BASKETBALL '07: More Than Just a 1-2 Punch

The old adage in basketball is that defense wins championships. But anyone can tell you that at the end of the game, it’s the team with the most points that wins. The other side of the saying then, is that in addition to stopping the other team, you have to put your own numbers on the board.

The Crimson thus turns to two rising stars to provide the offensive output needed to compete in the Ivy League.

This season, juniors Drew Housman and Evan Harris will be counted on for an inside-outside presence. Their emergence is even more crucial with the graduation in last year’s leading scorer, Jim Goffredo ’07, and center Brian Cusworth ’06-’07, whose eligibility expired midway through last season.

Housman has already proven his scoring and overall playmaking ability, ranking in the top 10 in the Ancient Eight in points, field-goal percentage, and assists last year. Harris, who many consider to be one of the most athletic post players in the league, is a double-double threat every game.

The pair first played together in AAU ball, when they played on the same team at age 11. They’ve come back as teammates at Harvard and, now entering their third year for the Crimson, expect to use the experience to their advantage.

“I know where he likes it,” Housman says. “I know what positions he likes to be in usually.”

“It really came to a point in the Cornell game when he threw that pass through the legs, and I knew what to do,” Harris says, referring to Harvard’s 65-64 home win last season in which Housman passed to Harris for the game-winning layup with 0.8 seconds left. “Our relationship is at a great place, and it’s getting better on the court.”

Though the pair will be the focus of opposing squads, they and their coach caution against viewing themselves as an inside-outside duo.

The big man-little man combinations like Shaq-Wade that have become a generic recipe for success at the NBA level won’t be the model for this team.

“It’s not just two guys,” coach Tommy Amaker says. “I’m more comfortable saying we need multiple players to contribute and fill those holes [left by Goffredo and Cusworth].”

As a former point guard on Duke’s national championship-contending teams, Amaker has developed an early relationship with Housman and has elevated expectations for him.

“I think he has the ingredients to continually improve, and he’s done fairly well over these first two years,” Amaker says. “But I think he can get better.”

Specifically, the coach is looking for leadership at the “quarterback” position of basketball. Point guards are called on to direct the offensive aspects of the game, and Housman will be expected to fulfill this role in addition to scoring.

“I think the growth that is going to have to take place will be from the shoulders up,” Amaker says. “My judgment and analysis of his performance is going to be judged ultimately on points—that’s how a quarterback is judged.”

Both Harris and Housman have been challenged by Amaker to improve continually, especially in developing their overall game.

“We need Evan to spread the floor, be a good rebounder in addition to scoring points,” Amaker says. “We need Drew to quarterback and play defense in addition to scoring.”

Thus for the coach, and now the team, it’s back to that basketball truth, “defense wins championships.”

“We need to be a better defensive team,” Amaker says. “To have that as part of our identity…I think that’s the best way to reposition our program.”

For Harris and Housman, it’s just one more way to get better and make progress towards becoming complete basketball players.