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HARVARDDADGRAD Postdoc Posts 2697 |
02-25-24 06:10 PM - Post#363989
The season comes down to Friday night in Providence. Brown has been inconsistent, but currently riding wins at Columbia and Cornell. When Brown won 74-72 at Lavietes, Ajogbor was playing his first game back and only played 11 minutes and Tyler Simon wasn’t in the rotation (2 minutes). Perhaps most importantly, Harvard shot 3-19 from 3 and missed 10 FT’s. The minimal contribution from Ajogbor meant mismatches leading to 8 shots blocked by Brown. This will be an intense Ivy contest. Given that both Harvard and Brown finish with Yale & Dartmouth, albeit Brown is at home and Harvard on the road, this game could well be determinative. With Brown’s frontcourt, getting Batties & Pigge back would be useful. |
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HARVARDDADGRAD Postdoc Posts 2697 |
03-01-24 03:41 PM - Post#364203
Excited for tonight's game. There will still be two games left for each team following tonight, but the equation is likely relatively simple - win to be in the tournament. Of course, a Harvard loss at Dartmouth on Tuesday (yes, Tuesday!) or a Brown win vs Yale next weekend could still elevate Brown even if Harvard prevails tonight. I missed the initial contest, in which Brown, after leading 41-24 at the half, was outscored 48-33 in the second half, barely holding on for a two point victory at Lavietes. I've heard others describe that first half as Harvard's worst half of the season, and from looking at our shooting, that could be true: 1-9 on 3's 5-11 FT's 9-25 FG's Seems Harvard jumped out to a 7-0 lead, only to fall behind 14-31. That's a 31 to 7 run for Brown. Brown outscored Harvard 12-1 that half on points off turnovers, which is remarkable in that Harvard only registered 9 TO's for the game. It should be noted that this was Ajogbor's first game back, meaning his hand was still wrapped and he was still to be rusty for some time thereafter. He only played 11 minutes,scoring 5 points with two rebounds. Brown's frontcourt of Nana and Anya were very efficient, scoring 27 points on 11 of 16 shooting. Harvard was also outrebounded 38-33, something that was a problem during Ajogbor's absence. I'm hoping that the frontcourt of Ajogbor and Okpara (20 points in the first game) can turn that frontcourt matchup around, enough so to bring home a victory. Harvard's bench only scored 6 points the first game - meaning no one but the starters and Ajogbor made shots - but Pigge (5 pts) and Batties (15 pts) each played 30 minutes. Are they ready to go tonight? If not, then a healthy Ajogbor will be offset somewhat by the absence of Batties. Tyler Simon (2 minutes/0 points), would have to replace Pigge (5 points). I guess we won't know until game time what we have. Of course, Brown heavily relies on leading scorer Kino Lilly who made 4 3's and scored 19 points in the early game. Certainly, Mack will be asked to contain Lilly, as there is no hope to shut him down. I understand that Kimo Ferrari has heated up, especially from long range. He only made a single basket (a trey) in 21 minutes in the opener, but has emerged of late, scoring in double figures in 4 of his last 5 contests based on at least 3 treys in each. If he goes off for the 6 of 9 three's like he did at Columbia last weekend (9 of 14 on the weekend), we're in trouble. I guess my take is similar to last game against Penn, if Harvard's frontcourt can successfully defend and avoid having to double team Brown's bigs, the defensive minded backcourt (e.g., Simon) can hopefully keep Lilly and Ferrari from enjoying open looks from long range. Also, our limited offense really needs Lesmond to contribute more than the 1-7 he shot the first time around, something that will hopefully happen. Despite my opposition to the tournament, I guess I'm glad we have a reason to care about tonight's contest between these two inconsitent 5-6 teams. It looks like the final tournament spot will require at least a 7-7 final record. |
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84grad Junior Posts 277 |
03-01-24 07:21 PM - Post#364214
No Batties. Pigge dressed. Warming up. |
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mobrien Masters Student Posts 402 |
03-01-24 07:28 PM - Post#364215
We need to rebound tonight, and have Mack and Lesmond make their threes. I’d like to see more Mack-Ajogbor screen rolls with Lesmond and Simon on the weak side; that’s probably the best spacing we could get (maybe enough to get Ajogbor a couple of easy dunks). Have to match what I imagine will be a lot of energy from Brown the first 5 minutes. |
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84grad Junior Posts 277 |
03-01-24 07:39 PM - Post#364216
Brown student section revved up. |
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HARVARDDADGRAD Postdoc Posts 2697 |
03-01-24 07:57 PM - Post#364218
Thanks for the update 84. Need all the healthy bodies we can get. Including Senior Day at Dartmouth and our possible finale moved to Tuesday so as not to interfere with exams! Ivy League Basketball! Hoping for a good win! |
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HARVARDDADGRAD Postdoc Posts 2697 |
03-01-24 08:08 PM - Post#364220
Announcers say no Pigge |
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mobrien Masters Student Posts 402 |
03-01-24 08:11 PM - Post#364221
Both teams look a little tight. Sloppy offensive possessions so far. |
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HARVARDDADGRAD Postdoc Posts 2697 |
03-01-24 08:14 PM - Post#364222
Pigge is in |
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HARVARDDADGRAD Postdoc Posts 2697 |
03-01-24 08:19 PM - Post#364223
Absolutely no Harvard offense. Brown good on defense and fouls not being called tonight. Crimson with 7 TO’s in first 8 minutes. |
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CrimsonBlood Freshman Posts 46 |
03-01-24 08:20 PM - Post#364224
