Amaker said that the team was able to succeed in the paint because of its deep post rotation. Even without Smith, the team’s most effective post presence a year ago, the Crimson go five-deep in the frontcourt.
“We talked about our big guys doing things in a committee-like way,” Amaker said. “We are getting solid play out of different people. I think the front line is key to our team. If we can get them all out there and producing for our team, we are going to go as they go.”
When shots were not falling, the Crimson lived at the line. Harvard, which shoots just over 74 percent as a unit, made 19 of 24 free throws. When the Crimson made just three shots during the last ten minutes of the first half, it compensated with seven trips to the foul line.
With conference play having begun, Curry said the team has pushed off concerns about how it wins. What matters now, in a fourteen-game regular season with no postseason tournament, is getting the job done.
“It’s coming together, right in time,” Curry said. “It’s conference time; it’s go time. No excuses.”
—Staff writer David Freed can be reached at david.freed@thecrimson.com. Follow him on Twitter @CrimsonDPFreed.