Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: 6 biggest breakout candidates for 2019-20 season

By Brian Rauf

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 05: NBA Hall of Famer and former Georgetown Hoyas player Patrick Ewing is introduced as the Georgetown Hoyas' new head basketball coach John Thompson Jr. Athletic Center on April 5, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 05: NBA Hall of Famer and former Georgetown Hoyas player Patrick Ewing is introduced as the Georgetown Hoyas' new head basketball coach John Thompson Jr. Athletic Center on April 5, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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FULLERTON, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Jordan Ford #30 of the St. Mary’s Gaels guards Bryce Aiken #11 of the Harvard Crimson as he looks to take a shot in the second half of the game at the Titan Gym on November 23, 2017 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
FULLERTON, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Jordan Ford #30 of the St. Mary’s Gaels guards Bryce Aiken #11 of the Harvard Crimson as he looks to take a shot in the second half of the game at the Titan Gym on November 23, 2017 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

Harvard Crimson

Head coach Tommy Amaker has done an absolutely remarkable job at Harvard, yet this team may very well be his best yet. Expectations were high last year before injuries derailed them, but everyone’s back for another go – and I mean everyone.

The Crimson return their top nine scorers from last season, headlined by star guard Bryce Aiken. The 6-foot guard is a dynamic scorer when he’s on the court and averaged 22.2 points per game last year. Unfortunately, a knee injury limited him to just 18 games.

That’s 18 more games than Seth Towns, the 2017-18 Ivy League Player of the Year, got to play. He missed the entire season with a knee injury of his own, which he suffered in the 2018 Ivy League Championship game. Now healthy, the 6-7 forward will give Harvard another explosive all-around player. Towns averaged 16.0 ppg and 5.7 rpg in 2017-18.

Injuries to those two players created opportunities for others to get increased playing time and many took advantage, though none more so than Noah Kirkwood, who averaged 11.1 ppg and 4.4 rpg on his way to winning Ivy League Freshman of the Year last season. He may be relegated to a sixth man role given everyone Harvard has coming back, but Kirkwood will certainly make a significant impact.

Oh yeah, and just for good measure, Amaker brought in the nation’s No. 38 overall recruiting class, including a top 100 prospect in 6-6 forward Chris Ledlum and 6-5 sharpshooter Luka Sakota, both of whom will see a good deal of playing time as well.

If you’re keeping track, Harvard has proven stars. They have experience. They have high-level talent. They have crazy depth. They have good coaching.

What else could you want in a team?

Expect the Crimson to run away with the Ivy League and be a major factor in the NCAA Tournament.

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