Yes- incredibly sloppy play. Mack has made some really poor decisions so far. Brown is going to swarm Mack and make other players step up. Mack is going to have to facilitate and trust his teammates. |
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CrimsonBlood Freshman Posts 46 |
03-01-24 08:33 PM - Post#364227
There are really no positives at this point. The worst I've seen us play in a half thus far. We have 8 points deep in first half. Everyone on the Crimson is turning it over. Okpara missing layups. Ajogbor getting outrebounded on the defensive glass. Amaker needs to get into these guys. You can't come out this flat in a must win game. We need a spark. |
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84grad Junior Posts 277 |
03-01-24 08:56 PM - Post#364228
Rough night for Okpara. Outrebounded 20-9. 11 Brown offensive rebounds. |
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HARVARDDADGRAD Postdoc Posts 2697 |
03-01-24 08:57 PM - Post#364229
Mack hits two 3’s, but that can’t be 32% of our offense |
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CrimsonBlood Freshman Posts 46 |
03-01-24 09:27 PM - Post#364231
Our shooting and turnover woes are well known and documented. But even beyond that, seems like we are missing some senior leadership. I want to see some greater intensity, hard fouls, some tenacity. If you are going to lose, at least show some intensity. This is just super sloppy play so far and such a demoralizing effort in a must win game. Some of this is coaching too. Get in your players' faces and crank up the intensity and focus. This is an embarrassing showing for Harvard thus far. |
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CrimsonBlood Freshman Posts 46 |
03-01-24 09:32 PM - Post#364232
Nesbitt with the three and cuts the deficit to a dozen. It's remarkable the game is still this close. I like throwing Nesbitt in there though. We need some more spacing and offense and maybe he can give us a spark. |
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CrimsonBlood Freshman Posts 46 |
03-01-24 10:02 PM - Post#364233
WTH was that last play? Why did we not give the ball to Mack running at the rim?? Simon literally calling for a pick taking his time. I don't understand any of that. Hopefully it doesn't cost us as this has required everything to mount a furious comeback. Overtime here we go. |
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whitakk Masters Student Posts 523 |
03-01-24 10:05 PM - Post#364235
I guess that's why Amaker always lets his players freelance for the last shot instead of calling timeout lol. (Martin called the one that let Harvard "draw up" that play) |
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CrimsonBlood Freshman Posts 46 |
03-01-24 10:18 PM - Post#364236
narrator: and it would cost them. Such a disappointing loss. |
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HARVARDDADGRAD Postdoc Posts 2697 |
03-01-24 10:52 PM - Post#364238
Amazing comeback. Inexplicable late game strategy. To Amaker’s credit, he must have instructed his guys to foul the Brown player who was 1-7 on the year shooting FT’s. But he sank both. Why is Agogbor guarding Brown’s 3 point shooters, twice, on crucial possessions? Nice comeback guys. |
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Bruno PhD Student Posts 1422 |
03-02-24 10:08 AM - Post#364264
There were a number of times Harvard had bigs out on the perimeter on defense and I thought that length disrupted Brown.
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HARVARDDADGRAD Postdoc Posts 2697 |
03-02-24 11:42 AM - Post#364271
Until it didn’t. Might have facilitated Browns amazing first half offensive rebounding as well. |
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Old Bear Postdoc Posts 4004 |
03-02-24 11:56 AM - Post#364273
Lesmond did a pretty good job of defending Lilly until the last 5 seconds. |
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Bruno PhD Student Posts 1422 |
03-02-24 12:27 PM - Post#364276
Held Brown’s top two scorers to 10-34 shooting. If you’d told me that I wouldn’t have believed it would even make it to overtime, much less winning it.
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HARVARDDADGRAD Postdoc Posts 2697 |
03-02-24 12:40 PM - Post#364278
Lesmond’s a tall guard (6’6”) But bringing Ajogbor and Okpara out on the perimeter opened up the lane (e.g., Lily’s end of first half drive) and Brown’s remarkable offensive rebounding in the first half. I guess the foreshadowing was on Brown’s first possession. Ajogbor rejected Lily’s 3 on the perimeter, but Lily chased down the rejection, stepped even further back, and barely beat the 30 second clock with a rainbow over Ajogbor for Brown’s first basket of the game. A precursor of the games ending(s). Definitely a few games in one: A rock fight: First 4:45 minutes: Harvard 4 - Brown 3 Brown dominance: Middle 25 minutes: Brown 47 - 29 A stirring Harvard Comeback (final 11 minutes) Harvard 28-8 Lily clutch closing 3 to tie at 61 Harvard up in OT: score 64-61 Brown 7-2 run to lead 71-66 Final: Brown: 71-68 Amazing how performances in both games between these teams were so uneven: First Game; 1H: Brown 41-24 2H: Harvard 48-33 That’s Ivy Basketball I guess. |
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Bruno PhD Student Posts 1422 |
03-02-24 01:14 PM - Post#364280
The psychology and strategy of playing with a big lead is fascinating to me. Lots of theories why leads get blown in college (and NBA basketball). My own (largely baseless) hypothesis is that teams start to work the clock, meaning they’re not starting their offensive set until half the shot clock has gone by, which limits the quality of their shots and the change in pace from slow to fast further reduces their effectiveness. And then when the other team gets it back they’ll be even more aggressive than normal, and crashing for offensive rebounds. So you end the game with the losing team taking 20 pct (?) more shots down the stretch and over a long enough stretch that will catch up. It’s just math. But what do I know.
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