Cornell Basketball in the News: Is Harvard a Contender... or a Pretender?

After watching a practice in Cambridge, Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com is claiming that Harvard is getting itself in a position to claim its first-ever Ivy League crown.

This is not the first time that journalists have claimed Harvard was getting itself into position to win an Ivy crown. Before the days of Tommy Amaker and as recently as the 2005-2006 season, many media members were talking about Harvard as the Ivy League favorite. The '05'-'06 Crimson team had two All Ivy League players on the frontline, including 7'0" 250 lb. Brian Cusworth and 6'8" Matt Stehle. That team also featured future All-Ivy player Drew Housman.

The reality is that if Cornell claims its third consecutive title this season, then the Big Red will most likely be the favorite, or at least in position, to win a fourth consecutive title in 2010-2011.

Even after Cornell's loaded class of 2010 graduates, the Big Red should have unmatched balance in all position areas on the 2010-2011 team. Next season's roster will be led by 6'9" Kentucky transfer Mark Coury, 6'8" Centenary transfer Anthony Gatlin, 6'4" UMass transfer Max Groebe, and 6'2" point guard (and reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Year) Chris Wroblewski. A fifth starter could come from either proven veteran 6'6" Adam Wire or highly touted current freshman, 6'6" Errick Peck.

Below is Goodman's article:

HARVARD: FROM NOBODY TO CONTENDER

BOSTON - Harvard coach Tommy Amaker called it the worst practice thus far.

``If we play like this, we won’t beat anyone,” Amaker told his team following Wednesday’s practice.

That may be accurate, but the Crimson will improve. Amaker and his staff have brought in recruits that will eventually put Harvard in a position to claim its first-ever Ivy League crown.

``These guys are way better than I was as a freshman,” Harvard senior guard Jeremy Lin admitted. ``Harvard hasn’t seen this level of recruit – ever.”

While Cornell is the clear-cut favorite to win the Ivy League, Harvard has put itself in a position to be in the mix with the return of Lin (who ranked in the Top 10 in the league in just about every statistical category last year) and the addition of guys like freshman wing Kyle Casey.

Amaker calls Lin (17.8 ppg) a throwback player.

``I think I’m qualified to say that he can play anywhere,” said Amaker, who played at Duke and coached at Seton Hall and Michigan. ``The kid can play.”

But the difference is that the Crimson will be more athletic and have quality depth with a freshman class that includes Casey, point guard Brandyn Curry and wings Dee Giger and Christian Webster.

Harvard also brings back sophomore big man Keith Wright (8 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and talented face-up forward Andrew Van Nest – who missed his entire freshman campaign due to a shoulder injury. Senior Pat Magnarelli, after suffering a knee injury that cost him all of last season, is also back healthy.

``We talked about going from a nobody to an upstart,” Amaker said. ``And this year we want to position ourselves to be a contender.”

``Cornell is clearly the favorite,” he added. ``We want to be in the mix.”

Harvard, in Amaker’s second season at the helm, finished 15-15 last season and 6-8 in league play – but showed its potential with a victory at then-ranked Boston College and also on its home floor against Cornell.

But this is a different Crimson team. Even with the addition of the freshman class, there are holes to plug. Point guard Drew Housman is gone and will be replaced by sophomore Oliver McNally or Curry. Evan Harris (5.0 ppg) was a solid reserve and Andrew Pusar (6.4 ppg) was invaluable due to his leadership abilities.

The 6-foot-3 Lin, who grew up in Palo Alto, Calif., and played his high school ball basically across the street from Stanford, wasn’t truly recruited by the Cardinal. He chose the Crimson over Brown and has developed into a player who will make money playing professionally next year.

While he has seen his improvement and also the strides that the program has made since he arrived, there is still one more goal.

``To win the Ivy,” said Lin, who wants to become a pastor working with inner-city underprivileged kids down the road. ``That’s all we’re looking at. To be honest, that’s all I want.”