Harvard Travels to Bahamas for Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament

Like many of Harvard’s homeward-bound students, the men’s basketball team has hopped on a jet this week destined for a far-off place.

But it won’t be enjoying a week of relaxation on the couch back at home; instead, the Crimson will compete in the inaugural Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament at Paradise Island in the Bahamas.

Early season tournaments have become a fixture in the schedules of many of the nation’s top basketball programs. Events like the Maui Invitational and the 76 Classic annually attract some of the best talent in the country.

The Battle 4 Atlantis will mark the Crimson’s first participation in such a tournament under the reign of head coach Tommy Amaker. It’s just one more stepping stone in the ascendency of a team that has begun receiving AP top-25 votes after struggling to a .500 finish just three seasons ago.

The tournament features an abundance of talent including No. 22 Florida State (4-0), College of Charleston (3-0), and No. 4 UConn (4-0), a club picked to win the Big East in preseason polls.

“It’s a terrific field of teams,” Amaker said, “and we’re honored to be included in it.”

The Crimson begins the tournament with a first-round matchup against Utah (1-2) on Thanksgiving night at 9:30pm (the game will be televised on HDNet).

The Runnin’ Utes, now a member of the Pac-12, have undergone plenty of change since finishing 13-18 last year. Larry Krystkowiak left the New Jersey Nets to take over as head coach for a team that boasts 11 newcomers and just four returning players.

One of those returning players, and Utah’s most dangerous offensive weapon, is senior guard Josh Watkins, who is posting just over 21 points per game early in the season.

“We think he’s the key to their ball club,” Amaker said.  “Different guys will be on him, and I’m hopeful we can defend him well to give us a chance.”

The Runnin’ Utes frontcourt is led by junior center Jason Washburn, averaging a near double-double through three games. Harvard will look to its own talented frontcourt duo of co-captain center Keith Wright and junior forward Kyle Casey to control the boards.

Utah stands at 1-2 after falling to Boise State and Montana State in its most recent outings. Amaker believes that the Runnin’ Utes will likely view their matchup with the Crimson as a prime opportunity to right the ship.

Should Harvard defeat Utah, it will play the winner of the University of Massachusetts and Florida State matchup. A loss against Utah sends the Crimson to the losers’ bracket, where it will play the loser of the same game.

Picked to finish near the bottom of the Atlantic-10 Conference, UMass (4-0) is off to a quick start thanks in part to a diverse offensive attack. Four players average double figures, with sophomore guard Chaz Williams leading the way at 17 points per game.

After a trip to the Sweet Sixteen last spring, Florida State has also started 4-0 and stands poised to compete with the likes of Duke and the University of North Carolina for the ACC crown. After the loss of star guard Chris Singleton to the NBA’s Washington Wizards, the Seminoles have been buoyed by a balanced offense led by junior guard Michael Snaer and a defense anchored by senior big man Bernard James.

Lurking on the other side of the bracket is UConn, the reigning national champion, which Harvard is already scheduled to face in non-conference play on Dec. 8. Boasting two of the nation’s best guards in Shabazz Napier and Jeremy Lamb, the Huskies present significant matchup problems for any team, especially one unaccustomed to the raw athleticism not often seen in Ivy League play.

Rounding out the tournament field are the College of Charleston, University of Central Florida (2-1), and the University of North Carolina-Asheville (2-2).

The tournament will force Harvard to deal with the athleticism of power conference teams even if it doesn’t find itself matched up against the Huskies.

“You’ve just got to go at them,” co-captain Oliver McNally said of the team’s strategy against athletic opponents. “If you play soft … they’re going to eat you up.”

According to Amaker, the Crimson feel prepared going into their three consecutive tournament games.

“We have things in our arsenal that should allow us to compete against those teams,” he said.