1985-86 Harvard Men's Basketball

The Harvard men's basketball team probably won't win its first-ever Ivy League championship this year.

But the union of first-year Coach Pete Roby and a fantastic freshman class--combined with some old favorites--may well produce that coveted title in the near future.

And like any good marriage, this one includes:

*Something old. Captain Pat Smith and junior Keith Webster team in a solid, veteran backcourt which should be the key to a successful season.

*Something new. Eight of the 15 players on Roby's opening day roster are freshmen, a very large--and very talented--group. Neil Phillips has already captured a starting slot at forward, and several of his classmates may join him before the season ends.

*Something borrowed. Forward Arne Duncan, last year's third leading scorer, borrowed a year from school to work on his thesis--leaving his thesis stronger but the Crimson forward line weaker.

*Something blue. The fast-breaking, fullcourt pressing game Roby hopes to play--aided by a relatively deep bench--should leave more than a few opponents gasping for air (and blue in the face).

Harvard has already played two games this season, losing its opener to Merrimack, 63-62, but coming back with a 64-62, buzzer-beating victory over Vermont. The cagers play their road opener tonight at Holy Cross.

Last year the Crimson opened up with a record eight straight wins and finished 15-9 (7-7 Ivy, fourth place) for the squad's best winning percentage in nearly 30 years.

But this year's team bears little resemblance to that unit. Gone are All-Ivy performers Joe Carrabino (Harvard's all-time leading scorer) and Bob Ferry (third all-time) and Coach Frank McLaughlin, who departed for the job of Athletic Director at Fordham.

McLaughlin announced his resignation from Harvard in late September and Roby, a three-year assistant for the Crimson, took over the following week.

"He's brought a lot of enthusiasm to the head coaching spot," Smith said of his new coach. "He's made the transition [from McLaughlin] really easy."

And for those who never played under McLaughlin--the freshmen--Roby is equally appreciated. "He's great because he'll push you to your potential, but he'll also pat you on the back when you've done something right," says rookie forward Fred Schernecker.

Rookie forward Matt DeGreeff concurs: "He's renewed my love for the game, made me fall in love with basketball all over again."

The coach seems as pleased with his players as the players are with their coach. "They've gotten here early to work on their game," Roby said during pre-season practice, "and they've stayed late to work on their game."

But all is not perfect in Briggs Athletic Center.

Foremost among Roby's problems is a lack of experience. The large freshmen class may be very talented, but it is also quite young.

Roby has attacked this problem in Harvard's initial games with the sink-or-swim method, playing four freshmen at once on several occasions.

He's had no choice. In the season opener, Webster had to leave the game after just two minutes when he jarred his head scrambling after a loose ball.

Roby promptly found a replacement in Yardling Mike Gielen--who responded with a 10-point performance.

"Considering that we have so many freshmen, we've all been meshing very well," Gielen says. "The upperclassmen have been good about that--they're not afraid to stop and tell you things that they've learned."

That combination--education and opportunity--bodes well for the development, not to mention job satisfaction, of the talented youth brigade.

"We have a great atmosphere because Coach Roby is teaching us the game," says DeGreeff. "We all have a chance to play, to grow as players."

But a problem less likely to go away is a weak inside game and a related lack of height. Against Vermont, only four of Harvard's 26 baskets were scored by frontcourt players in a half-court offensive set.

Sophomore starting center Bill Mohler, the Crimson's tallest player at 6-ft., 8-in., is struggling offensively this season with just 11 points in the two contests.

The height problem will be a bigger factor away from the Ivy league than in it, where few teams--Yale is one--have frontcourts much taller than Harvard's.

Phillips and Webster look to be the heart and sole of the Crimson offense. The former has shown the ability to stick it from anywhere within 18 feet of the basket, and the latter combines good outside shooting and the ability to drive with unmatched intensity.

"There's no question that Keith's a real catalyst for us because of his competitiveness," Roby says.

Kyle Dodson rounds out the starting five. A player with excellent athletic ability, the 6-ft., 4-in. forward has yet to preform well consistently. Against Vermont, he was 0-for-9 from the floor.

Roby has shown a greater willingness to go to his bench than his predecessor, and a great wealth of freshmen talent awaits him there. Guard Gielen--who has reached double figures off the bench in each of Harvard's first two games--looks like the best of the bunch.

Senior guard Carmen Scarpa, sophomores Todd Litfin and Bill Whelan, and freshmen Tedd Evers (a good outside shooter), Schernecker, David Lang, Rutledge Simmons, DeGreeff and David Wolkoff round out the roster.

