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Username Post: Gentlemen's C's        (Topic#19825)
HARVARDDADGRAD 
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01-27-17 01:02 AM - Post#219601    

First Ivy Weekend - and on the road.

Gotta think Harvard looks good vs Cornell unless Morgan et al. go off from 3 (27 and 33 pts last year). Absence of Onourah is big. Gettings and Warren need to avoid foul trouble, and - actually - getting fouled (54% FT between them). Big test for Harvard guards defensively. Last year, Harvard lost at home possibly because Amaker decided to counter Morgan by going small. Hope that doesn't happen again. Wonder who guards Morgan?

Columbia has emerging and explosive guard play and maybe most bigs outside of Harvard. If Harvard's bigs are contained as they were last year at Columbia, Smith and Hickman could lead Columbia to a victory at home. Wonder who guards Petracek?

Edited by HARVARDDADGRAD on 01-27-17 01:22 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

 
penn nation 
Professor
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Reg: 12-02-04
Re: Gentlemen's C's
01-27-17 03:37 PM - Post#219641    
    In response to HARVARDDADGRAD

These days I hear it's Gentlemen's A minuses over in Cambridge.

 
mountainred 
Masters Student
Posts: 510

Age: 57
Loc: Charleston, WV
Reg: 04-11-10
Re: Gentlemen's C's
01-27-17 04:24 PM - Post#219649    
    In response to penn nation

  • penn nation Said:
These days I hear it's Gentlemen's A minuses over in Cambridge.



Did they impose tougher grading standards recently?

As far as the actual game, I have a hard time seeing a scenario where Cornell wins, short of unreal three point shooting by Cornell or another 15-59 performance from the field by the Crimson (and this year's Cornell team doesn't play defense at near the level of the '15 team).

 
HARVARDDADGRAD 
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Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
01-27-17 04:42 PM - Post#219651    
    In response to mountainred

The difficulty for Harvard will be matching lineups with a Cornell squad that likes to (or has to) play small. Amaker elected to go small at Cambridge last year, I hope he doesn't have to do that this year. Chambers and Aiken will see big minutes, but expect two of Towns, Bassey and Corey Johnson to be on the court all the time. Zena and Lewis will likely alternate, and don't expect to see much of Egi and Welsh tonight, unless rebounding becomes an issue. No need for size in lieu of quickness and ability to follow the ball away from the basket.

Things would be entirely different if Onourah was healthy. Any news on him?

 
mrjames 
Professor
Posts: 6062

Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
01-27-17 04:56 PM - Post#219658    
    In response to HARVARDDADGRAD

I think Cornell has a great shot tonight, FWIW.

 
PennFan10 
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Posts: 3580

Reg: 02-15-15
01-27-17 10:50 PM - Post#219683    
    In response to mrjames

  • mrjames Said:
I think Cornell has a great shot tonight, FWIW.



Prophetic words Mr.J...Cornell indeed had a shot. Led by 10 in the second half and two of H's frosh bailed the Crimson out in Ithaca. Aiken was money down the stretch.


 
HARVARDDADGRAD 
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01-27-17 11:14 PM - Post#219688    
    In response to PennFan10

Harvard bigs don't assert themselves and Siyani has another rough game. Cornell shooting (over 70% in first half) finally drops off, giving Harvard an opening. Winning move - Harvard going to zone for two runs in last 10 minutes. Baker used at back of zone was a surprise after sitting for first 30 minutes. His athleticism and size are useful back there as he rotates to block a big three from the corner.

Very concerning game - especially on defense.



 
mrjames 
Professor
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Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
01-27-17 11:30 PM - Post#219692    
    In response to HARVARDDADGRAD

Luckily there are no other teams in the league that run that kind of offense.

 
SRP 
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Posts: 4894

Reg: 02-04-06
01-27-17 11:48 PM - Post#219697    
    In response to mrjames

That's funny Mike. It did look pretty Princeton-retro there for a while.

 
mrjames 
Professor
Posts: 6062

Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
01-27-17 11:55 PM - Post#219698    
    In response to SRP

Tons of perfectly executed moving-screen-dribble-han doffs. Hard to miss that staple. Ha.

 
HARVARDDADGRAD 
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Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
Gentlemen's C's
01-28-17 12:45 AM - Post#219703    
    In response to mrjames

Watched the last 6 minutes again. Defense won the game for Harvard holding Cornell to 2 points in last 5+ minutes. Oh, Defense and Bryce Aiken. Amaker really gambled playing Tommy McCarthy and Robert Baker for the first times all night down the stretch. No Zena.



Edited by HARVARDDADGRAD on 01-28-17 12:46 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

 
digamma 
Masters Student
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Loc: Minneapolis
Reg: 11-27-11
01-28-17 11:20 AM - Post#219708    
    In response to HARVARDDADGRAD

I thought the insertion of Baker was really interesting. His length was really problematic for Cornell.

I also really appreciated his two free throws with .9 left.



