It's Becoming Hard for Crimson Faithful to Keep the Faith

Well, it could have been worse.

The Harvard men's basketball team could have lost to, say, a high school team.

Instead, the Crimson crashed and burned its way to a devastating 100-80 loss at the hands of the Division III Babson Beavers.

This is not a test.

I repeat, Division III Babson.

By 20 points.

This is probably not on the scale of Buster Douglas upsetting Mike Tyson. But in the microcosm in which followers of Harvard basketball live, it is earth-shattering.

This game was supposed to be the obligatory first victory that pointed the Crimson on the right path.

Wrong.

Instead, Harvard was dealt its own knockout punch.

"It is difficult to keep the faith," Harvard Coach Frank Sullivan said.

What the Beavers did last night illustrated a few of the problems in the Crimson's game.

Let's all say it together now: turnovers! Harvard did nothing to thwart its constant nemesis, giving Babson the ball 27 times. Many of the errors can be attributed to a Matt McClain-less backcourt.

When starting point guard Jared Leake fouled out with 12 minutes left to play, Dave Lapointe was handed the reins. Lapointe's inexperience at the helm showed, as he let the rock slip seven times.

James White also failed to step it up in McClain's absence. After a sterling 21 point performance against Boston College, White came crashing down to earth with a paltry three points.

Team captain Ron Mitchell could only come up with nine points and five rebounds. His expected inside dominance over a team whose tallest player is 6'6", did not materialize.

In what has become standard procedure, Mitchell fouled out with four minutes left in the game. That makes five times in six games that the captain has departed before the final buzzer.

The shooting guard woes continued for the Crimson. And as has become routine, the opponent's backcourt counterpart made the Crimson's evening a long one.

Babson's Erik Dellasanta exploited the Harvard defense. He exploded for 31 points, a game high, on 13-for-16 shooting.

Dellasanta was not the only problem. Matt Miller and Jim Pierrakos kept the baskets raining down, tallying 20 a piece.

The nagging problem of the opponent's field goal percentage reared its ugly head again. The Beavers shot 54 percent, while holding Harvard to 47 percent.

The Crimson did hold a drastic advantage on the boards, outrebounding Babson 47 to 33. This stat is deceiving, though. The Beavers did not need second opportunities, as they scored many times off steals and poor interior defense.

All these failings overshadowed what was a career game for starting center Mike Minor. Minor poured in a team high, and a personal career high, 19 points.

Minor did not miss from the floor, shooting a startling eight-for-eight. He exhibited a dazzlingly accurate jump shot that had reamained hidden until this point in the season. Still, he fouled out with seven minutes to go, limiting his time on the court.

Forward Tyler Rullman continued his scoring trend, pounding in 18 points. He also powered his way to a game-high 11 rebounds. However, he shot only eight-for-18 from the field, including two-for-six from the three-point arc.

What is next for Harvard?

Ivy League play begins Tuesday against Dartmouth. If the Crimson play like they did tonight, there is no hope.

The challenge is to turn this team around and accomplish the things it is certainly capable of doing, namely winning. If it cannot, it will indeed be difficult for the faithful to keep the faith.