“We’re going to have to defend the three-point line and really rebound and box out,” Wright said. “That’s going to be a big key.”
Amaker also stressed that Harvard would be much more comfortable with a quick, high scoring game, such as the one at Lavietes Pavilion last Saturday.
“We need to have a pace to our game,” the coach said. “When you think about the losses we’ve had against Princeton, the scores were in the 50s, and low 60s. [Last] game it got up and down the floor.”
Both Amaker and Casey also acknowledged that it would be important to not let the high of last week lead to a letdown tomorrow.
“They definitely have the edge,” Casey said. “They sat and watched us celebrate. But there’s not going to be any letdown. We know what’s at stake, and what we have to come out and do ... we’ll be ready.”
Amaker has not coached in the NCAA tournament since 2000 with Seton Hall, when he reached the Sweet 16. Harvard, of course, has not reached the tournament in far longer a time period.
“The best thing we can do to turn anything around is to have success,” Amaker said at his introductory press conference in April 2007. “I certainly feel like it is going to be a joyous ride.”
The ride has been long, but the joy and success have come. All that’s left to do is dance.