Harvard will start season without best player

Sans Jeremy Lin, the Crimson could ill afford any extra obstacles to hurdle heading into the 2010-11 season.

Unfortunately, one of the feel-good teams from last year will be without its best player for the next two months.

Kyle Casey, the Ivy League Rookie of the Year last season, popped one of his wheels during a scrimmage with teammates over the weekend. FOXSports.com's Jeff Goodman got a hold of Casey yesterday over the phone.

"I exploded and it snapped,” Casey said. "But I’ll be back. I might miss a few games.”

The prognosis is 6-8 weeks, according to Casey — which would put him back on the court either sometime in mid- or late-November.

Exploded. Snapped. My toes curl just reading that.

Much was/is expected of the sophomore for the upcoming campaign. With Cornell expected to downtick after its coach and a bevy of seniors departed, the league is considered up for grabs for a few clubs, and Casey and the Crimson figure to figure in that equation.

Casey averaged 10.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in 2009-10. Harvard's slate until Dec. 4 (two months from today): at George Mason; Holy Cross; at Mercer; at Bryant; Colorado; Fordham; at Michigan.

Casey should be back for the big road game against UConn on Dec. 22. Behind a big performance from Lin, Harvard nearly stole that game last season. Casey will need to be healthy if it's going to be close again.

Photo: AP.

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