Local Observer
Junior
Posts: 231
Reg: 03-30-14
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12-23-15 08:58 PM - Post#197894
5 players in double figures. Auburn tied down defensively, shooting only a little over 30% from the field. So Harvard will be a finalist!
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penn nation
Professor
Posts: 21193
Reg: 12-02-04
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Re: Harvard 69, Auburn 51
12-23-15 09:57 PM - Post#197897
In response to Local Observer
Anytime the SEC loses in anything, it's a good thing. Mazel Tov.
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SRP
Postdoc
Posts: 4911
Reg: 02-04-06
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12-23-15 10:38 PM - Post#197900
In response to penn nation
Hope they win this tourney and then the youngsters become overconfident going into Ivy play. That would be the best of both worlds.
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SomeGuy
Professor
Posts: 6413
Reg: 11-22-04
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Re: Harvard 69, Auburn 51
12-24-15 12:21 AM - Post#197912
In response to Local Observer
Scary for the rest of the league, besides the result itself, is the fact that they did it with McCarthy playing poorly and for only 19 minutes. It seemed to me that McCarthy coming on fast was the key to the season for Harvard. If they can win even without that, we're in trouble.
Is it just me, or has Harvard's play taken a big step forward since Steeves leapt into the rotation? Seems like he's helping a lot on offense. Kind of remarkable -- he seemed so deeply buried his first 3 years.
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CrimsonWest
Sophomore
Posts: 106
Reg: 10-17-11
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Re: Harvard 69, Auburn 51
12-24-15 01:50 AM - Post#197914
In response to SomeGuy
There has been a big step forward since his emergence. He was never buried in the lineup, but unable to play due to injuries. He lit up Crimson Madness his freshmen year and has not played until this year. Constant recurring injuries, knee, but it is great to see him on the court.
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H78
PhD Student
Posts: 1458
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
Reg: 01-06-11
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Re: Harvard 69, Auburn 51
12-24-15 05:29 AM - Post#197915
In response to CrimsonWest
After that Crimson Madness a few years back, I remember how he said he wanted to follow in Laurent Rivard's footsteps. After a few years, it's finally (and amazingly) appearing that Steeves may perhaps fulfill that hopeful promise.
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digamma
Masters Student
Posts: 468
Loc: Minneapolis
Reg: 11-27-11
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12-24-15 08:16 AM - Post#197917
In response to H78
I assume if he stays healthy, Steeves will have a shot to join the Ivy traveling transfer all stars next year?
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2691
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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Harvard 69, Auburn 51
12-25-15 12:18 PM - Post#197933
In response to digamma
Remarkable run. Amazing job by Coach Amaker and his staff to bring this team so far so quickly. Remember, Harvard's SOS is 26th in the nation, moves higher after tonight's game (Oklahoma is #2) and Harvard will have played 3 of the current top 10 ranked teams.
Other than Yale (SOS 76) and Cornell (128), the other five Ivies have played easy schedules (293 to 335).
If Zena is averaging a double/double against some of the toughest teams in the nation, what does he do in conference ... make his FT's?
Edited by HARVARDDADGRAD on 12-25-15 12:19 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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OneIvyOne
Junior
Posts: 201
Loc: West
Reg: 08-28-13
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Re: Harvard 69, Auburn 51
12-25-15 12:22 PM - Post#197934
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
Plenty of time for Z to work on FT's, with no classes for the next four weeks. It does look like Harvard has served notice that they may be in the hunt for the league title this year.
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2691
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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Re: Harvard 69, Auburn 51
12-25-15 12:48 PM - Post#197935
In response to OneIvyOne
On the other hand, I'm worried about a late game scenario where free throw shooting is critical. In that event, of HYPC, Columbia (71.8%) is most dangerous followed by Yale (67.0), Princeton (65.0) and then, at a distance, Harvard (60.2).
Not a surprise (as I recall reading) that Kyle Smith first unveiled the hack-a-Zena strategy which has now migrated to Oahu.
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SRP
Postdoc
Posts: 4911
Reg: 02-04-06
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12-26-15 03:08 AM - Post#197940
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
Impressive performance against Oklahoma. By far the best Edosomwan has looked in any game I've seen; his high usage was helpful rather than hurtful. Excellent half-court defense overall, with Cummins giving great help. Also, some of the highest-arcing treys I've ever seen went in for Harvard.
