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Username Post: Harvard        (Topic#20033)
TigerFan 
PhD Student
Posts: 1871

Reg: 11-21-04
02-28-17 11:16 AM - Post#223999    

I'm starting a new thread to get us away from the unhelpful and untimely speculation on the last one. I'm looking forward to Friday's game, although not thrilled with the time.

Does Miller play more against the H bugs? Or do we see the committee of four share time?

Can Chambers and/or Aiken get something going? Or does Princeton's length and range at the guard positions keep them in check?

Which Tiger(s) will put up 20+ points this weekend?

Go Tigers!

 
bradley 
PhD Student
Posts: 1842

Age: 74
Reg: 01-15-16
Re: Harvard
02-28-17 12:35 PM - Post#224013    
    In response to TigerFan

Steven Cook said all the right things post-game in Ithaca about the upcoming weekend. I am sure that there will be a lot of emotions for Weisz, Cook, Miller and other seniors, including Hans Brase, as they approach the final weekend of their career at Jadwin. Emotions can be a good or bad thing so hopefully, they are focused on the task at hand of being the sole Ivy League champion.

Friday night will not only be a very good test for their defense but particularly their offense as the Crimson pose unique challenges. I am not sure who they put on Aiken as he may be too quick for Stephens. The other question defensively might be if Lewis or Edosomwan can get the ball out of the post quick enough when doubled. Should be a very good and challenging game. The Tigers should take nothing for granted and it would be good to be a statement game, if possible.

 
HARVARDDADGRAD 
Postdoc
Posts: 2685

Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
02-28-17 01:19 PM - Post#224026    
    In response to bradley

This game is meaningless except for Princeton's desire for a perfect season. Neither coach will expose the game plan he plans on employing the following week.

If this were the NBA, the stars would sit and the team owner would gladly pay the fine.

 
SRP 
Postdoc
Posts: 4894

Reg: 02-04-06
02-28-17 04:26 PM - Post#224037    
    In response to HARVARDDADGRAD

I think the Tigers will be motivated by general competitiveness, protecting the home court, going undefeated, establishing psychological dominance, wanting the top seed, and possible seeding at the NCAAs. You might see a lot more PT for backups, though, especially if they get an early lead.

 
JadwinGeorge 
Senior
Posts: 357

Age: 75
Reg: 12-04-15
02-28-17 05:21 PM - Post#224047    
    In response to SRP

Lots of motivation for this one: 1. outright title 2. unbeaten at home in league for 2 years (only loss is St. Joe's when Caruso went down) 3. will need to beat H again next week. don't want a home loss heading into that one. Aiken is too fast for anyone in the league. have to run him off the 3 pt line and settle for 2's. their bigs make everything in the paint but we have doubled there with a lot of success. If we shot better up there it wouldn't have been that close. They will need their best game to win, but they are surely capable. kenpom has it Tigers -8

 
Tiger69 
Postdoc
Posts: 2801

Reg: 11-23-04
02-28-17 05:35 PM - Post#224051    
    In response to HARVARDDADGRAD

harvard still has an outside shot at tying for the Title. If they don't make a serious effort to win Friday, maybe they should sit out the tourney and hit the books.

 
Old Bear 
Postdoc
Posts: 3988

Reg: 11-23-04
02-28-17 05:39 PM - Post#224052    
    In response to Tiger69

T69, that sounds like a variation on Rock, Paper, Scissors.

 
Tiger69 
Postdoc
Posts: 2801

Reg: 11-23-04
02-28-17 05:40 PM - Post#224053    
    In response to Tiger69

Seriously, harvarddadgrad's post illustrates that some may view participation in the NCAA more highly than winning the IL Championship. Something is wrong with this picture.

 
bradley 
PhD Student
Posts: 1842

Age: 74
Reg: 01-15-16
02-28-17 05:55 PM - Post#224056    
    In response to Tiger69

I do not buy that either team will not be giving 100% effort on Friday night. The coaches may not show everything but there are no great secrets at this time of the year. The teams have one week to recover so there is no need to rest players. There is always an injury risk but ... It will be very easy to tell how hard both teams are playing based on defensive intensity, diving for balls, etc. as well as player rotations. I may be wrong.

A loss on Friday night will not be helpful for seeding purposes at the NCAA tournament if the Tigers or Crimson then win the God forsaken IL Tournament after losing Friday night. It might be a swing of one seed and we know what the odds are for the different seeds at the NCAA tournament. Right now, the Tigers have a combined average RPI rating of 60 vs. Harvard at 118 for the combined four rating services utilized by IL.

A stark reminder as to what can happen in one game is the 20.5 underdog BYU beating Gonzaga at Gonzaga down 10 points in the 2nd half. Play with great intensity but be confident.

 
SRP 
Postdoc
Posts: 4894

Reg: 02-04-06
02-28-17 07:36 PM - Post#224066    
    In response to bradley

Assuming they play similar defense and run their offense as before, the game will likely reflect the Tigers' three-point shooting. If nobody's hot, they'll have to scratch for the win. If one guy is hot, low-to-mid single digit win. If two guys get hot, high-single-to low-double digit win.

