HARVARD BASKETBALL 2005-06: A New Start in Crimson Backcourt

When the Harvard men’s basketball team takes the court on November 19 against Vermont, there will be no surprises in the Crimson frontcourt. The backcourt, however, remains somewhat unsettled following the graduation of last year’s two starting guards.

With the departure of sharp-shooter Kevin Rogus, junior Jim Goffredo projects to be the Crimson’s shooting guard this season.

Goffredo comes off a productive sophomore campaign in which he appeared in all 27 games for the Crimson, scoring 6.6 points per contest in an average of 15 minutes. He reached double-figures in scoring seven times, including a career high of 14 points against both Lehigh and Columbia. Goffredo’s experience playing significant minutes off the bench should ease his transition into a starting role.

“After playing under a couple of good wings that we’ve had, I’m ready to step into that role and help pick up the scoring load,” Goffredo said. “It should be a nice transition.”

In a sense, the progression seems natural, as the promise of a starting role on the Crimson figured prominently into Goffredo’s decision to play basketball at Harvard. His choice came down to Harvard and Princeton, and for the California native, the appeal of being able to make a difference from the outset outweighed the lure of Princeton’s Ivy League dominance.

“I felt that I would be able to contribute more right away coming here,” Goffredo said. “There is the whole thing about ‘Oh, they’ve won a lot, and we haven’t won a title,’ but I kind of took that as a challenge.”

The challenge of filling the void left by the departure of Rogus will not be easily met. Rogus was the squad’s third-leading scorer last season, averaging 9.9 points per game. He graduated as one of the most prolific three point shooters in Harvard history, nailing a school record 74 three pointers in the 2003-04 season.

Goffredo brings a different set of skills to the shooting guard position. His style of play deviates from the catch-and-shoot model that Rogus favored. Goffredo prefers to create scoring opportunities for himself, driving to the hoop and pulling up for shorter jump shots on a more consistent basis.

“I like to take a few more 15 footers and shorter jumpers and drive to the basket a little more,” Goffredo said.

The main challenge for Goffredo will be improving the range of his jump shot, from 15 feet to back beyond the arc. In the 2004-05 season, Rogus converted 36 percent of three point attempts (67-188) compared to Goffredo’s long-distance success rate of 32 percent (29-91). Coach Frank Sullivan would like to see Goffredo develop as a long range threat.

“Jimmy’s dribble game is a little bit different. Kevin was really a catch and shoot guy, and Jimmy is every bit as capable of doing that,” Sullivan said. “Jimmy must learn to become more consistent as a three point shooter this year. That’s the biggest thing.”

Goffredo expects that starting at the shooting guard position will create a level of comfort that eluded him coming off the bench.

“The last few years I haven’t really shot as well as I would have liked to. I never really got a feel for coming off the bench, so my percentages were down,” Goffredo said.

In preparation for his starting responsibilities, Goffredo spent the offseason honing his all-around skills, including shooting, ball handling, driving, and passing. He even played with freshman Drew Housman, who is competing for the starting point guard role, in summer league competition.

Goffredo hopes to thrive on the emphasis opposing defenses will place on the Harvard frontcourt, anchored by captain Matt Stehle and junior center Brian Cusworth.

“People might not be expecting a lot from the guards coming in this year, and I think that plays to our advantage,” Goffredo added. “Teams are going to collapse on Matt and Brian. If they kick it out to the shooters at the wings, and we’re able to knock down those shots, it’s going to make it a lot easier for them. Teams aren’t going to be able to double down on them. Their presence inside is definitely going to help our outside game, too.”

If Goffredo can complement the physical presence of Stehle and Cusworth on the inside by developing into a threat from beyond the arc, Harvard could capture the first Ivy League title in school history.