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| Username | Post: OOC is Over! |
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HARVARDDADGRAD Postdoc Posts 2698 |
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 Posts 2698 |
01-04-24 11:45 AM - Post#361228
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 338 |
01-04-24 04:59 PM - Post#361250
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 2698 |
01-04-24 07:32 PM - Post#361255
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 |
01-06-24 02:51 PM - Post#361311
Mack is back. |
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HARVARDDADGRAD Postdoc Posts 2698 |
01-06-24 03:06 PM - Post#361315
Didn’t see that coming. Double teaming Okpara. Going to miss Ajogbor as an option |
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HARVARDDADGRAD Postdoc Posts 2698 |
01-06-24 03:15 PM - Post#361318
Uh oh. Okpara picks up a second foul les than 7 minutes in. |
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84grad Junior Posts 277 |
01-06-24 03:45 PM - Post#361327
Haven't seen Wojcik here. |
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84grad Junior Posts 277 |
01-06-24 03:49 PM - Post#361328
In concussion protocol |
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HARVARDDADGRAD Postdoc Posts 2698 |
01-06-24 04:06 PM - Post#361332
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 Posts 2143 |
01-06-24 05:43 PM - Post#361356
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 3681 |
01-06-24 06:03 PM - Post#361360
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 Posts 2818 |
01-07-24 02:05 AM - Post#361385
Is harvard ever “fully healthy”? |
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weinhauers_ghost Postdoc Posts 2143 |
01-07-24 02:09 AM - Post#361386
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 
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01-07-24 09:55 AM - Post#361394
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 Postdoc Posts 2278 
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01-07-24 10:24 AM - Post#361395
For those of us who are non-athletes, substitute "brain" for "body". |
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Naismith Sophomore Posts 150 |
01-07-24 03:04 PM - Post#361411
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 403 |
01-07-24 05:34 PM - Post#361416
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 Posts 338 |
01-07-24 07:13 PM - Post#361420
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 Posts 2278
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01-07-24 08:00 PM - Post#361421
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 Postdoc Posts 2698 |
01-07-24 08:28 PM - Post#361422
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 438 |
01-07-24 08:31 PM - Post#361423
I think you are recalling Furman, a game we were very lucky to win. |
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HARVARDDADGRAD Postdoc Posts 2698 |
01-07-24 10:34 PM - Post#361432
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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