Harvard vs Brown Picks and Prediction – 1/18/2025

The Harvard Crimson (5-9, 0-1 Ivy League) face off against the Brown Bears (8-6, 0-1 Ivy League) in Providence. Harvard looks to bounce back from a 68-64 loss to Princeton, while Brown seeks to recover from a tough 79-58 defeat against Yale. Slam dunk your bets with our College Basketball picks.

Harvard relies heavily on Robert Hinton, who averages 13.9 points per game on 44.2% shooting. Chandler Pigge contributes significantly on the boards, averaging 7.6 rebounds. Offensively, Harvard struggles with consistency, managing just 66.9 points per game while shooting 42.9% from the field. The Crimson’s assist-to-turnover ratio also highlights the difficulty in maintaining fluid ball movement, with only 13 assists per game.

Defensively, Harvard allows 70.8 points per game and struggles on the glass, averaging 33.2 rebounds per game. Despite Pigge’s efforts as the steals leader (1.6 per game), Harvard lacks defensive intensity, particularly in protecting the rim, as they average only 3.1 blocks. A stronger focus on disrupting opponents' shooting could be critical against Brown’s efficient offense.

Brown’s offense is spearheaded by Kino Lilly Jr., who leads the team with 18.9 points per game, shooting 42.3% from the floor. Supported by Landon Lewis, averaging 7 rebounds, and Lilly’s 4.1 assists, the Bears average 72.2 points per game on 44.8% shooting. The well-balanced attack benefits from superior ball movement, contributing 15.1 assists per contest.

Defensively, Brown is solid, matching Harvard’s points allowed at 70.8 per game but outperforms them in rebounding with 36.6 boards. The Bears excel at shot-blocking, led by N’famara Dabo (1.9 per game), and maintain discipline. However, perimeter defense has room for improvement, as opposing guards have occasionally exploited gaps in coverage.

The Bears' superior offense and defensive depth provide a decisive edge. Expect Kino Lilly Jr. to exploit Harvard’s defensive shortcomings and lead Brown to a comfortable victory. Final Score Prediction: Brown Bears win and cover 75-66.