HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2691
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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01-02-24 10:20 PM - Post#361151
So, after surviving without Nelson and then Mack, Wojcik goes down in the first half and doesn’t return. A tired Nesbit gives it a shot but his 3 wasn’t falling and stronger guards turned him over. So, Amaker runs it without a point guard and Harvard prevails. Okpara was a first half beast again with 16 points, but he can’t keep it up for a full 40 minutes. Team looked gassed.
There is no way Mack returns for Princeton and probably not Ajogbor. Who knows about Wojcik.
Brown on Jan 15th and Penn the 20th. What a decimating summer and OOC.
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
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Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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01-04-24 11:45 AM - Post#361228
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
KP would have @Princeton favored by 14 on Saturday. This may be conservative (aka misleading), given that the statistics/analytics don't fully take into account the anticipated absence of Mack, Ajogbor, and even Wojcik. Without them, given the performances roughtly equating Harvard with Holy Cross and Army, the KP line could stretch to over 25 points. To make matters worse, Nesbitt's weaknesses were exposed last Saturday. This is most unfortunate.
I guess I'm just hoping that no one else gets hurt and that Ajogbor and maybe Mack are back for Brown on the 15th and/or Penn on the 20th.
Probable starting lineup vs Princeton:
Pigge
Lesmond
Okpara
Batties
Simon
The ONLY bench that Harvard has who have played any real minutes would be:
Nesbitt
Ace-Nestaski
The only other players with any floor time are:
Christian Rich (MIT transfer) - 12 minutes this season
Greg Cooper (FR) - 10 minutes
Payton Pitts (FR) - 3 minutes
Actually, I don't believe there is anyone else on the bench at the moment. So, that's 5 freshmen and a transfer from MIT out of 10 bodies.
Wondering what the posted 'line' will be.
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ToothlessTiger
Senior
Posts: 336
Age: 76
Reg: 03-28-15
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01-04-24 04:59 PM - Post#361250
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
If the line is 15 I am betting the ranch on.....the Crimson. This will be a struggle. I do believe that the Tigers will never take Harvard for granted . Certainly not with Allocco running the show. If Harvard gets healthy they can be a huge presence in the tournament.
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2691
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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01-04-24 07:32 PM - Post#361255
In response to ToothlessTiger
Thanks for the respect, but without Mack, Ajogbor and Wojcik, this isn't going to be close.
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84grad
Junior
Posts: 277
Age: 64
Reg: 11-09-17
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01-06-24 02:51 PM - Post#361311
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
Mack is back.
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2691
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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01-06-24 03:06 PM - Post#361315
In response to 84grad
Didn’t see that coming.
Double teaming Okpara.
Going to miss Ajogbor as an option
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2691
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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01-06-24 03:15 PM - Post#361318
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
Uh oh.
Okpara picks up a second foul les than 7 minutes in.
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84grad
Junior
Posts: 277
Age: 64
Reg: 11-09-17
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01-06-24 03:45 PM - Post#361327
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
Haven't seen Wojcik here.
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84grad
Junior
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Age: 64
Reg: 11-09-17
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01-06-24 03:49 PM - Post#361328
In response to 84grad
In concussion protocol
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2691
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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01-06-24 04:06 PM - Post#361332
In response to 84grad
Mack is just not himself yet.
Between double teamed and foul trouble, Okpara isn’t able to do what we need.
Last option is 3 point shooting, but only 5-16
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weinhauers_ghost
Postdoc
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Loc: New York City
Reg: 12-14-09
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01-06-24 05:43 PM - Post#361356
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
I didn't see the game (was watching Penn - Dartmouth), but that looked like a serious road beatdown.
Will try to catch it on ESPN+ later tonight.
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gokinsmen
Postdoc
Posts: 3667
Reg: 02-06-10
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OOC is Over!
01-06-24 06:03 PM - Post#361360
In response to weinhauers_ghost
A fully healthy Harvard squad is the 2nd best team in the Ivy, IMO. Once Ajogbor is back and Mack is 100%, today's game won't mean a thing.
I expect to lose the rematch in Cambridge on 2/23. Hoping to dodge them in the ILT.
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Tiger69
Postdoc
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Reg: 11-23-04
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Re: OOC is Over!
