The Harvard men's basketball team has started 7-2 for the
second straight season (Gil Talbot).
The Particulars
After an 11-day break, Harvard visits No. 4/4 Connecticut
in a non-conference matchup at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn.,
Wednesday evening. The Crimson carries a 7-2 record into the game,
while the Huskies are 9-0.
Follow From Home
The game will be broadcast live on in the New York Metropolitan
Area on SportsNet New York (SNY), as well as nationally on
ESPN3.com. In addition, the game is available for subscribers to
ESPN's Full Court Package. Check local listings for complete
channel information.
Series History
Harvard and Connecticut have met 15 times on the
hardwood, with the Huskies owning a 13-2 lead in the series, which
began in 1921-22. After not playing since 1988-89, the teams met
last season, as UConn held off the Crimson, 79-73, in Storrs, Conn.
Jeremy Lin '10 led all scorers with 30 points, making 11 field
goals, and collected nine rebounds, while Keith Wright added
10 points and six boards.
Last Time Out
Harvard improved to 5-0 at home with an 87-71 victory
over Boston University Dec. 11, as the Crimson picked up its 13th
straight win over a non-conference opponent at Lavietes Pavilion.
Six Harvard players scored in double digits, led by Christian
Webster's 18 points. Keith Wright, who picked up his fourth
double-double of the season, scored 17 and grabbed 10 rebounds,
while Laurent
Rivard (15), Andrew Van Nest
(13), Oliver
McNally (11) and Brandyn Curry
(10) also shot the ball well against the Terriers. The Crimson made
10 treys in the game and outrebounded BU, 40-28.
Harvard Against Ranked Opponents
The Crimson has not played a team ranked as high as No.
4, since Harvard fell at No. 1 Duke, 118-65, Nov. 30, 1991. Harvard
head coach Tommy Amaker was an assistant coach with the Blue Devils
in that meeting.
Harvard earned the program's first victory over a ranked
opponent when the team downed No. 17 Boston College, 82-70, Jan. 7,
2009.
Top Of The Ivy League
The Crimson owns a 7-2 record through its first nine
games and boasts the best overall mark for an Ivy League school
this season. Harvard has started 7-2 two other times since 1996
(2002 and 2009).
70-Point Club
Harvard owns a 5-0 record this season when scoring 70 or
more points and is 2-2 when scoring less than that. The Crimson has
allowed an opponent to score more than 70 points on only one
occasion (Boston University, 71 (Dec. 11).
Harvard vs. The Big East
The Crimson owns a 7-38 record against current members of
the Big East conference. Harvard last defeated a Big East team Nov.
18, 1998, when the Crimson knocked off Boston College, 62-61.
Harvard last defeated a current member of the Big East Dec. 13,
1974, as the team downed Cincinnati, 77-76.
Hot Hand
Keith Wright has made 55-of-83 shots from the floor this
season for a shooting percentage of .663, which ranks second in the
country (Kenneth Faried, Morehead State (.664). Wright, who
is a 55 percent shooter for his career, leads the Ivy League in
shooting and 3.1 blocks per contest, is second with 1.9 blocks and
8.8 rebounds per game and third with 15.7 points per contest.
Conference Watch
The Crimson has earned victories over teams from the
Patriot League, Atlantic Sun, Northeast Conference, Big XII,
Atlantic 10, NEWMAC and America East this season. Harvard defeated
teams from 10 different conferences during the 2009-10 season and
has already topped teams from seven different conferences this
year.
Scoring From All Areas
Six Harvard players reached double digits in scoring
against Boston University: Oliver McNally, Christian Webster,
Brandyn Curry, Laurent Rivard, Andrew Van Nest and Keith Wright.
That marked the fourth time this season Harvard had at least four
players score 10 or more points (Holy Cross Nov. 17, Fordham Dec.
1, WPI Dec. 7).
Keeping Possession
Harvard has grabbed 88 offensive rebounds this season and
has scored 97 second-chance points. Keith Wright paces the Crimson
with 28 offensive boards, while Christian Webster (14) and Brandyn
Curry (11) have also been key players on the offensive glass for
Harvard.
Defense Wins Games
Harvard leads the Ivy League in scoring defense, allowing
the opposition only 62.6 points per game this season. The Crimson
also paces the Ancient Eight in scoring margin (+9.6), nearly seven
points more than Princeton (+2.8).
Opponents are shooting only 33.8 percent from long distance
against the Crimson.
Feeling It From Long Range
At least one Harvard player has made at least two three
pointers in all nine games this season. In the win over
Fordham, Harvard made 15 threes as a team, with Laurent Rivard
making five, as the Crimson was just two treys away from matching a
program record (17 vs. Rice in 2002).
The Crimson has hit 80 shots from long range on the season and is
shooting nearly 39.2 percent from three-point range. Harvard is 5-0
when making 10 or more three pointers in a game.
Harvard Against the BCS
The Crimson will play four teams from BCS conferences
this season: Colorado (Big XII), Michigan (Big Ten), Connecticut
(Big East) and Boston College (ACC). Harvard, which went 1-2
against BCS teams last year, boasts a 1-1 mark against BCS schools
this season after beating Colorado Nov. 28, but falling at Michigan
Dec. 1.
The Crimson owns a 4-6 record against BCS conference schools under
head coach Tommy Amaker. Harvard has defeated Boston College twice,
and topped Michigan and Colorado during Amaker's tenure in
Cambridge.
Keeping Everyone Involved
Harvard handed out 22 assists on 25 field goals in the
Crimson's 82-66 win over Colorado Nov. 28. The Crimson then dished
out 21 helpers on 28 field goals in the 80-57 victory over Fordham
Dec. 1.
Owning A Long Distance Plan
Laurent Rivard made five three-pointers in back-to-back
games against Fordham Dec. 1, and Michigan Dec. 4. The Crimson
freshman has buried 20 treys on the season, second most on the team
(Christian Webster, 22).
