YTD: 22-10-2
This game is so far off the radar screen for Vegas that Covers has it as a match-up between Hartford and Dartmouth.
Here's why Harvard is the play:
1. I don't think that anyone in Vegas even realizes that Dartmouth's leading scorer Mike Lang (11.8 ppg, 47% FG including 39% from the arc) severely injured his ankle in the 2H of the 12/28 game at Ohio State and won't play. Also top reserve Jason Meyer (16 mins/game, 6.7ppg) is out and he will undergo season-ending surgery on his ankle in the next few weeks. The two have accounted for nearly a third of Dartmouth's points so far this season. Lang is the team's go-to guy and will be sorely missed.
2. Harvard's 7 foot center Brian Cusworth (2nd team all-Ivy) is doubtful for this game but he was seen without crutches at 12/22 Rider game. Harvard really needs their big man back, Beatty can rebound but he can't handle the ball inside.
3. Harvard has won last 8 vs Dartmouth; both wins last year by a combined four points. This should be a very close game decided by a last minute shot.
4. After losing their first eleven, Harvard is coming off of a confidence-building win at San Jose State last Tuesday. Most of those losses were reasonably close, the only real blow outs were at BU and at Stanford. Harvard lost all five starters from last year and had just one player who had started a college game prior to this season, so their slow start is not totally unexpected. As the season progresses, they're looking better and better...taking Rider to OT, hanging with Stanford (somewhat) in the 1H and then beating SJS on the road.
5. Harvard can shoot free throws: 14-14 vs Stanford and 11-13 in the final two minutes at SJS.
good luck
- Jon
This game is so far off the radar screen for Vegas that Covers has it as a match-up between Hartford and Dartmouth.
Here's why Harvard is the play:
1. I don't think that anyone in Vegas even realizes that Dartmouth's leading scorer Mike Lang (11.8 ppg, 47% FG including 39% from the arc) severely injured his ankle in the 2H of the 12/28 game at Ohio State and won't play. Also top reserve Jason Meyer (16 mins/game, 6.7ppg) is out and he will undergo season-ending surgery on his ankle in the next few weeks. The two have accounted for nearly a third of Dartmouth's points so far this season. Lang is the team's go-to guy and will be sorely missed.
2. Harvard's 7 foot center Brian Cusworth (2nd team all-Ivy) is doubtful for this game but he was seen without crutches at 12/22 Rider game. Harvard really needs their big man back, Beatty can rebound but he can't handle the ball inside.
3. Harvard has won last 8 vs Dartmouth; both wins last year by a combined four points. This should be a very close game decided by a last minute shot.
4. After losing their first eleven, Harvard is coming off of a confidence-building win at San Jose State last Tuesday. Most of those losses were reasonably close, the only real blow outs were at BU and at Stanford. Harvard lost all five starters from last year and had just one player who had started a college game prior to this season, so their slow start is not totally unexpected. As the season progresses, they're looking better and better...taking Rider to OT, hanging with Stanford (somewhat) in the 1H and then beating SJS on the road.
5. Harvard can shoot free throws: 14-14 vs Stanford and 11-13 in the final two minutes at SJS.
good luck
- Jon
