Saunders make an athletic and flexible set of weapons, though it'll be good to get Smith's beef back in the line-up. Rivard was uncharacteristically quiet today (just 3 or 4 shots from the floor I think, and none in the first half).

Only disappointments are Edosamwan (for all his hype, he doesn't really ever get off the bench) and Brandyn Curry who was really bad today -- poor decision-making, slow, and picked up 5 fouls with very little to show for it.

The next two games will be good measuring sticks. Continuing the recent streak over BC would be a big first step, and then hanging in a little longer at UConn than they've managed the last few years would demonstrate progress.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

BC is 4-9 and has completely unraveled. Expect a comfy 10-15 point win, at a minimum.

BigSoxFan knows whence he speaks...

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

Frustrating loss at UConn... according to my stat sheet, Harvard missed 4 grillion lay-ups and eleventy-thousand free throws -- but still lost by just 5 at Storrs.  
 
That said, there was a lot to be encouraged about.  They just about played UConn to a draw at Storrs without Saunders, who apparently ding'ed his knee in pre-game warm-ups.  Curry was game filling in for him, but clearly still has a way to go coming back from his own injury and was totally gassed even before halftime.  Moreover, the Crimson starting center, Kenyatta Smith, still hasn't returned to the line-up, but is due back soon.
 
There's no reason for Harvard to lose another game for the rest of the year, although you'd have to imagine that they'll pick up a couple of Ivy losses somewhere for some dumb reason.  They should be able to make the tournament and improve on last year's #13 seed.

 

[Plantiers Wart]

UConn alum who was at the game - Harvard should have won it.  They moved the ball better and seemed to have a plan when they attacked.  Stats were pretty evenly matched, except for UConn blocking 6 more shots.  That's why Harvard missed 4 grillion lay-ups.  Even when they didn't get the block, UConn's height altered a bunch of them.  Brimah, the clumsy raw 7 footer, had three blocks before fouling out in 15 minutes, altered a bunch more, and just his presence lurking as help in the lane had Harvard players down low kicking the ball out instead of attempting a shot.  Chambers was fantastic, and Rivard can really shoot. 
 
Good game for UConn before they get back to their mid-major conference play. 

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

Harvard escapes from Manhattan with a hard-fought 2OT win at Columbia. This Crimson team isn't turning out to be the exceptionally talented bunch slumming in the Ivies that we were expecting. Casey hasn't regained his 2012 form and is always in foul trouble, Curry's found his groove on D but isn't especially contributing on offense, Rivard's accuracy is down and he hasn't rounded his game, and Mondou-Missi and Saunders are big on effort, but not on efficiency. Chambers started the season unbelievably well, but seems a little worn down now as he almost never comes off the court

Love Amaker for the recruiting, but he's not impressing as a game coach. He won't give Chambers a rest, hasn't developed any faith in Edosamwan (or much faith in Okolie), and seems disinterested in situational substitutions. Last night, Alex Rosenberg was absolutely unstoppable for Columbia, in part because Tommy left the overmatched and undersized Rivard on him all night long.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

Sweep Penn and Princeton for the first time in 30 years.

All going to come down to game at Yale next weekend. Harvard has underperformed in New Haven the last couple of years...

 

[mabrowndog]

Sweep Penn and Princeton for the first time in 30 years.

All going to come down to game at Yale next weekend. Harvard has underperformed in New Haven the last couple of years...

 
Yale plays at Columbia tomorrow afternoon on NBCSN (1:30 pm tip). A Lions win would certainly help matters, but the Bulldogs have won 9 of their last 10 (only L was at Brown) since the 4-game losing streak (@ Providence, @ Albany, @ St. Louis, vs Vermont). It's also the midst of 4 straight road games for Yale, as they'll do the Princeton/Penn swing next.
 
And I think you're a week early on the Harvard-Yale rematch. It's March 7.

 

[mabrowndog]

For those interested, ESPNU is replaying today's Harvard-Princeton game starting right now.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

Yale plays at Columbia tomorrow afternoon on NBCSN (1:30 pm tip). A Lions win would certainly help matters, but the Bulldogs have won 9 of their last 10 (only L was at Brown) since the 4-game losing streak (@ Providence, @ Albany, @ St. Louis, vs Vermont).

Columbia's got a shot today... They play pretty well at home and took Harvard through a tough OT battle last week.

And thanks for the correction on the date for "The Game" hoops style. Crimson have Cornell and Columbia at home next weekend.

Hey -- does anybody know what's up with Edosamwan? I've seen maybe seven games and Amaker barely let's him get any run at all, including in games where he could really use a big man.....to get fouls if nothing else, feels like Tommy has no faith in him or something...

 

[thehitcat]

Huge loss for Yale today in Harlem puts Harvard alone in first.

 

[mabrowndog]

The Crimson beat Cornell in a blowout 72-47, while Princeton is pulling away from the Bulldogs 57-46 with 9 seconds left.
 
Harvard can clinch the Ivy and punch the very first ticket to the 2014 Big Dance by beating Columbia tomorrow night in Cambridge, along with a Yale loss at Penn.

 

[mabrowndog]

Another blowout for the Crimson, 80-47 over Columbia. Yale beat Penn 70-63, so Harvard has clinched at least a tie for the Ivy crown.

 

[DukeSox]

TOMMY A BABY

 

[mabrowndog]

Get your champagne ready, Crimson fans. Harvard up on Yale 20-7 with 10:25 left in New Haven.

 

[Matty005]

First team to punch their ticket to the dance.  Really hoping they can get a good seed and somehow make it to the second weekend.  
 
