Two weeks ago Saturday, Harvard watched as navy-and-white-clad fans rushed the floor at John J. Lee Auditorium in New Haven, Connecticut. Two weeks later, it watched as an orange tide swept over that same floor, their Ivy League auto-bid hopes dashed at the final tick of the clock. Two plays Continue Reading
East Regional preview: Top four seeds are all dangerous
The Favorite Ohio State is the No. 1 overall seed in the Tournament and, by almost every projection, the team most likely to cut down the nets in Houston. The Buckeyes combine deadly three-point shooting with Jared Sullinger’s inside presence and a fascinating ability to force turnovers without committing fouls. Continue Reading
Harvard wins share of Ivy title, and much more
All along John F. Kennedy Street, they were singing. Cries of “Ten thousand men of Harvard gained victory today!” rang out from both sides into the ebullient darkness of a warm March night. While the official attendance in Ray Lavietes Pavilion was only 2,195, it certainly felt like the thousands Continue Reading
Penn AD sparks press row controversy
I’ve already written about the drama that happened on the court Saturday night at the Palestra when Penn took on Harvard. As strange as it might sound, the drama that happened off of the court was just as compelling. At the end of regulation, as the referees huddled to determine Continue Reading
A heavyweight classic at the Palestra
After it was all over, after the third “final” buzzer had sounded, interviews had been conducted and pronouncements made about the night’s place in the history of the Palestra, I walked up to the second level to look out over the now-empty floor. To my surprise, I found Harvard freshman Continue Reading
Quantifying the eye test: How do the top teams compare?
College basketball players and teams are endlessly compared to one another. Putting context to our observations is a vital part of what we do not only as hoops fans, but also in our everyday lives. Of course, our eyes often deceive us: Catch Texas at any time in January, and Continue Reading
I believe: A program blossoms in the Ancient Eight
Ivy League basketball story lines are usually predictable. The “last true student-athletes” earning their education and still finding time to play basketball. The reality, however, is much more nuanced. Beyond the obvious challenges balancing of schoolwork and sports, the Ivy League basketball experience is far from typical. Conference play is Continue Reading
Making the little ones count: Introducing Free Throw+
All college basketball teams are unique, but some are more unique than others. If we could quantify uniqueness (don’t tempt me), Wisconsin would certainly be near the top. The Badgers, darlings of the tempo-free community for years, are not only the slowest team in the country on a possessions-per-game basis; Continue Reading