OneIvyOne
Junior
Posts: 201
Loc: West
Reg: 08-28-13
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11-25-15 02:28 PM - Post#195941
It looks like Bryant has shown more offense than defense coming into this game.
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H78
PhD Student
Posts: 1458
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
Reg: 01-06-11
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Re: Bryant
11-26-15 12:53 AM - Post#196035
In response to OneIvyOne
...And that offense didn't show up this evening.
Wow, are our guys finally getting untracked, or is this one a fluke? And Coach TA emptied the bench, with Patrick Steeves getting the most minutes in his 4 seasons at Harvard, going 2/3 from distance.
What's everyone's take on this game?
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CrimsonWest
Sophomore
Posts: 106
Reg: 10-17-11
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11-26-15 11:02 AM - Post#196056
In response to H78
I am usually not a numbers guy. The eye test tells me this was a very well played game. This team really needed it as well. They looked like they were playing loose but focused. McCarthy distributed the ball well and shot it well. This game also provided the opportunity to see players deeper on the bench. The team seemed to rally around Pat Steeves' success on the court. Hopefully they will build on this win and take care of Holy Cross and Northeastern. They may need that momentum going into Kansas. Nice win boys!
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OneIvyOne
Junior
Posts: 201
Loc: West
Reg: 08-28-13
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11-26-15 11:14 PM - Post#196088
In response to CrimsonWest
I though Harvard made the opponent look weaker than they really are with good defense and shooting well. Matched up well vs Bryant. See if it can continue.
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mrjames
Professor
Posts: 6062
Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
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11-27-15 10:44 PM - Post#196112
In response to OneIvyOne
About to fire up Harvard-UMass, but before I do, some thoughts on Harvard from the Bryant game.
The offense is still struggling. Yes the offensive efficiency against Bryant was strong, but if you take out the above average 3pt output and the wide open dunks from a lack of effort in transition on the part of the Bulldogs, this was still about a point per poss, which isn't anything impressive. And that's primarily because the TO Rate is still too high and the FT shooting is still plain bad.
Much of the offensive problem is that Tommy McCarthy can't run the late shot clock iso play. Harvard would be better off setting up a play for a different type of shot (double screen to spring Corey for a shot; force the ball into Z to try to get to the line or get a bucket). The high screen and roll just isn't working with TMac running the show. TMac has so many other skills - he's a good passer and a good shooter - but he just can't break down Division I defenders off the dribble. Amaker needs to accept that and build an offense around what he can do.
Defensively, this team is very strong when fresh. They get sloppy in rotation when tired - something that should be helped if Harvard can go net positive on rotation players when Chatty gets over his ankle issues and Hunter Myers can return in January. No guarantee Harvard won't lose someone else to injury to put further stress on minutes, in which case the late-game defensive breakdowns could become a theme this year.
I think Harvard's Pomeroy rating right now is pretty fair with some upside potential if they can make some FTs and stop turning the ball over. I think they will improve in both areas and still could sneak into the Top 150 at some point.
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