Of course, that assumption may not hold. But given how consistently they've been playing lately it seems more reasonable to start with that.

 
SomeGuy 
Professor
Posts: 6391

Reg: 11-22-04
02-28-17 10:17 PM - Post#224078    
    In response to HARVARDDADGRAD

I can't imagine that either team does anything other than go all out Friday night. Princeton has a million reasons to play their hardest (in addition to what everyone else has mentioned, it's also the final home games for some very competitive seniors). For Harvard, perhaps less is at stake, but I think piercing Princeton's aura of invincibility would be huge, both for Harvard's confidence and for Princeton's.

 
bradley 
PhD Student
Posts: 1842

Age: 74
Reg: 01-15-16
03-01-17 06:18 PM - Post#224179    
    In response to SRP

1st game was a series of runs by both teams and very hard fought with Tigers getting off to a bad start offensively over the 1st 7 minutes, 4-10. Started to get turnovers and after a 6 pt half time expanded lead to 13 pts with 12 minutes to go. Back to back horrible passes lead to two breakaways and Harvard was back in the game and then Chambers took over and he was simply ferocious.

Stephens, Cook and Bell could get by Towns, Bassey and Johnson which lead to lay ups or wide open 3 pointers although Cannady and Goodsen were 0-10 on 3s' with wide open shots. Princeton 6-14 on FTs as well. Tigers have big height advantage at guard when Aikens and Chambers are on the floor. Stephens primarily guarded Towns and shut him down.

Each game is unique and there will probably be different players stepping up. Would anticipate hard fought game and watch out for Chambers and Aikens.



 
SRP 
Postdoc
Posts: 4894

Reg: 02-04-06
03-01-17 07:02 PM - Post#224188    
    In response to bradley

There is definite potential to bomb these guys off the court from outside, given their lack of guard size and the ability of the Princeton forwards to drive past their men and kick out passes, as Bradley notes. But the shots have to go down.

 
joe nassau 
Sophomore
Posts: 150

Reg: 02-13-05
03-02-17 01:37 PM - Post#224299    
    In response to bradley

Would be nice if PU's big guards ( Bell and Stephens ) would take Townes and Chambers inside? Use their lack of size against them and wear them down? Would also be nice if PU's bigs would go inside too? They really need to learn how to score around the basket because if they go to the tournament chances are they will be playing teams with some size?

 
HARVARDDADGRAD 
Postdoc
Posts: 2685

Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
03-02-17 02:46 PM - Post#224311    
    In response to joe nassau

Towns is 6'7". Assume you meant Aiken.

 
bradley 
PhD Student
Posts: 1842

Age: 74
Reg: 01-15-16
03-02-17 06:19 PM - Post#224337    
    In response to SRP

Cannady was guarding Chambers in 1st meeting, Stephens on Towns, Cook on Johnson and Weisz on Bassey with Bell getting a lot of playing time when Aikens was in the game. Cannady has definitely raised his intensity as a defender in recent games and if anyone gets hot, Stephens will be guarding him. Switching defense with interchangeable parts and long arms tends to keep teams on the perimeter.

Challenge may well be on scoring for the Tigers unless some 3 pointers drop. Would not be surprised if game is close with 5 minutes to go --- good test.

Unfortunately, can only attend one game this week and must attend Seniors Nights as these guys deserve a big round of applause.

 
joe nassau 
Sophomore
Posts: 150

Reg: 02-13-05
03-03-17 12:54 PM - Post#224411    
    In response to HARVARDDADGRAD

My bad. Yes.

 
bradley 
PhD Student
Posts: 1842

Age: 74
Reg: 01-15-16
03-03-17 05:01 PM - Post#224463    
    In response to joe nassau

Crimson will do their best from allowing Stephens, Cook and Bell to go the hoop. Would not be surprised if they drive and kick out for 3 pt shots. With Aiken and Chambers playing a lot of minutes together, it appears that Harvard is speeding up the tempo to get easier baskets. Mitch will probably have his guys switching to stop penetration. The more that Harvard passes the ball and goes deeper into the shot clock, the greater likelihood is that they will turn it over. Tempo may decide the winner.

Tigers should not let the sole championship clincher kick over to Saturday -- anything can happen if they are not very focused and ready to play. Play desperate and confident!

 
Tiger69 
Postdoc
Posts: 2801

Reg: 11-23-04
03-03-17 06:32 PM - Post#224477    
    In response to bradley

"Desperate and confident"???

 
joe nassau 
Sophomore
Posts: 150

Reg: 02-13-05
03-03-17 07:01 PM - Post#224481    
    In response to bradley

So far so good. Three PU starters are playing well. Cook really well.Makes up for Weisz bringing back his D game? And the bigs are shooting threes? Game's on ESPN if anyone doesn't know.

 
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