Harvard plays a nine-game non-conference schedule before the Ivy season opens up with the infamous Penn-Princeton trip during January reading period. Among the Crimson's non-Ivy opponents is Duke, currently the third-ranked team in the country.

Realistically, the cagers will have a tough time breaking into the top four in the Ivy League, where defending champ Penn, Columbia, Yale and Cornell are consensus picks to hold sway.

But Harvard may well surprise a few teams: "We're certainly not writing off the season," Roby says, "let me tell you that." 1985-86 Schedule NOVEMBER Tuesday 26  MERRIMACK  8:00 p.m. Saturday 30  VERMONT  7:30 p.m. DECEMBER Wednesday 4  at Holy Cross  7:30 p.m. Saturday 7  at New Hampshire  3:45 p.m. Tuesday 10  MIT  7:30 p.m. Saturday 14  at Manhattan  8:00 p.m. Tuesday 17  STANFORD  7:30 p.m. Thursday 19  ST. MICHAEL'S  7:30 p.m. JANUARY Thursday 2  LAFAYETTE  7:30 p.m. Saturday 4  at Dartmouth  7:30 p.m. Monday 6  LEHIGH  7:30 p.m. Friday 10  at Pennsylvania  7:00 p.m. Saturday 11  at Princeton  7:00 p.m. Saturday 25  BRANDEIS  7:30 p.m. Monday 27  at Duke  7:30 p.m. Friday 31  at Yale  7:30 p.m. FEBRUARY Saturday 1  at Brown  7:30 p.m. Tuesday 4  DARTMOUTH  7:30 p.m. Friday 7  CORNELL  7:30 p.m. Saturday 8  COLUMBIA  7:30 p.m. Friday 14  PRINCETON  7:00 p.m. Saturday 15  PENNSYLVANIA  7:00 p.m. Friday 21  at Columbia  7:30 p.m. Saturday 22  at Cornell  6:30 p.m. Friday 28  BROWN  7:30 p.m. MARCH Saturday 1  YALE  7:30 p.m.

Captain Pat Smith

No. 10 G Sr. 5-11 155

Favorite NBA team: Celtics

Favorite hobby: Running

Hero: James Warner

City most like to live in: Washington, D.C.

Favorite television show: The Cosby Show

Favorite cartoon character: He-Man

Favorite class: Lit. of Social Reflection

Favorite movie: Vacation

Favorite cereal: Captain Crunch

David Lang

No. 12 F Fr. 6-6 215

Favorite NBA team: Knicks

Favorite hobby: Fishing

Hero: Bill Walton

City most like to live in: Stamford, Conn.

Favorite television show: David Letterman

Favorite cartoon character: Bugs Bunny

Favorite class: Science B-27

Favorite movie: Diner

Favorite cereal: Crunch Berries

Rutledge Simmons

No. 14 G Fr. 5-11 160

Favorite NBA team: Celties

Favorite hobby: Photography

Hero: My Mom

City most like to live in: Monte Carlo

Favorite television show: The Cosby Show

Favorite cartoon character: Papa Smurf

Favorite class: Economics 10

Favorite movie: Rocky III

Favorite cereal: Frosted Flakes

Neil Phillips

No. 15 G/F Fr. 6-5 205

Favorite NBA team: Bullets

Favorite hobby: Reading sports publications while listening to music

Hero: Martin Luther King, Jr.

City most like to live in: Washington, D.C.

Favorite television show: The Flinstones

Favorite cartoon character: Fred Flintstone

Favorite movie: Three Days of the Condor

Favorite cereal: Sugar Cocoa Pops

Mike Gielin

No. 20 G Fr. 5-10 150

Favorite NBA team: Bullets

Favorite hobby: Playing guitar

Hero: Bob Cousy

City most like to live in: Honolulu

Favorite television show: Moonlighting

Favorite cartoon character: Bugs Bunny

Favorite class: Math

Favorite movie: Back to the Future

Favorite cereal: Fruit Loops

Carmen Scarpa

No. 22 G Sr. 5-6 160

Favorite NBA team: Celtics

Favorite hobby: Watching sports

Hero: My dad

Favorite television show: Hogan's Heroes

Favorite cartoon character: Road Runner

Favorite class: None that sticks out in my mind

Favorite movie: Officer and a Gentleman

Favorite cereal: Captain Crunch

Keith Webster

No. 24 G Jr. 5-11 165

Favorite NBA team: Celtics

Favorite hobby: T-shirt collector

Hero: My uncle

City most like to live in: L.A

Favorite television show: M.A.S.H

Favorite cartoon character: Scooby Doo

Favorite class: Sociology

Favorite movie: Rocky

Favorite cereal: Captain Crunch

Kyle Dodson

No. 25 F So. 6-4 225

Favorite NBA team: 76'ers

Favorite hobby: Water Sports

Hero: Bill Cosby

City most like to live in: Charleston, S.C.

