HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2692
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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11-30-23 11:49 AM - Post#359920
Justice Ajogbor in a cast on his right wrist after surgery and out for a month. Just what this team with no depth couldn’t withstand, an injury to a true and irreplaceable starter. Fortunately, Malik Mack’s amazing first half (22 pts without a single missed shot or FT) and Chisom Okpara’s 17 point second half willed the Crimson over KP #280 American at Lavietes.
Putting it in perspective, the minutes that would have gone to Justice, Evan Nelson, Sam Silverstein, Josh Hemmings and maybe Bennett Pitcher are going to Wojcik (0 pts), Batties (9 pts), Ace-Nasteski (4 pts) and Simon (2 pts). That’s 67 minutes and 15pts/8 rbs. Silverstein, Hemmings and Filipowski aren’t on the roster while Nelson and Pitcher aren’t coming back this year. Hopefully, Ajogbor can return before Harvard plays Brown (1/12) and Penn (1/20). Harvard looks to be a major underdog at Princeton on 1/6 regardless.
Some Musing/Comparison:
Current Rotation
Mack
Okpara
Lesmond
Batties (FR)
Pigge
Ace-Nasteski (FR)
Wojcik
Simon
Injured/Out
Nelson
Ajogbor
Silverstein
Hemmings
Pitcher
Filipowski
Playing Elsewhere
Ledlum, St. Johns (9.7 ppg, 8 rpg, 42.1% 3pt%)
Tretout, Iona (16.6 ppg, 37.8 3pt%))
Sakota, NE (11.3 ppg, 35.3 3pt%)
Towns, Howard (17.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 46.9 3pt%)
Freedman, NYU (15.2 ppg, 7.7 assts, 46.9 3pt%)
Tretout, Towns, Sakota and Freedman are leading their respective squads in scoring. Ledlum is, well, Ledlum – a beast who is among the team leaders in every category. The group is shooting 3's at >40% and appears to be shooting FT’s at around 80% as well.
Which Roster would you prefer to have? Perhaps the weakest option is currently 6-2 and ranked KP#135.
By the way, this exercise led me to notice that SETH TOWNS, who had missed the first few games of the Bison’s season, appears to be somewhat healthy. On Tuesday, he scored 24 points and pulled down 7 boards in 40 minutes in an OT loss to KP#37 Cincinnati. Really awesome to know that Seth is finally getting to play. I was there when Seth hurt his knee at the Palestra in the final minutes of the Ivy League Championship game in March of 2018. His pain and anguish was immediately apparent, and his subsequent frustration and torment was equally obvious. On Monday, December 11th, Seth and Howard return to the Palestra to play Penn. Enough said.
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SRP
Postdoc
Posts: 4914
Reg: 02-04-06
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12-01-23 01:05 AM - Post#359949
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
Happy to hear that Towns is back in action.
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2692
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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12-04-23 10:30 AM - Post#360118
In response to SRP
On Saturday Loyola Chicago exposed how weak we are inside without Ajogbor. Fortunately, Loyola is much larger, stronger and more athletic than Ivies appear to be. This led to Loyola being able to assign a 6’6” power forward/guard to Mack. This size disadvantage combined with Loyola aggressively denying Mack the ball completely disarmed Harvard in the first half. Thanks to Okpara, Harvard played a more spirited second half. Fortunately, the schedule eases (Army & Holy Cross at home) and the crimson break for Reading Period/Exams. Hopefully, Ajogbor can return for Iona/Albany in 4 weeks before the Ivy campaign kicks off at Princeton.
For anyone with access (ESPN+), I recommend watching the final 4 minutes of Princeton’s comeback win over Furman on Saturday as well as the final seconds (actually, the final “second”) of Yale’s loss to Vermont and Penn’s OT loss to LaSalle. Amazing efforts and finishes, two of which made Sportscenter’s top 10.
How good must Princeton be to beat a game Furman (now 4-4) squad while scooting 4-31 on 3’s? Of course, Princeton won on a final seconds “3” from Piece, after the starters had shot 2-26 from long range. If Princeton shoots to form it wins by 25 or more. Scary to know that Princeton can shoot that poorly and still beat a good team.
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ToothlessTiger
Senior
Posts: 336
Age: 76
Reg: 03-28-15
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12-04-23 11:10 AM - Post#360124
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
I am with you on that one, Dadgrad
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palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32834
Reg: 11-21-04
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12-04-23 11:13 AM - Post#360126
In response to ToothlessTiger
It's a reflection of the coach. Princeton has a team that always thinks it's going to win and generally, it does even when outplayed for most of a game.
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TigerFan
PhD Student
Posts: 1890
Reg: 11-21-04
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12-04-23 07:57 PM - Post#360154
In response to palestra38
Well said, Palestra. The way Penn was in its heyday and I suspect will be again some day...
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weinhauers_ghost
Postdoc
Posts: 2139
Age: 64
Loc: New York City
Reg: 12-14-09
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12-05-23 12:09 AM - Post#360161
In response to TigerFan
>The way Penn was in its heyday and I suspect will be again some day...
May that day arrive far sooner than you expect.
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TigerFan
PhD Student
Posts: 1890
Reg: 11-21-04
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12-05-23 12:25 AM - Post#360162
In response to weinhauers_ghost
I was thinking around 2050, maybe?
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mbaprof
Senior
Posts: 345
Age: 67
Reg: 12-24-11
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12-07-23 09:06 AM - Post#360264
In response to SRP
Seth Towns has been leading scorer and rebounder for Howard last three games. Howard lost in ot to a undefeated cinncinati last game. My Quakers going to have a tough time with him Monday. Great to see him back healthy,ill make sure he gets some big cheers from courtside during introductions
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2692
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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12-11-23 09:20 PM - Post#360521
In response to mbaprof
Nice to see Seth Towns playing tonight. He is definitely a very different player post injuries. Wearing a long heavy knee brace and having dealt with serious back issues, the lateral movement, vertical capability, and explosiveness is long gone. Still a cool and smart approach to the game, he remains a contributor. Wish him all the best.
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palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32834
Reg: 11-21-04
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12-11-23 09:44 PM - Post#360524
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
Yeah, it's kind of sad seeing his smoothness gone, but he can still really shoot.
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2692
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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12-11-23 10:31 PM - Post#360532
In response to palestra38
Yeah, he was Ivy League POY, as a sophomore. He can still shoot. I recall he shot around 55% on 3’s in conference and well over 80% on FT’s. He could blow past you and finish, he could post at the hoop, and he could rebound and block shots, all while under control and - yes - appearing smooth.
Tonight was bittersweet. Not the same physical player, but the intelligence and shooting is still there. He quietly led Howard with 16 pts and 6 rebounds. Love how the ball doesn’t stay with him long. Selfless. Being honest, I don’t believe that Bryce Aiken and Seth fit well together, but -separately- they were each memorable.
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penn nation
Professor
Posts: 21210
Reg: 12-02-04
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12-11-23 10:56 PM - Post#360535
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
Jelani Williams also still bandaged up, after all of these years. But he stuck around to stand next to the Quakers when they played the Red and Blue.
Nice to see Seth Towns playing tonight. He is definitely a very different player post injuries. Wearing a long heavy knee brace and having dealt with serious back issues, the lateral movement, vertical capability, and explosiveness is long gone. Still a cool and smart approach to the game, he remains a contributor. Wish him all the best.
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