Busting Brackets
Fansided

Harvard basketball: 2017-18 season preview

By Tristan Freeman

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) /
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JACKSONVILLE, FL – MARCH 19: Teammatex Siyani Chambers
JACKSONVILLE, FL – MARCH 19: Teammatex Siyani Chambers /

Starting Lineup

SO Bryce Aiken

The leading scorer of the team, Aiken was responsible for the Yale victories, scoring 55 points combined. His 14.5 ppg in his first season will likely be his floor in his career at Harvard and may get to 20 ppg this upcoming season. All he needs to do is improve on his 40% field goal shooting, and he’ll easily be in the POY conversation in the Ivy.

JR Corey Johnson

Even though he’s just 5’11, he’s an ideal shooting for Harvard to use. In his first two seasons, he’s shot the deep ball at an impressive 40% clip and can handle the ball if Aiken needs a breather. The junior won’t be the most talked about player but will be valuable nonetheless.

SO Justin Bassey

At 6’5 and 210 pounds, Bassey is a wing who will take on the opposing team’s top perimeter player. He only averaged six points a game last year in limited minutes, but has underrated scoring capabilities and very well could get to double figures.

SO Seth Towns

Along with Aiken, Towns is the other headliner of the 2016 class. He averaged 12.3 ppg and 4.3 rpg in his first season and is one of the better defenders in all of the Ivy. The conference as a whole is not that big in frontcourt size, so at 6’7 Towns can play at the four spot without giving up much on the defensive end.

SO Chris Lewis

While not as heralded as the other players, Lewis was a big contributor last year. His 6’9, 235-pound frame can be difficult to guard, and his 7.8 ppg was impressive considering he was at times the 7th or 8th option on the team. With more plays to be drawn for him, Lewis could become one of the better overall frontcourt players in the league.