Favorite television show: Cheers

Favorite cartoon character: Road Runner

Favorite class: Outsider in American Lit.

Favorite movie: One Flew Over Cuckoo's Nest

Favorite cereal: 40% Bran Flakes

Tedd Evers

No. 30 G Fr. 6-4 180

Favorite NBA team: Knicks

Favorite hobby: Dancing

Hero: Bill Bradley

City most like to live in: A clean New York

Favorite television show: Twilight Zone

Favorite cartoon character: Bugs Bunny

Favorite class: Government

Favorite movie: All Glint Eastwood movies

Favorite cereal: Wheaties or Captain Crunch

Bill Whelan

No. 31 G/F So. 6-4 195

Favorite NBA team: Knicks

Favorite hobby: Punk rock

Hero: Steve Ignorant or Captain Sensible

City most like to live in: Managua

Favorite television show: Partridge Family

Favorite cartoon char.: Caspar Milktoast

Favorite class: Soc Stud 10

Favorite movie: Suburbia

Favorite cereal: Cocoa Krispies

Coach Pete Roby

Favorite NBA team: Celtics, because of K.C. Jones

Favorite hobby: Tennis

Hero: My father

Favorite television show: Miami Vice

Favorite cartoon char.: The Philly Phanatic

Favorite class: Psychology

Favorite movie: Magnificant Seven

Favorite cereal: Raisin Bran

Todd Litfin

No. 52 F So. 6-6 210

Todd Litfin could not be reached for this survey, despite repeated attempts by The Crimson's basketball staff. A rumor that he recently drowned in a bowl of Wheat Chex while watching Josie and the Pussycats could not be confirmed as this issue went to press.

David Wolkoff

No. 44 F Fr. 6-6 215

Favorite NBA team: Knicks

Favorite hobby: Architecture

Hero: My father

City most like to live in: New York City

Favorite television show: Family lies

Favorite cartoon character: B.C

Favorite class: World War I

Favorite movie: Gallipoli

Favorite cereal: Captain Crunch

Matt DeGreeff

No. 40 F Fr. 6-7 200

Favorite NBA team: Lakers

Favorite hobby: Playing jazzsax

Hero: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

City most like to live in: St. Louis

Favorite television show: Cheers

Favorite cartoon character: Spider Man

Favorite class: History of Earth and Life

Favorite movie: Bridge Over the River Kwai

Favorite cereal: Cream of Wheat

Bill Mohler

No. 33 C/F So. 6-8 225

Favorite NBA team: Celtics and Bullets

Favorite hobby: Calligraphy, before I lost my pens.

City most like to live in: Washington. D.C.

Favorite television show: David Letterman

Favorite cartoon character: Bugs

Favorite class: Physics

Favorite movie: Time Bandits

Favorite cereal: Cocoa Krispies

Fred Shernecker

No. 32 F Fr. 6-7 225

Favorite NBA team: Celtics

Favorite hobby: The Fake

Hero: Pat Smith

City most like to live in: Boston

Favorite television show: Miami Viee

Favorite cartoon character: Fred Flinstone

Favorite class: Lunch

Favorite movie: Animal House

Favorite cereal: Corn Pops

Captain Pat Smith

No. 10 G Sr. 5-11 155

Favorite NBA team: Celtics

Favorite hobby: Running

Hero: James Warner

City most like to live in: Washington, D.C.

Favorite television show: The Cosby Show

Favorite cartoon character: He-Man

Favorite class: Lit. of Social Reflection

Favorite movie: Vacation

Favorite cereal: Captain Crunch

David Lang

No. 12 F Fr. 6-6 215

Favorite NBA team: Knicks

Favorite hobby: Fishing

Hero: Bill Walton

City most like to live in: Stamford, Conn.

Favorite television show: David Letterman

Favorite cartoon character: Bugs Bunny

Favorite class: Science B-27

Favorite movie: Diner

Favorite cereal: Crunch Berries

Rutledge Simmons

No. 14 G Fr. 5-11 160

Favorite NBA team: Celties

Favorite hobby: Photography

Hero: My Mom

City most like to live in: Monte Carlo

Favorite television show: The Cosby Show

Favorite cartoon character: Papa Smurf

Favorite class: Economics 10

Favorite movie: Rocky III

Favorite cereal: Frosted Flakes

Neil Phillips

No. 15 G/F Fr. 6-5 205

Favorite NBA team: Bullets

Favorite hobby: Reading sports publications while listening to music

Hero: Martin Luther King, Jr.

City most like to live in: Washington, D.C.