01-07-24 02:05 AM - Post#361385
In response to gokinsmen
Is harvard ever “fully healthy”?
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weinhauers_ghost
Postdoc
Posts: 2139
Age: 64
Loc: New York City
Reg: 12-14-09
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Re: OOC is Over!
01-07-24 02:09 AM - Post#361386
In response to Tiger69
A long time ago, I heard a simple truism, as refers to sports: "health is a skill".
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H78
PhD Student
Posts: 1458
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
Reg: 01-06-11
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Re: OOC is Over!
01-07-24 09:55 AM - Post#361394
In response to weinhauers_ghost
A long time ago, I heard a simple truism, as refers to sports: "health is a skill".
Excellent point WG. Here’s a quote from Klay Thompson’s father, Mychal Thompson, an all-star who played on 2 Lakers, championship teams:
“…your body is your office. And if you want to maintain that office … you’ve got to take care of it… you wouldn’t let it get all junked up because this is your place of business..“
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1LotteryPick1969
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Reg: 11-21-04
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Re: OOC is Over!
01-07-24 10:24 AM - Post#361395
In response to H78
For those of us who are non-athletes, substitute "brain" for "body".
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Naismith
Sophomore
Posts: 149
Loc: RI
Reg: 11-11-18
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Re: OOC is Over!
01-07-24 03:04 PM - Post#361411
In response to gokinsmen
With the statement made by Princeton and especially Lee in the Ivy opener, 2nd place might get somebody else into the NIT. Harvard is a team with a future, not sure it's now. Mack will see 2 people on top of him every time he touches the ball. He will adjust along with his young teammates.
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mobrien
Masters Student
Posts: 402
Loc: New York
Reg: 04-18-17
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01-07-24 05:34 PM - Post#361416
In response to Naismith
The adjustment I’d love to see versus those aggressive doubles every time Mack got a ball screen—something teams have been doing since he lit up American—is just change the screener. Have Lesmond set the screen and then we’d be getting wide open threes for our best shooter. Or have Okpara set it and we’d have a 4-on-3 for our best slasher (who’s also a a good passer himself). Anything but having Batties or Pigge end up with it when they’re not sure what to do.
It should be a very simple defense to punish.
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ToothlessTiger
Senior
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Age: 76
Reg: 03-28-15
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01-07-24 07:13 PM - Post#361420
In response to mobrien
A lot of pro scouts at Jadwin last night. Ostensibly to see Lee but had to be impressed by Okpara. What a horse in the paint who passes it as well as he shoots it.
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1LotteryPick1969
Postdoc
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01-07-24 08:00 PM - Post#361421
In response to mobrien
The adjustment I’d love to see versus those aggressive doubles every time Mack got a ball screen is just change the screener. Have Lesmond set the screen and then we’d be getting wide open threes for our best shooter.
One of the teams Princeton played earlier (sorry I can't remember which), had a small point guard who just split the double, creating a 4 or 5 on 3 situation.
Mack could, instead of looking up through torsos and arms, look down at the legs and pick the spot through which to push the ball. He would then emerge with a clear field of vision.
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HARVARDDADGRAD
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01-07-24 08:28 PM - Post#361422
In response to 1LotteryPick1969
Earlier in the season Mack was slashing and getting to the foul line. It was obvious he wasn't up to it yesterday. From missed FT's and 3's to lackadaisical defense and a reluctance to slash it wasn't the Mack we're used to.
Yes, Mack and Okpara are our studs, with Lesmond and Pigge shooting 3's and Ajogbor able to punish when other teams double or let him post up. None of that was available or effective yesterday. I didn't expect much from this team, but 9-4 OOC convinced me they can compete.
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LocalTiger
Masters Student
Posts: 431
Age: 58
Reg: 11-15-17
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01-07-24 08:31 PM - Post#361423
In response to 1LotteryPick1969
I think you are recalling Furman, a game we were very lucky to win.
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2691
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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01-07-24 10:34 PM - Post#361432
In response to LocalTiger
The same afternoon brought incredible final seconds for Princeton (>Furman), Yale (<Vermont) and Penn (<LaSalle). I know two were Ivy losses, but those endings were amazing.
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