 
JadwinGeorge 
Senior
Posts: 357

Age: 75
Reg: 12-04-15
01-28-17 11:34 AM - Post#219712    
    In response to SRP

I just had to go to Ithaca last night. Short hop north on I81. Cornell's numerous back door cuts, many of which resulted in easy looks, kept them in it for most of the game. Still, too many TO's gave Harvard the chance to avoid a stumble. Aiken is fabulous!!! Brian Earl's kids are buying in.

 
HARVARDDADGRAD 
Postdoc
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Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
01-28-17 12:39 PM - Post#219716    
    In response to JadwinGeorge

Wondering (hoping?) if Harvard's defensive scheme was to hedge hard and overplay to limit Cornell's 3's. That would help explain the back door cuts. Might Amaker have decided to let Cornell try and beat Harvard with 2's? Remember, Cornell is not a good FT shooting team and missed 7 of 13 FT's last night. Cornell still launched 20 3's last night (7 for 20).





 
HARVARDDADGRAD 
Postdoc
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Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
Re: Gentlemen's C's
01-31-17 04:36 PM - Post#220015    
    In response to HARVARDDADGRAD

Before last weekends games I wondered who would guard Morgan and then Petracek. A cornerstone of Coach Amaker's game prep has often included matchups intended to shut down the opposition's leading offensive threat. Entering this season, it was unclear whether Harvard had a defensive stopper.

At Columbia, Bassey shadowed Morgan, holding the league's leading scorer to 10 points on 3-8 shooting in 35 minutes. At Columbia, Baker entered the game in the first few minutes to guard Petracek. Although Baker only played 11 minutes, he contributed in limiting Petracek (Ivy's 5th leading scorer) to only 11 points on 3-9 shooting. The night before at Cornell, Baker's insertion on the backline of Harvard's zone was a key to Harvard's comeback victory.

There remain troubling issues on defense, but this weekend saw some roles starting to emerge and the first extended use of a zone defense (final 10 minutes vs Cornell).



Edited by HARVARDDADGRAD on 01-31-17 04:39 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

 
mrjames 
Professor
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Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
02-01-17 02:39 PM - Post#220067    
    In response to HARVARDDADGRAD

Just unlucky vs. Columbia. Loved that Harvard took 39 threes. Sometimes you only make 10. Normally would make ~15. Lions should have had more pts from the line, but not nearly enough to top Harvard if it had shot average from 3. But nights like that happen...

 
HARVARDDADGRAD 
Postdoc
Posts: 2685

Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
Gentlemen's C's
02-01-17 06:36 PM - Post#220082    
    In response to mrjames

Corey Johnson shoots 45.1% on 3's, so 7-14 is roughly at his normal rate.

Remainder of team was 3-25! Seth, Siyani and Corbin were 0-13 and Bryce was 2-8. Hopefully, we don't see that again.

Although Mike likes the 39 three's, it occurred because Harvard couldn't move the ball well enough to find holes in Columbia's zone - at least not in the first half.

I expect Penn to try the same tactic. Penn doesn't have the size or depth to go man without ending up in foul trouble and giving up offensive boards. Penn has to keep Brodeur out of foul trouble. Let's see if our Harvard men got an education this week on how to beat the zone.

Edited by HARVARDDADGRAD on 02-01-17 06:38 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

 
mrjames 
Professor
Posts: 6062

Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
02-01-17 07:30 PM - Post#220086    
    In response to HARVARDDADGRAD

Harvard's offensive rating is about 15pts/100poss higher on non-turnover possessions where they shoot a three versus not. I'd prefer to see them shoot threes on every possession. And then when the defense starts selling out to chase Harvard off the line, blow by for easy buckets at the hoop. With the shooters this team has, Harvard should be shooting 40 threes or so every game.

 
HARVARDDADGRAD 
Postdoc
Posts: 2685

Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
02-01-17 07:49 PM - Post#220091    
    In response to mrjames

Mike, I understand your analysis. As you know, I'm not an analytics guy, although I do my best to follow them. My point is that Penn has only one real big. If you bring it at him it is possible he'll get in foul trouble. Once he does, Penn is deprived of its leading scorer and rebounder. Harvard is much deeper. If I were Penn, I'd hope that Harvard is willing to swap 3's.

Harvard's advantage over Penn is that its guards are quicker and its forwards are stronger - and not all named Brodeur. Why give that up and leave the game to chance? Harvard shoots 35.9% on threes and Penn shoots 33%. Does Harvard want to rely on the fact that it shoots 3's 10% better than Penn. If Siyani, Seth or Bryce shoot like they did against Columbia then the advantage is gone. Why not exploit inside play and depth? Why not push for transition baskets when your guards are quicker and you'd be making Brodeur run the court and get worn down.

I know I'm old school, but taking it to the basket is where this Harvard team outclasses Penn.

 
SRP 
Postdoc
Posts: 4894

Reg: 02-04-06
02-01-17 07:50 PM - Post#220092    
    In response to mrjames

Mike going all in on the Pine City plan:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-basketba ll-team-t...

 
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