"Nearly Full" Patrick Gym Witnesses a Good One: Harvard Beats Vermont, 55-48

If Vermont really did just play one of the 27 best teams in the country, then they have a lot to be proud of. They only lost by 7, while shooting a dismal 35.85 from the field. We knew Harvard was a good defensive club heading into the game, and they made sure we now know they are a great defensive club. Every possession was a struggle for the Catamounts. In the first four minutes of the game it looked like Sandro Carissimo was scared to face the basket with the ball in his hands. Vermont successfully threw the ball into the post less than ten times (though that figure is a complete guess). Vermont deliberately moved the ball around the perimeter like it was a help-defense drill. Normally, it would be a good thing to turn the ball over only nine times against a stingy defense like Harvard's -- and make no mistake, Vermont took care of the basketball -- but the Cats only turned the ball over nine times because they were afraid to do anything but make the simplest pass.

Rather than bore you with the stats you can find in the box score, I will bullet point some things that stood out in tonight's game.

...after the JUMP!

-Brendan Bald and Brian Voelkel, Vermont's two best all-around players, were nowhere to be found tonight. Coming into the game averaging almost 11 rebounds and over 6 assists per game, Voelkel settled for 1 board and 2 assists in just 15 minutes of PT. So, he was in foul trouble you say? Nope. He had 1 foul. Bald might have been worse. He went 0-8 from the floor, continuing his shooting woes. I firmly believe Bald will come around -- he's such a solid team player that everyone associated with the Vermont program is pulling for him to come around -- but I'm starting to wonder when. He missed a couple lay ups, looked awkward taking shots (including a bad miss from the free throw line), and at some point, he all together decided he was not going to shoot the basketball. Not a good sign.

-Josh Elbaum played 27 minutes tonight. That's right, Elbaum played more minutes than Voelkel and Bald. He did a great job handling the basketball and hanging with Harvard's ultra-quick point guard Brandyn Curry. Is this a trend that will continue? All signs point to yes, though when Bald and Voelkel are playing better basketball he probably won't be playing 27 minutes a game.

-After the aforementioned initial struggles handling Curry's unhinging pressure, Sandro Carissimo settled in and played another nice game. He scored 6 points and had 3 steals, and, perhaps more importantly, he never turned the ball over. It may not look pretty all of the time, but Carissimo has been taking care of the basketball this year. Again though, is it more important to take some chances with the ball, turning the ball over on occasion, or to pass the ball around the perimeter with very little risk of giving the ball up? Learning how to take calculated risks is something Vermont's guards could improve.

-FOUR! McGlynn makes it hurt so good. Four hit two huge threes for Vermont in the midst of a 13-3 run that started the second half, pulling the score to 41-39. Four finished with 15 points on 3-6 shooting. He has shown the ability to hit threes, and this opens up lanes for him to drive, something he has shown he is equally capable of doing. Seven games into Vermont's season it is clear that Four is their best scorer. Some of us knew this before the season started: I'm looking at you, OscarTheGeezer. That said, Four had a chance to cut the lead in half down the stretch and missed a pretty good look at 3. There will be ups and downs, but let's pray this kid stays in Burlington for Four! years. This might be the new meaning of Four!

-Big Ben Crenca was terrific tonight. He played great defense against the reigning Ivy League POY, Keith Wright. While Wright had 13 points, none of the points he scored against Crenca were easy. Crenca is not the fastest dude in the post, and he is not the strongest, but he consistently got good post position on Wright and made things difficult for him. Crenca was hobbling by the end of game due to an apparent knee injury, but he did finish the game, leading me to believe it is nothing too serious.

People are already chirping about how Harvard could earn as high as an 8 or 9 seed in the tournament. If some of Vermont's shots were falling -- including at least three blown lay ups -- this close game would have been even closer. The fact is, nobody wants to play an important game in Burlington, even if we can't sell it out for a game like this.