Tiger69
Postdoc
Posts: 2801
Reg: 11-23-04
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02-28-16 01:07 PM - Post#202949
What do we do with Zena?
Even with its losses, harvard is the League underachiever this season. We should be concerned about Cantabs putting it all together for one big payback to us for Doug Davis.
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bradley
PhD Student
Posts: 1842
Age: 74
Reg: 01-15-16
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Re: Harvard II 02-29-16 10:48 AM - Post#202993
In response to Tiger69
We should be concerned because one never knows what will happen on the road plus I am sure that Harvard will play with pride.
The one match up that will be interesting to watch is the Miller/Brennan vs. Edosomwan. It appears that Edosomwan is slumping but he is an unusual player for the Ivies based on his inside game and he will be playing next year. Miller has improved dramatically as a defender and if he can play Zena one on one with some minor assistance, it will help the Tigers on Friday night. Miller has a slight height advantage and a big wing span as does Brennan.
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Tiger69
Postdoc
Posts: 2801
Reg: 11-23-04
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Re: Harvard II 02-29-16 01:39 PM - Post#203004
In response to bradley
Brennan seems to be improving. But, he still appears to be out of position to rebound on offense which leads to reach in fouls. He needs to beef up in the off season so he can establish position and not be pushed around so easily.
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SomeGuy
Professor
Posts: 6391
Reg: 11-22-04
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Re: Harvard II 02-29-16 03:00 PM - Post#203014
In response to Tiger69
At the very least, it appears that playing long stretches without anyone over 6'5 on the floor (as Princeton did last weekend) is not a good strategy.
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TigerFan
PhD Student
Posts: 1871
Reg: 11-21-04
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Re: Harvard II 02-29-16 04:15 PM - Post#203023
In response to SomeGuy
Nonsense. Throwing in the small line up has given the Tigers the spark they've needed to sustain their winning streak. Princeton can put 5 guys on the floor together that can all shoot the 3 and drive to be hoop. They are also excellent defenders with long reach that defies their height. At 6'5", Myles Stephens is one of the best defenders on he team if not the league. Harvard's guards throw the ball all over the gym so pressuring them with speed and quickness may be a better strategy to stopping Zena than combatting him directly with size.
Edited by TigerFan on 02-29-16 04:18 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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JadwinGeorge
Senior
Posts: 357
Age: 75
Reg: 12-04-15
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Re: Harvard II 02-29-16 06:21 PM - Post#203033
In response to SomeGuy
How can you conclude that it "does not appear to be good strategy?" If Princeton continues to shoot the way they have in this home stretch they will be successful. Hard to do that on the road, as happened at Columbia, Yale and Penn. But this team finds a way to win somehow.
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SRP
Postdoc
Posts: 4894
Reg: 02-04-06
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02-29-16 08:05 PM - Post#203041
In response to JadwinGeorge
Pressuring ball-handlers and crowding the passing lanes is still the first defensive task when playing Harvard. Except for Okolie, PU's perimeter players are bigger and more athletic and Harvard's guys are not that adept at dribbling under pressure. But the Crimson perimeter can be deadly if allowed to shoot standstill treys, which also suggests coming out on them. Depending on the officiating, I'd let Miller try to play Edosomwan one-on-one (with opportunistic digs down by helpers if Edosomwan catches it far from the hoop or if his head is turned). A fast game up and down the floor is not to be feared in this matchup.
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bradley
PhD Student
Posts: 1842
Age: 74
Reg: 01-15-16
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Re: Harvard II 02-29-16 09:27 PM - Post#203047
In response to TigerFan
Prediction: Miller/Brennan play at least 25-30 minutes per game for the remaining three games against legitimate centers ---Edosomwan, Bourdeaux and Nelson-Henry. Henderson may go small when they are not on the floor, particularly Penn, or if the Tigers need to come from behind. Unrealistic to play Stephens and others against these three bigs for any extended time period in my opinion.
Henderson has been good in using Miller against Brown C, Sears and the above centers and going small when he can. It would be great if Miller/Brennan can improve their offensive skills next year which would be a major weapon.
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sparman
PhD Student
Posts: 1339
Reg: 12-08-04
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Re: Harvard II 03-01-16 10:22 AM - Post#203064
In response to Tiger69
Even with its losses, harvard is the League underachiever this season. We should be concerned about Cantabs putting it all together for one big payback to us for Doug Davis.