Shot well tonight but were horrid at the free throw line.  Hopefully they can clean that up in a couple weeks.  Harvard student section started chanting:  "Just Like Football". 
 
Also, on the women's side, congrats to head coach Kathy Delaney-Smith who picked up her 515th win tonight against Yale.  Most wins by any coach in any program in Ivy League history!

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

Just back from New Haven, with my Final Four brackets all filled out. Yeah, it looks a little lopsided, but the upset points ought to be enough to bring me home.

Congrats to Tommy A and the fellas.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

Crimson close out the season with an OT win over a crazy stubborn Brown team in Providence. Rivard had his stroke in good shape from 3, and the previous night's FT problems were fixed (Harvard went 24-29)... But allowing Brown 93 points ain't a great sign headed into the tournament.

Still, 26-4 is some pretty fine work.

 

[mabrowndog]

Crimson close out the season with an OT win over a crazy stubborn Brown team in Providence. Rivard had his stroke in good shape from 3, and the previous night's FT problems were fixed (Harvard went 24-29)... But allowing Brown 93 points ain't a great sign headed into the tournament.

Still, 26-4 is some pretty fine work.

 
I wouldn't read too much into it. Better to get the hangover game out of the way now when it doesn't really matter.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

Not exactly showing a ton of respect asking the Crimson to travel to Spokane (Harvard's formidable alumni network isn't especially deep in Eastern Washington State)...but the 12 seed is progress.

So now I need some good reasons to hate the Bearcats. Like, are they Bears or Cats? Can't make up their mind?

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

Not exactly showing a ton of respect asking the Crimson to travel to Spokane (Harvard's formidable alumni network isn't especially deep in Eastern Washington State)...but the 12 seed is progress.

So now I need some good reasons to hate the Bearcats. Like, are they Bears or Cats? Can't make up their mind?

It was SLC last year, too.
 
Is there some Mormon connection we don't know about?

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

The committee must just assume Harvard grads are rich enough to travel anywhere in the country. Mind you, I don't get why Cincinnati, Harvard, Michigan State and Delaware would all get sent to Spokane; that quartet could have easily switched places in St. Louis with New Mexico, Stanford, Kansas and Eastern Kentucky, no?
 
I suspect Harvard can beat Cincinnati on a good day, but Michigan State looms awfully large on the horizon...can't say I'm confident of reaching the Sweet 16.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

The better team won, no question about it.

If they can hit a goddamned free throw, Harvard can beat an awful lot of teams. Especially those without colossal front lines.

 

[beezer]

I'm thrilled with the win, but just like New Mexico last year, that was a great matchup with a slow-it-down team.  I'm worried Mich St will run Harvard out of the building, but winning 2 games in 2 years has been fantastic for this program.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

Man, what an effort. Not like MSU had an off night or anything... They shot and hustled and ran as advertised but Harvard showed remarkable guts. Saunders and Mondou-Missi were forces.

Next year will be fascinating -- Curry, Rivard and Casey all moving on...and quite possibly Amaker too. Saunders, Chambers and (hopefully) Kenyatta Smith ought to be enough to put them right around the top of the Ivy League, but that's a lot of slots left to fill.

So....whatever DID happen with Edosamwan? Tommy just didn't let him off the bench.

Edit: I'd be remiss if I didn't point out here, at the end of the thread, that Yale sucks. (And good luck to Columbia in the CIT)

 

[Matty005]

Amazing season.  Gonna miss watching Laurent's sweet shot.  Hope Tommy stays and keeps building.  

 

[Matty005]

Man, what an effort. Not like MSU had an off night or anything... They shot and hustled and ran as advertised but Harvard showed remarkable guts. Saunders and Mondou-Missi were forces.

Next year will be fascinating -- Curry, Rivard and Casey all moving on...and quite possibly Amaker too. Saunders, Chambers and (hopefully) Kenyatta Smith ought to be enough to put them right around the top of the Ivy League, but that's a lot of slots left to fill.

So....whatever DID happen with Edosamwan? Tommy just didn't let him off the bench.

Edit: I'd be remiss if I didn't point out here, at the end of the thread, that Yale sucks. (And good luck to Columbia in the CIT)
 

 
[SIZE=11.818181991577148px]They have a good class coming in that could make a nice impact (Chris Egi and Andre Chatfield).  Hopefully Zena can keep improving. They also have Corbin Miller coming back from his Mormon mission trip.[/SIZE]

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

http://ajerseyguy.com/?p=9918

[Credit for link-finding to RedOctober, from the BC thread]

Kind of an interesting story...
Tommy stays at Harvard, having said it's the place for him. All good.
The story goes on to say BC wanted Tommy, and while he appreciated the opportunity to stay in Boston, BC's interest wasn't single-minded enough so Tommy passed.
And finally, Wake Forest subsequently also pursued Tommy and basically offered him the job...but he declined because it would mean moving out of Boston.

So Tommy's staying at Harvard... but only until BC grovels. Or perhaps BU or Northeastern or Emerson or Lesley for that matter.

 

[DukeSox]

He won't go to BC while K is at Duke.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

I'm pleased too, Tommy. But easy on the exclamation points.

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2014/3/30/amaker-community-letter-2014/

 

[mabrowndog]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSKn8RlD7Is
 
On a serious note, that's a classy gesture by Amaker, though hardly unexpected.

 

[riboflav]

http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2014/3/6/5474320/harvard-basketball-tommy-amaker-profile-ncaa-tournament-2014
 
It's easy to see why Amaker is the man.