Men's Basketball Preview: Saint Rose

After dropping consecutive games to Big Six opponents, the Harvard men’s basketball team (8-3) righted the ship with a win over Grand Canyon to close out its three-game road swing. The Crimson return to Massachusetts looking to extend its win streak when it takes on Saint Rose (5-8) Monday at Lavietes Pavilion (7:00 EST, Ivy League Digital Network).  Below, The Back Page takes a look at the three main things to keep your eye on as Harvard aims to kick off 2015 with a victory.

Retaking the Glass: In losses to both Arizona State and Virginia, Harvard failed to establish itself early inside, unusual for a Tommy Amaker offense. Senior center Kenyatta Smith, the most traditional back-to-the-basket player on the roster, played 22 combined minutes in both games without a field goal. Not coincidentally, the Crimson’s bounce-back performance against Grand Canyon hinged on a 38-24 advantage on the boards. Playing a team that started four guards, Harvard went to the paint—via dribble or pass—early and often. A lack of a strong post presence has been a theme throughout the Crimson’s three losses, so look for Amaker to establish Smith and co-captain Steve Moundou-Missi inside early Monday night.

Finding His Range: The most positive development for the Crimson against Grand Canyon was the play of junior co-captain Siyani Chambers. The team’s starting point guard had made just 10 of his previous 39 shots heading into the contest, but sunk five of 10 and led the team in scoring for the first time this season with 16 points. However, Chambers is still shooting a career-low 33 percent from the field while posting career lows in rebounds, points, and free throw attempts a game. Saint Rose—a team who has never before played a Division I opponent in regular season play—is an ideal game for Chambers to get back on track.

Home Cooking: Monday’s game is a brief intermission for the Crimson before Harvard takes the road again for a three-game swing against Dartmouth, Boston College, and Bryant. Overall, the Crimson has not lost at home in 2014-2015 and the team carries a nine-game home win streak into the contest. Since the 2010-2011 season, Harvard has had two home winning streaks of 20 games or longer and boasts a 55-3 record overall within the friendly confines of Lavietes Pavilion. For perspective, that home field advantage is third in the country over that time frame, and within shouting distance of first (Duke, 70-3).