Three Things to Watch: Harvard-Vermont

Men’s Basketball beat writer David Freed highlights three things to watch ahead of Harvard’s matinee with Vermont (2:00 PM EST). The Crimson (6-7) looks to get to .500 on the season after winning four of its last five games.

BENCH AND BALANCE

As the calendar turns to January, it typically means two things for Harvard: the beginning of Ivy League play and the shortening of the rotation. Harvard coach Tommy Amaker typically plays just two or three players off the bench each game, preferring to rely heavily on his starters in a conference where (cliché alert!) every game matters.

During this spell, he constantly preaches the need for both “bench and balance.” Fittingly, after the departure of four starters and the team’s most trusted reserve, Harvard has better balance (and bench play) this year than last. While junior Zena Edosomwan—like Wesley Saunders ’15 a year ago—is the clear offensive focal point, six other Crimson players average between seven and 10 points a contest.

The depth and balance has allowed Amaker to mix and match lineups all year. No player averages more than 30 minutes a game, but seven average more than 20, leading to improved flexibility. Not three weeks after using a three-freshman lineup down the stretch against Kansas, Harvard played five upperclassmen for the majority of the second half against Oklahoma. Against Vermont, a team that plays a lengthy nine-man rotation and pushes the pace, Harvard’s depth will come in handy.

CONTRAST OF STYLES

Thrice at the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii, the Crimson found itself playing an opponent that liked to run. When Harvard controlled the pace, it surged—taking a 19-3 lead against BYU, dominating Auburn, and leading Oklahoma at half. When the game turned into a track meet, the Crimson’s penchant for live ball turnovers caught up with them. The dichotomy will be a theme in nearly every Harvard contest of the year as the team currently plays at the 276th pace in the nation, per KenPom. Vermont is a good match for the Crimson, as it turns opponents over under 12 times a game and registers just 5.3 steals a game. Both marks are outside the top 250 nationally and good signs for a Crimson team that occasionally has problems taking care of the ball.

THE CHATFIELD CONUNDRUM

After struggling with injury for a month, sophomore Andre Chatfield returned to the lineup against Wofford and registered only two fouls in nine minutes. Barring health complications, his reintroduction to the lineup poses interesting questions for Amaker. Senior Patrick Steeves has taken over Chatfield’s role and excelled, averaging nearly eight points and three assists while shooting 48 percent from three in just 20 minutes a game. With the rotation shortening, Chatfield and classmate Chris Egi—the team’s first big off the bench—are at risk of being cut to the fringes. Vermont will be a chance to see if Amaker is dedicated to continuing to give them playing time.