Fordham Loss Hurts Harvard in Both Major Polls

Despite a shocking 60-54 loss to Fordham on Tuesday, Harvard managed to remain in the top 25 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, coming in at No. 25. But the Crimson’s didn’t fare as well in the AP Top 25, receiving just 16 points and falling 10 spots, well out of the rankings.

In the coaches poll, Harvard extended its four-week stint, though the squad dropped four spots. Garnering 58 points, the Crimson made the top 25 with 15 points to spare.

That led to some disgruntlement in the blogosphere, like from ESPN.com blogger Eamonn Brennan. In a Monday post, Brennan wrote, “Harvard's inclusion in the poll is one of the more glaring coaches' mistakes we've seen thus far this season,” pointing to the squad’s relatively weak schedule and an RPI of 46.

In the AP Poll, after receiving 269 points last week, the Crimson plummeted after the road loss at the hands of the Rams and is now 154 points behind No. 25 Marquette.

Following the Fordham loss, Harvard answered its critics. In its most recent game, the Crimson earned a double-digit 63-47 victory over Dartmouth, Harvard’s first league opponent, at Lavietes Pavilion on Saturday.

This upcoming week, the Crimson will face two sub-.500 teams, first travelling to Monmouth tomorrow and then playing a Saturday matinee with George Washington in front of its home fans.