Stating the obvious, it ain't over til it's over.
Really, really, over.
Don't celebrate before the buzzer
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Kit
Senior
Posts: 380
Loc: Central Massachusetts
Reg: 11-29-04
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Re: Harvard II 03-01-16 06:03 PM - Post#203089
In response to sparman
I expect Princeton to win against Harvard. Yale won at Lavietes, so can we. Just focus, play disciplined basketball and all will be fine.
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mrjames
Professor
Posts: 6062
Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
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03-01-16 07:37 PM - Post#203094
In response to Kit
Gonna depend on who plays for Harvard, more than anything. Could be Princeton's toughest remaining game if the Crimson is at full strength, but probably Dartmouth is toughest if Harvard is still missing TMac or Z can't go at full speed.
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Old Bear
Postdoc
Posts: 3988
Reg: 11-23-04
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03-01-16 09:15 PM - Post#203101
In response to mrjames
Okolie is one of the best defenders in the league. Tommy put him on Blackmon. It will be interesting to see how he uses him on Fri.
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SRP
Postdoc
Posts: 4894
Reg: 02-04-06
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03-01-16 10:51 PM - Post#203112
In response to Old Bear
The good news for the Tigers is that one defensive stopper can't contain their offense. The scoring bar graph morphs from game to game like the display on a stereo.
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SomeGuy
Professor
Posts: 6391
Reg: 11-22-04
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Re: Harvard II 03-02-16 08:40 AM - Post#203128
In response to JadwinGeorge
Sorry I wasn't clear about my thought there. I think the strategy is fine against Cornell and Columbia, who play small and don't have centers who use their size much on offense. I've thought the strategy has worked great in those match ups.
However, I don't think you can guard either Edosomwan or DNH with a 6'5 guy for more than a possession or two, if that. We'll see who turns out to be right on this, but I predict you won't see the small lineup at all while those centers are on the floor.
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JadwinGeorge
Senior
Posts: 357
Age: 75
Reg: 12-04-15
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03-02-16 11:19 AM - Post#203146
In response to SomeGuy
KenPom rates H as the toughest game for Tigers, giving them a 29% chance to win, while giving Dartmouth 24% and Penn 6%. Henderson uses tactics according to what he needs at the moment and his personnel enables him to do it. Lately he's been very comfortable concentrating on the perimeter trading 2's for our 3's. If we are shooting well it works like a charm. Columbia tried a lot more shots that the Tigers and made as many, most of them in the paint. I doubt that Henderson will be reluctant to put Zena on the line and he can find plenty of fouls to give.
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bradley
PhD Student
Posts: 1842
Age: 74
Reg: 01-15-16
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03-02-16 02:28 PM - Post#203160
In response to JadwinGeorge
I think that one of these games is going to be very challenging -- logic and history would suggest Harvard although Dartmouth obviously gave Yale a big time scare on the road.
One would hope that they play loose and confident and yet be focused at the task at hand but anything can and will happen at the end of the Ivy season.
Nice to see Weisz share co-player of the week with Makai Mason. He has obviously become the leader of the team. One of these days, he may be coaching at Princeton like Coach Henderson's career.
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hoopla
Masters Student
Posts: 486
Age: 49
Reg: 08-28-12
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03-03-16 05:08 PM - Post#203242
In response to bradley
Dartmouth matches up much better with Yale than they do with Princeton. Fingers crossed for some senior night magic vs the Tigers though!
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Kit
Senior
Posts: 380
Loc: Central Massachusetts
Reg: 11-29-04
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03-03-16 05:26 PM - Post#203244
In response to hoopla
Why can't you guys be satisfied in beating the Quakers? Isn't that enough?
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hoopla
Masters Student
Posts: 486
Age: 49
Reg: 08-28-12
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03-04-16 12:37 AM - Post#203300
In response to Kit
Because we're hungry, Kit
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bradley
PhD Student
Posts: 1842
Age: 74
Reg: 01-15-16
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03-04-16 05:24 PM - Post#203360
In response to JadwinGeorge
6 1/2 point spread this evening at Cambridge with a preliminary line of 7 1/2 pts tomorrow evening at Hanover. Which game will be more challenging -- Lord knows. A major factor may be if Edosomwan comes to play. Okolie is always going to provide very good defense and will be interesting who they put Okolie on - Caruso?? Cook has become more and more of a lockdown defender and it will be interesting who they put him on --- Johnson??
Should be an interesting game.
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