“There’s some real interesting potential with some of the players we have,” Sullivan says. “But they need to develop experience. They need to develop confidence. And none of that is really there right now because they haven’t played.”
Injuries in the preseason haven’t helped in the experience department. In addition to Cusworth, most of the team—especially the front court—is battling its own tweaks and nursing minor injuries, preventing much game action and limiting practice primarily to drill time.
“We haven’t gone up and down a lot,” Sullivan says. “We haven’t scrimmaged enough.”
From the little time that the team has spent in game situations, however, the improvements down the line are crystal clear, particularly amongst the upperclassmen.
“Three guys in the junior class probably put as much time in in the off-season as they ever have: Kevin Rogus, Graham Beatty, Dave Giovacchini,” Sullivan says. “They worked hard and it showed right away. That probably is the most glowing thing.”
With the measurable improvements to many of the Crimson’s former role players, Harvard enters the season particularly strong at the point, along the wings and at center.
Lack of depth at power forward, however, has Sullivan worried, prompting him to attempt to convert 6’4 sophomore Zach Martin into a viable option at the four.
“The second goal [for this year] is somehow defining some level of rotation amongst the guys that we have,” Sullivan says. “A kind of a rotation that they can feel confident in, that we can grow from.”
A solid rotation may be the second goal, but the season’s primary objective is rebuilding the nucleus of a program that used to be constructed on the backs of Prasse-Freeman, Harvey and Merchant.
“The goal is to develop a real solid foundation for a group that’s going to be together for two consecutive years,” Sullivan says. “I think everybody involved is kind of excited that we’re really going to stay intact for the next two years, which is kind of interesting.”
Though they may not have reason to cheer or be excited now—nor, perhaps, will they at any point during what may well be a rebuilding season—Norman’s entourage need only have patience. The baskets and the excitement will return and the questions about who that guy that just made that shot is will fade into the thunder inside Lavietes once more.
—Staff writer Timothy J. McGinn can be reached at mcginn@fas.harvard.edu.