Busting Brackets
Fansided

Ivy League Basketball: Predicting the standings for the 2017-18 season

By Tristan Freeman

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 12: The Princeton Tigers hoist the championship trophy after the win against the Yale Bulldogs in the Ivy League tournament final at The Palestra on March 12, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Princeton won 71-59. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 12: The Princeton Tigers hoist the championship trophy after the win against the Yale Bulldogs in the Ivy League tournament final at The Palestra on March 12, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Princeton won 71-59. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /
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LAWRENCE, KS – DECEMBER 05: Head coach Tommy Amaker of the Harvard Crimson coaches from the bench during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse on December 5, 2015 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KS – DECEMBER 05: Head coach Tommy Amaker of the Harvard Crimson coaches from the bench during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse on December 5, 2015 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

2. Harvard Crimson

2016-17 result: 18-10 (10-4) – No postseason

Many are surprised that Tommy Amaker is still around as the head coach with the Crimson. Since 2007, Harvard has been a powerhouse in the Ivy, making several NCAA appearances in the decade. Amaker has to be near the top of the list for coaches eligible for bigger jobs.

What has separated Amaker from the other coaches in the league has been his recruiting ability. It’s almost unheard of to have a nationally-ranked recruiting class in the Ivy, but that’s what last season brought for Harvard.

With freshmen guards Bryce Aiken and Seth Towns leading the way, Harvard finished a respectable second in the league. Considering that the school also had the second-best defense as well, these young players have the all-around attributes to not only make damage in the Ivy, but potentially in March in the future. While they did lose Siyani Chambers to graduation, they have more than enough for a run at the title.

If the sophomores can continue their steady growth as players and take the next step, then the Ivy could be all theirs. With the rest of the conference getting better, though, there’s hesitation in such a young team being the favorites.

Plus, there’s a high-level player coming back that these Harvard young bucks didn’t see last year, and he’s looking to take back his school’s Ivy League title.