HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2700
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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The P's #2 03-07-17 12:19 PM - Post#225392
In response to bradley
Interesting observations. Remember that Chambers, Aiken and especially Towns got knocked around Friday at Princeton. Towns fell hard after a dunk and Chambers appeared to hurt his hand. Both had to leave the game temporarily. Aikens ended up with a cut early on Saturday and then emerged limping from a fall into the Harvard bench later that game.
Yale relies on key freshmen as well, and bigs (Downey and Reynolds) who play 30+ minutes. Lewis and especially Zena appear to be well rested, each averaging under 20 minutes/game.
Chambers is shooting better than he has in years, and Towns put together a string of 5 good scoring games until Penn. Aiken is simply hit or miss. Wonder about Johnson and maybe even Miller for 3's.
Also of note, Weisner Perez had been getting playing time of late but wasn't dressed this past weekend.
Yale has to be focusing on Aiken, who scored 49 points in two games. Could mean trouble for Harvard if Bryce tries to do it all by himself. On the other hand, if he can move the ball and drive and dish, others could have very big afternoons. After watching Bryce this past weekend, Yale could decide to let Bryce get his points, knowing that his high variability could end up unraveling Harvard.
Edited by HARVARDDADGRAD on 03-07-17 12:21 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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bradley
PhD Student
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Age: 74
Reg: 01-15-16
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Re: The P's #2 03-07-17 12:56 PM - Post#225400
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
It is true that Towns took a horrific fall Friday night plus Chambers and Aikens getting bumped -- did not help on Saturday night for sure.
Copeland had success scoring against the smaller Crimson guards as he has a height advantage plus he has his "shake and bake moves" but he can score against almost anyone. Totally perplexing that Dallier does not take one of the small guards by the basket but he apparently has no inside game. Weisz could take Aikens down deep and Aikens fought like hell but Weisz missed so many easy shots.
If I was Jones, I would have Dallier practice a lot standing by the basket this week but it probably will not happen as you can not learn the skill in a week. Yale does play taller and tougher than most on the boards but their defense is not what it once was. I am sure that they will play tough like Penn will against Princeton.
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Tiger69
Postdoc
Posts: 2819
Reg: 11-23-04
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03-07-17 01:07 PM - Post#225403
In response to bradley
The Harvard freshmen need a little more grooming -- perhaps best at the NIT, where they can play any of a number of good, solid teams who were either REALLY mediocre power conference teams or strong mid majors who got screwed by the NCAA.
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2700
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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03-07-17 01:59 PM - Post#225421
In response to Tiger69
Mike James seems to think Harvard wouldn't get an NIT Bid. Assuming the spots go to Nos. 69-102, Crimson are on the bubble.
Wonder if Harvard would do the CIT? Might not see it as worthwhile. Long season for young squad and only 3 seniors.
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Tiger69
Postdoc
Posts: 2819
Reg: 11-23-04
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03-07-17 02:45 PM - Post#225428
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
The NCAA/NIT seems to use ratings when it benefits the power conferences, and "judgment" in favor of the power confs when the ratings support mid majors. In the event that Harvard has, and takes advantage of, a third match with Princeton, one would hope that the Ivies would get two bids this year. But, there are very few who believe that that would happen. How many of us who have followed the latter half of the season closely still don't think that Princeton is among, say the top 50 teams nationally? But, the bid that it arguably should get for the quality of its play and league record will go to some 6 th or 7 th place team in the Big10(?) or ACC.
Well, at my age I know that nature is indifferent to such small concerns. But, there is lots of $ involved, something that even bball fans understand.
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mrjames
Professor
Posts: 6062
Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
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03-07-17 03:01 PM - Post#225429
In response to Tiger69
Harvard has ZERO chance at the NIT.
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Tiger69
Postdoc
Posts: 2819
Reg: 11-23-04
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The P's #2 03-07-17 03:52 PM - Post#225432
In response to mrjames
Really just a crack -- it seems pretty clear that the NIT is a consolation tournament to soothe the guilt of the NCAA for excluding so many good mid-majors in favor of the good ole boys in the big conferences. Some poor coach there (making an obscene salary) might just lose his job if he doesn't land a bid every year. The system is so annoying and corrupt that the Ivies should seriously consider strategies for pulling out and forming a more relevant and fair post season tournament with other mid-majors. The Ivy League formed in the early fifties because of the general belief of its members that athletics were getting out of hand (even before the entry of huge revenues from TV, etc.). The priorities of the NCAA seem to be getting out of hand now. If it does not want us or share our values, maybe it is time to split.
Edited by Tiger69 on 03-07-17 03:54 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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mrjames
Professor
Posts: 6062
Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
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03-07-17 04:46 PM - Post#225445
In response to Tiger69
To be fair, because I rip on the selection committee A LOT, Harvard doesn't deserve an NIT bid. If it hadn't choked away November, it would probably be deserving, but it would have likely only been in the discussion if there were literally ZERO auto bids.
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SRP
Postdoc
Posts: 4919
Reg: 02-04-06
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03-07-17 07:20 PM - Post#225468
In response to mrjames
KenPom has the Tigers at 64 today, so by that metric they too would only get in as an at-large to the NCAAs if there were no auto-bids at all. (They were at 61 yesterday, so those small swings shouldn't be taken too seriously.)
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SRP
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Posts: 4919
Reg: 02-04-06
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03-07-17 07:22 PM - Post#225469
In response to SRP
BTW, a propos of our earlier exchange about Wichita State, I saw Jerry Palm on CBSSN insisting that an at-large for them would never happen given their paucity of quality wins, despite being ranked 10th on KenPom.
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mrjames
Professor
Posts: 6062
Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
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03-07-17 08:01 PM - Post#225473
In response to SRP
Princeton would be in without auto bids existing, yes.
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