The Sooners pulled away at the beginning of the second half when they applied high ball pressure in their half-court defense and generated turnovers and long rebounds to ignite their transition game. They inexplicably backed off, letting Harvard back into the game, and the Crimson admirably accepted the invitation despite being down by 19.
Hield was super-efficient; whenever he picked a spot to attack, he scored or made a good play, and Harvard did pretty well to limit the number of spots he could pick. The Big 12 is going to have some donnybrook games this year.
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JadwinGeorge
Senior
Posts: 357
Age: 75
Reg: 12-04-15
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12-26-15 09:02 AM - Post#197941
In response to SRP
This was my first look at Harvard's team this year. As a Tiger fan I was increasingly overcome by nausea through the first half. While I am reasonably certain Oklahoma was going through the motions in the opening period against a team they took for granted on a holiday in Paradise, Harvard executed a near flawless effort at both ends of the court. No one was surprised that Kruger went to the whip at the break, threatening the loss of a few scholarships. The point of this tournament for Ivy fans is that the demise of the Crimson is vastly exaggerated. There should be a few Pier 6'ers in the Ivy League, too.
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mrjames
Professor
Posts: 6062
Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
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12-26-15 09:50 AM - Post#197942
In response to JadwinGeorge
I sort of disagree with a lot of this. Oklahoma played 40 mins of very good basketball. Harvard punched above its weight in the first half, but OU wasn't playing badly.
The second half run was sparked by Harvard uncharacteristically not getting back in transition and OU hitting some really difficult shots. Once the Crimson started getting back and the Sooners' shooting regressed to the mean, Harvard started hitting tough shots and got back into it.
It's hard to say that after 80 mins of playing the two Big XII reasonably close that it was the opponent that wasn't taking Harvard seriously that allowed it to stay in it. I mean, OU got punched in the mouth for 20 minutes before it took its 21-pt lead and they nearly blew it after that, so there's no reason for them to have let up.
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Tiger69
Postdoc
Posts: 2814
Reg: 11-23-04
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12-26-15 11:40 AM - Post#197943
In response to mrjames
Another game demonstrating that this year's Ivy is Harvard's to lose. Some of the names are different, but TA has a full stable loaded with talent. And, he has done a good job of assembling what he has in the first half of the season. I hope I'm wrong because next season his biggest problem will be getting all his talent enough PT to keep everyone happy.
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mrjames
Professor
Posts: 6062
Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
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12-26-15 12:27 PM - Post#197945
In response to Tiger69
I'm going to run the model right after the new year, but I'd be really surprised if any team were more than, say, 25% to win the title outright and more than 40ish percent to win a share. Though, that's nothing more than an educated guess.
If Harvard plays the Ivy League slate at an average game score of 80, though, probably only Yale will be able to keep up. I just don't see that happening.
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JadwinGeorge
Senior
Posts: 357
Age: 75
Reg: 12-04-15
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12-26-15 02:44 PM - Post#197948
In response to mrjames
Oklahoma seemed to me to be a little careless with the basketball in the first half. Whether that's the way they play frequently I do not know. Harvard fouled a lot in the second half and lost the game at the FT line. I do not think that 9 TO's is indicative of "very good" play. While there may not have been any reason to "let up," the outcome was not much in doubt after the 21 point lead was taken. Zena's extra year of prep school was very well used, obviously. I agree that, once again, the title is Harvard's to lose. Darn it...
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SRP
Postdoc
Posts: 4911
Reg: 02-04-06
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12-26-15 04:15 PM - Post#197950
In response to JadwinGeorge
MJ is right about the transition baskets making the difference, but I think I was right about where they came from--OU's extended half-court man-to-man pressure on Harvard. They spent the first five minutes of the second half playing that way, forcing TOs and making Harvard shoot out of rhythm in a way that made it hard for them to get back on D. After they got the big lead, for some reason they backed off again.
But that's not the same as saying that the Sooners didn't play well the rest of the time when they were basically trading baskets, just that their tactical choice puzzled me. It was a well-played game the whole way.
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mrjames
Professor
Posts: 6062
Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
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12-26-15 05:13 PM - Post#197951
In response to SRP
The outcome was most certainly in doubt. Corey Johnson had a wide-open look down five with like three to play.
Oklahoma tried to run throughout the game, but Harvard was pretty successful at getting back. That start of the second half, it wasn't able to do so and had pay for it. Obviously, much of that had to do with Harvard making baskets, which slows down the ability to get out in transition.
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