Cornell Big Red vs
Harvard CrimsonPredictions & Preview

Cornell University set to take on Harvard in Ivy League basketball matchup

The upcoming game between the Cornell University and Harvard University basketball teams is set to take place on Friday night. Cornell, with a record of 13-7 overall and 5-2 in Ivy League play, will face off against Harvard, who currently has a record of 7-12 overall and 2-5 in Ivy League play. The two teams previously met in early February, with Cornell winning by 15 points at home. In their most recent games, Cornell suffered a loss against Yale, while Harvard was defeated by Dartmouth. Cornell is favored to win the upcoming game, with an opening line of -5.5 points. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 EST.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Big Red -250 | Crimson +202
• Spread: Big Red -5.5 (-110) | Crimson +5.5 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 154 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Cornell will win straight-up is 71%.

Cornell vs Harvard Stats

Cornell Big Red

Cornell Big Red remains in contention for the Ivy League regular season title, currently tied with Princeton with 5-2 records, trailing the undefeated Yale Bulldogs at 7-0. Despite a recent missed opportunity against Yale, Cornell has won three of their last four games and holds the tiebreaker over Princeton. Key players include junior guard Cooper Noard, their top outside shooter with 53 made threes on the season, and senior guard Nazir Williams, the team's leading scorer. In the frontcourt, junior AK Okereke is a key contributor. Currently ranked 284th overall according to KenPom, Cornell excels offensively with a fast-paced style of play, ranking 45th in pace. Their offensive efficiency is ranked 6th in the nation, while defensively they rank 270th. With a power ranking of 89, Cornell maintains a strong offense, shooting well from the field, free throw line, and three-point range. Defensively, they have room for improvement, allowing higher percentages in field goals and three-pointers. Overall, Cornell has shown consistency and competitiveness throughout the season.

Harvard Crimson Analysis

The Harvard Crimson basketball team is facing a challenging end to the season as they are currently 7-13 overall and would need to win all remaining seven games to finish with a winning record. Their upcoming matchups include tough games against Cornell, Yale, and Princeton. The team has recently struggled, losing four of their last five games, with their leading scorer Robert Hinton, a freshman guard, averaging 14.2 PPG. Chandler Pigge, a junior guard, contributes 13.8 PPG and Thomas Batties II, a sophomore forward, adds 9.8 PPG. Harvard is ranked 284th overall in the nation and have struggled offensively, shooting 43.79% from the field and 32.51% from three-point range, while also struggling defensively, allowing opponents to shoot 45.07% from the field. Their chances of making the NCAA Tournament this season are slim, with only one team from the Ivy League likely to qualify.

Cornell's Offense Shines as Harvard Struggles: A Closer Look at the Teams' Matchup

Cornell's strong road performance is crucial as they vie for the top spot in the conference, contrasting with Harvard's recent losses. Analytically, Cornell's offense stands out as the superior unit in this matchup, ranking 61st in efficiency compared to Harvard's 294th ranking. Harvard may struggle to match Cornell's scoring capabilities, with only two players averaging double figures and a lack of proficient perimeter shooting. While Cornell boasts shooter Noard, they also possess athletic players like Williams and Okereke who excel at attacking the rim. Having previously defeated Harvard by 15 points, Cornell is poised to secure another victory, making them a strong bet to cover the spread.

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