#2 Penn 68, #1 Harvard 65: Quakers Are Dancing Again

For one of the league’s traditional powers, Penn’s last decade was utterly forgettable. The Quakers went 10 seasons without a title or an NCAA tournament appearance, the longest such streak in program history, finishing above .500 only once in that span. But that era fully closed on Sunday, when Penn beat Harvard, 68-65, to punch its ticket back to the Big Dance. Continue reading “#2 Penn 68, #1 Harvard 65: Quakers Are Dancing Again”

Ivy League Tournament Mini-Preview: #1 Harvard vs. #2 Penn

After a downright weird regular season, the Ivy League Tournament has given us a very normal final: #1-seed vs. #2-seed, co-champion vs. co-champion, Player of the Year against the presumed runner-up. Harvard and Penn split the season series, with each team winning in its home gym — and the rubber match will be at The Palestra, making the Quakers a small favorite on paper. Continue reading “Ivy League Tournament Mini-Preview: #1 Harvard vs. #2 Penn”

#1 Harvard 74, #4 Cornell 55: Juzang, Crimson Outshoot Big Red

When he was a freshman, Christian Juzang watched all of Harvard’s first-ever Ivy League Tournament game from the bench. As the team’s fourth-string point guard (and the least-heralded of seven rookies in the Crimson’s nationally ranked recruiting class), Juzang didn’t play a meaningful minute in league play, and he could only watch as his team’s NCAA tournament hopes were dashed in an upset loss to Yale. Continue reading “#1 Harvard 74, #4 Cornell 55: Juzang, Crimson Outshoot Big Red”

Ivy League Season Roundup: NYC Buckets’ Individual Awards

Inside this week: Wrapping up the regular season and handing out NYC Buckets’ individual awards. Don’t miss Ray’s dispatches from Cornell’s clinching victory and Columbia’s crushing defeat, and stay tuned later this week for in-depth Ivy League Tournament previews. Continue reading “Ivy League Season Roundup: NYC Buckets’ Individual Awards”

Columbia Tops Harvard in Manhattan Once Again

Harvard entered Friday night unbeaten in Ivy League play and coming off three straight away wins. Its road momentum continued early on, as the Crimson built a 15-point lead midway through the first half. But an offensive barrage from Columbia, plus a few key stops, completed a comeback that left the Lions with an 83-76 victory. Continue reading “Columbia Tops Harvard in Manhattan Once Again”

Harvard Wins In OT, But Can Crimson Get Offense Going?

Even with Bryce Aiken out injured, the Harvard basketball team is chock-full of recruits that the Ivy League likely wouldn’t have gotten a decade ago. Tommy Amaker has raised the bar, and went to where no Crimson team had gone before, four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and two NCAA victories (and a near Sweet 16 visit).

In many ways, Amaker and Harvard have dragged other Ivy League competitors, particularly Yale and Princeton, with them (Yale also grabbed an NCAA Tournament victory, while the Tigers lost by two to Notre Dame last season).

Continue reading “Harvard Wins In OT, But Can Crimson Get Offense Going?”