84grad
Junior
Posts: 277
Age: 64
Reg: 11-09-17
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12-04-21 12:57 PM - Post#330558
UMass favored by -3 to -4.5.
Lesmond starting in place of Catchings.
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84grad
Junior
Posts: 277
Age: 64
Reg: 11-09-17
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12-04-21 03:02 PM - Post#330562
In response to 84grad
UMass strength is 3 point shooting, and Harvard did a terrible job defending the 3 and UMass shot it well.
This time we were up 17 in first and yet were down by halftime. Really got hurt by rebounding, in large part due to 50-50 balls on the floor. Positive was only 6 turnovers. Didn’t do much to draw free throws - 5 to 18 for UMass.
Catchings not dressed. Not the direction we want to be headed. At least Ajogbor appeared to have the brace off.
Just won’t know about this team until Forbes and/or Ajogbor are playing. If they both come back, the team dynamic will be completely different.
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digamma
Masters Student
Posts: 466
Loc: Minneapolis
Reg: 11-27-11
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12-04-21 03:31 PM - Post#330564
In response to 84grad
We just aren't a very good defensive team right now. Part of that is the lack of depth and people playing out of position. Maybe a lot of it.
Frustrating not to get some foul calls in the first half.
Feel like this season has already been a journey and we aren't even to Christmas yet.
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2685
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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12-04-21 06:33 PM - Post#330597
In response to digamma
The OOC has merely served to provide our backup guards (Wojcik, Freeman & Lesmond) and Silverstein some unanticipated or extra playing time. Otherwise, it's forcing players like Kirkwood, Ledlum and Catchings and Lesmond to learn how to play out of position.
Got outrebounded 41-27 but for the obvious reason (no Forbes or Ajogbor) and no Catchings today. We played 7 guards and Ledlum. And Ledlum can't post because he usually draws a 6'9"+ opponent. Hemmings played a minute.
Sort of remarkable how well we are competing under the circumstances. Tretout had 10 points early and we jumped out to a 17 point lead. Short bench and poor shooting ended up catching up with us. Can't win close games if Kirkwood and Ledlum are gassed by crunch time.
Time is running out on getting get Forbes & Ajogbor some pre-Ivy experience.
It's getting frustrating.
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whitakk
Masters Student
Posts: 523
Age: 32
Reg: 11-11-14
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12-05-21 12:55 AM - Post#330660
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
Even if you call UMass the 41% three-point shooting team they've been so far this season (which will probably regress), this game is a tossup if they shoot only that well instead of 15-29, and that's before getting to 16-18 on FTs. That's a very solid performance for Harvard in a Quad-2-ish game.
Of course on the other hand Harvard can't count on getting a single-digit turnover rate very often...
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2685
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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12-05-21 01:47 PM - Post#330671
In response to whitakk
This Harvard team, as currently constituted without Forbes, Ajogbor and Pitcher, is fun to watch but difficult to have confidence in. Every game is unpredictable and filled with streaks.
Also, there is no room for injuries. Back to back Ivy games will be a problem as well.
From what I saw on a streamed game, Pitcher is still in a giant brace and so not looking likely soon. Of Ajogbor and Forbes, Forbes seems to be more mobile when the bench is shown. Forbes would be really really meaningful. Hemmings has played in two games now, but for nominal minutes. Also, Cathings didn't play against UMass.
After Babson on Monday, the Crimson play Holy Cross and Howard on Dec. 19/21, then Kansas on Dec. 29th, before opening the Ivy season with Princeton on January 2nd followed by Brown and Yale the following weekend.
I'm really hoping that Mason Forbes can rejoin the rotation for the Holy Cross/Howard weekend in two weeks. Othewise, it will be a rough start to the season, with the saving grace being that those first 3 Ivy games are at home where we seem to play (and shoot) better.
Seems like Penn is in a similar situation with both of their bigs being sidelined and return uncertain. Yale is playing small. Brown's size will be a problem, and even Princeton's could be as well.
Thinking we need to focus on making sure we finish in the top 4 and then find outselves more healthy for the tournament at Lavietes.
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Naismith
Sophomore
Posts: 149
Loc: RI
Reg: 11-11-18
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UMass 12-05-21 03:33 PM - Post#330683
In response to whitakk
Barring no further injuries to those currently healthy, and addition of Forbes and Catchings, Harvard will definitely be playing a tournament game on its home court in March. Ranking of 1-4 slots however, remains series of coin flips with at least 6 teams plausible. #1 Yale, is saddled with a size issue and no "Bigs" to call on from the training room like Harvard and Penn.
Yale's romp over UMass might be the biggest eye opener of the OOC games to date.(Brown a close 2nd) But they also are 0-2 in America East! Harvard proved not viable in the A-10 and the MAAC at combined 0-4. Yet in any case, start arguing game result comparison's in this 2 months would not be wise.
And speaking of wisdom, Tommy might be wise to bench these "Bigs" for the Kansas game; 4 days before Ivy home opener with Princeton.
Edited by Naismith on 12-05-21 03:39 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Old Bear
Postdoc
Posts: 3988
Reg: 11-23-04
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12-05-21 08:07 PM - Post#330689
In response to Naismith
Cornell's off to a pretty good start.
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2685
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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12-05-21 08:46 PM - Post#330694
In response to Old Bear
Absolutely!
I'm not sure what to make of Cornell.
8-1 with a big win or two, but more very very small one's.
Cornell plays Virginia Tech on Wednesday. Maybe that will be revealing.
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H78
PhD Student
Posts: 1458
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
Reg: 01-06-11
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12-08-21 03:28 AM - Post#330871
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
Absolutely!
I'm not sure what to make of Cornell.
8-1 with a big win or two, but more very very small one's.
Cornell plays Virginia Tech on Wednesday. Maybe that will be revealing.
Christian Webster, H '13, is a VTech Asst. Coach, in his 6th year there. It will be interesting to see if he can coach up the Hokies to face Cornell, whose high scoring offense seems more Cornell than Princeton-styled...
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