Crimson To Face Crusaders in Home Opener

Fans of Harvard men’s basketball will receive their first glimpse at the new-look squad tonight at Lavietes Pavilion, where the Crimson will host Holy Cross in its home opener.

Harvard’s kickoff to the season last year saw the Crimson take down the Crusaders on the road in a convincing 87-77 win that established the tone for the rest of a record-setting campaign.

But this evening’s matchup provides an opportunity for Harvard to make a different sort of statement: that even without its two top players from last season, the Crimson will be able to compete throughout a challenging non-conference schedule.

While Holy Cross returns four out of their five starters from ’09-’10, Harvard continues to adjust to the absence of Jeremy Lin ’10—whose 24 points against Holy Cross were a game-high—and sophomore stud Kyle Casey, who is out with a broken foot.

Crimson coach Tommy Amaker said Monday that the forward’s rehabilitation is proceeding according to schedule; Casey is slated to return to action before the start of Ivy play.

Instead, Harvard will need to rely on big man Keith Wright, who played perhaps the game of his collegiate career Saturday on the road against George Mason. The junior co-captain collected 22 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, earning him the title of Ivy League Player of the Week.

Wright’s dominant performance was just about the only bright spot for Amaker’s squad, which shot 33 percent from the field in the 66-53 loss to the Patriots.

“Without Keith, the way we shot it from the perimeter...[the losing margin] could have been 35,” Amaker said.

Though its backcourt is regarded as Harvard’s strength, the team found very little success outside the paint in its season opener.

Typically solid shooters, sophomore guards Brandyn Curry and Christian Webster combined to go 5-for-22 from the field, including nine missed three-pointers.

Heralded freshman Laurent Rivard had an inauspicious start to his rookie season, missing all 11 shots he took from the floor, but he certainly has the green light to keep firing away.

“Laurent’s already probably one of the best shooters in the Ivy League, and the reason why is he puts a lot of work in,” junior co-captain Oliver McNally said. “I know he’s been in the gym since the last game...he gets up a lot of reps, and works really hard at his shooting. He’ll be fine going forward.”

And as was also the case last season, taking care of the ball was a major issue Saturday. Harvard had 24 turnovers on the day—giving it away about one of every three possessions—leading to 24 George Mason points.

While the shots may simply begin to fall upon the team’s return to the comforts of its home gym, the importance of improved decision-making on offense is clear.

“It’s just knowing what your role is,” McNally said of the solution to the turnover problem. “The people who are supposed to be playmakers and taking risks with the ball...need to do that, and the people who aren’t shouldn’t be doing that. Everyone knowing their roles, so you don’t get out of your comfort zone on offense—that’ll translate into fewer turnovers for the team.”

The veteran point guard and his young teammates will be tested by the experienced Crusaders, who bring back five double-digit scorers and were picked to finish fourth in the Patriot League preseason poll.

The biggest change for Holy Cross has been the introduction of first-year coach Milan Brown, who will lean on junior guards Mike Cavataio, R.J. Evans, and Devin Brown. Cavataio and Evans each had 16 points in a season-opening loss to the College of Charleston on Saturday.

“You’re looking at some guys there who’ve been around,” Amaker said. “They’re playing up-tempo, they’re playing aggressive man-to-man...they’re not afraid to put some points on the board.”

Center Andrew Keister, a preseason all-Patriot League selection, holds down the interior for the Crusaders. He posted a team-high 22 points and eight rebounds against the Crimson last year and is coming off a double-double—the 20th of his career—against the Cougars a few days ago.

Given its dearth of experience in the frontcourt—little-used sophomore Jeff Georgatos received the start against George Mason—it would not be surprising to see the Crimson utilize a small lineup tonight and in the upcoming weeks before Casey’s return.

“I can see us doing that, based on some of the lineups [Holy Cross] has shown in a couple of scrimmages and its first game,” Amaker said.

Whether it plays four guards or not, Harvard is sure to have its hands full with a Holy Cross squad looking to exact its revenge on a Lin-less lineup.

—Staff writer Dennis J. Zheng can be reached at dzheng12@college.harvard.edu.