NCAA Basketball Prediction: Cornell Big Red at Harvard Crimson
Friday, February 03, 2012
by Joe Rodriguez
After a three-game road trip, No. 23 Harvard Crimson returns home and puts its 23-game home winning streak on the line against Cornell Big Red.
With a win over the Big Red, the Crimson can match their best conference start since opening league play 5-0 in 1980-81.
Harvard enters the contest on a six-game winning streak after defeating Brown 68-59. Cornell, meanwhile, enters off a 65-60 victory over Columbia. The Crimson hold a 90-70 advantage in the all-time series and have won two in a row after losing five of six from 2007-10.
- Cornell Big Red @ Harvard Crimson
When: 7:00 PM ET, Friday, February 3, 2012
Where: Lavietes Pavilion, Boston, Massachusetts
TV: 7 p.m. ET, No TV
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Justbet Sportsbook currently have the Crimson listed as 16-point favorites versus the Big Red.
Cornell Big Red (7-11): Cornell relies on Drew Ferry, who leads the Big Red in scoring with 12.2 points, to pace its offense, which averages 65.7 points. No other player scores in double figures for Cornell, which has yet to record a victory in eight road games this season. Ferry, a senior guard, finished with a team-high 12 points in the Big Red's 73-60 loss to Harvard last season. If Cornell expects better results against the Crimson this season, it'll have to find a way to get to the free throw line and limit fouls defensively. In both meetings last year, the Big Red shot a total of nine free throws, compared to 55 for Harvard.
Harvard Crimson (18-2): Harvard's third-ranked scoring defense (53.4) has guided the Crimson to their best start in more than 70 years. Harvard, which is 6-0 at home this season, has allowed one team to score more than 69 points and has held three of its last four opponents to fewer than 50 points. Offensively, the Crimson are led by Kyle Casey and Laurent Rivard. Casey leads the team in scoring with 11 points and Rivard adds 10.7. Keith Wright, who leads the team in rebounding with 7.9 per game, averaged 15.5 points and 11 rebounds in each of the Crimson's victories over the Big Red last season.
1. Harvard hasn’t lost a home game since a 79-70 defeat to Cornell on Feb. 19, 2010.
2. Cornell is 5-66 all-time against ranked opponents. The Big Red’s last victory came against No. 19 Wisconsin in the second round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
3. The Crimson have only been outscored in six halves this season. Harvard has outscored its opponent in 32 of 40 halves.
BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Crimson 71, Big Red 52.
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cornell big red - drew ferry - harvard crimson - keith wright - kyle casey - laurent rivard - lavietes pavilion - ncaa tournament