Favorite television show: The Flinstones

Favorite cartoon character: Fred Flintstone

Favorite movie: Three Days of the Condor

Favorite cereal: Sugar Cocoa Pops

Mike Gielin

No. 20 G Fr. 5-10 150

Favorite NBA team: Bullets

Favorite hobby: Playing guitar

Hero: Bob Cousy

City most like to live in: Honolulu

Favorite television show: Moonlighting

Favorite cartoon character: Bugs Bunny

Favorite class: Math

Favorite movie: Back to the Future

Favorite cereal: Fruit Loops

Carmen Scarpa

No. 22 G Sr. 5-6 160

Favorite NBA team: Celtics

Favorite hobby: Watching sports

Hero: My dad

Favorite television show: Hogan's Heroes

Favorite cartoon character: Road Runner

Favorite class: None that sticks out in my mind

Favorite movie: Officer and a Gentleman

Favorite cereal: Captain Crunch

Keith Webster

No. 24 G Jr. 5-11 165

Favorite NBA team: Celtics

Favorite hobby: T-shirt collector

Hero: My uncle

City most like to live in: L.A

Favorite television show: M.A.S.H

Favorite cartoon character: Scooby Doo

Favorite class: Sociology

Favorite movie: Rocky

Favorite cereal: Captain Crunch

Kyle Dodson

No. 25 F So. 6-4 225

Favorite NBA team: 76'ers

Favorite hobby: Water Sports

Hero: Bill Cosby

City most like to live in: Charleston, S.C.

Favorite television show: Cheers

Favorite cartoon character: Road Runner

Favorite class: Outsider in American Lit.

Favorite movie: One Flew Over Cuckoo's Nest

Favorite cereal: 40% Bran Flakes

Tedd Evers

No. 30 G Fr. 6-4 180

Favorite NBA team: Knicks

Favorite hobby: Dancing

Hero: Bill Bradley

City most like to live in: A clean New York

Favorite television show: Twilight Zone

Favorite cartoon character: Bugs Bunny

Favorite class: Government

Favorite movie: All Glint Eastwood movies

Favorite cereal: Wheaties or Captain Crunch

Bill Whelan

No. 31 G/F So. 6-4 195

Favorite NBA team: Knicks

Favorite hobby: Punk rock

Hero: Steve Ignorant or Captain Sensible

City most like to live in: Managua

Favorite television show: Partridge Family

Favorite cartoon char.: Caspar Milktoast

Favorite class: Soc Stud 10

Favorite movie: Suburbia

Favorite cereal: Cocoa Krispies

Coach Pete Roby

Favorite NBA team: Celtics, because of K.C. Jones

Favorite hobby: Tennis

Hero: My father

Favorite television show: Miami Vice

Favorite cartoon char.: The Philly Phanatic

Favorite class: Psychology

Favorite movie: Magnificant Seven

Favorite cereal: Raisin Bran

Todd Litfin

No. 52 F So. 6-6 210

Todd Litfin could not be reached for this survey, despite repeated attempts by The Crimson's basketball staff. A rumor that he recently drowned in a bowl of Wheat Chex while watching Josie and the Pussycats could not be confirmed as this issue went to press.

David Wolkoff

No. 44 F Fr. 6-6 215

Favorite NBA team: Knicks

Favorite hobby: Architecture

Hero: My father

City most like to live in: New York City

Favorite television show: Family lies

Favorite cartoon character: B.C

Favorite class: World War I

Favorite movie: Gallipoli

Favorite cereal: Captain Crunch

Matt DeGreeff

No. 40 F Fr. 6-7 200

Favorite NBA team: Lakers

Favorite hobby: Playing jazzsax

Hero: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

City most like to live in: St. Louis

Favorite television show: Cheers

Favorite cartoon character: Spider Man

Favorite class: History of Earth and Life

Favorite movie: Bridge Over the River Kwai

Favorite cereal: Cream of Wheat

Bill Mohler

No. 33 C/F So. 6-8 225

Favorite NBA team: Celtics and Bullets

Favorite hobby: Calligraphy, before I lost my pens.

City most like to live in: Washington. D.C.

Favorite television show: David Letterman

Favorite cartoon character: Bugs

Favorite class: Physics

Favorite movie: Time Bandits

Favorite cereal: Cocoa Krispies

Fred Shernecker

No. 32 F Fr. 6-7 225

Favorite NBA team: Celtics

Favorite hobby: The Fake

Hero: Pat Smith

City most like to live in: Boston

Favorite television show: Miami Viee

Favorite cartoon character: Fred Flinstone

Favorite class: Lunch

Favorite movie: Animal House

Favorite cereal: Corn Pops