Even as most undergraduates are reaching the climax of their annual post-exam binges, 12 Harvard athletic squads will swing back into action during the coming weekend. For those who are sober enough to care, two or three varsity contests should prove of more than passing interest.

The Crimson basketball team has perhaps the toughest assignment, for it must readjust its sights from bluebooks to backboards in time to meet Yale at New Haven. The Elis have not measured up to pre-season expectations so far, but must still be awarded the favorite's role by reason of home-court advantage, if no other.

A skyscraper of a man named Gerry Glynn will provide the Crimson dribble set with its most challenging problems. Measuring barely short of seven feet with his hair combed, Glynn has averaged 17 points per game this winter, and is a formidable obstacle in all rebounding set-tos.

Since rebounding has been a major Crimson weak point in previous games (and against opponents of a less stratospheric sort), it will probably take some extremely fine shooting to defeat the Elis. In addition to Glynn, Yale has two other potentially dangerous scorers: Dan McFadden (12 points per), and forward Larry Downs.

Crimson coach Floyd Wilson will likely go with the same starting line-up he has employed all season. This means Griff McClellan in the pivot, Bob Bowditch and Bob Repetto in the corners, and George Harrington and Mike Donahue at guard.

Doubtless, much will depend on the performance of Harrington, who currently is the second most proficient scorer in the Ivy League. Harrington had a brilliant season as a sophomore, but fell off badly last year, due to illness. Restored to health once again this winter, he started slowly, but in the three or four games immediately preceding exams, began to show his old-time form.

Hockey at Hanover

Meanwhile, at Hanover, the varsity hockey team will tackle Dartmouth, perhaps its most ambitious challenger for the Ivy League championship this year. The Green skaters play a fast, aggressive style of hockey and, like all Dartmouth men will doubtless prove extra-aggressive when competing in their own backyard.

The Crimson is a slim favorite here--assuming, as always, that it has had sufficient time to shake off the trauma incurred in two losses immediately prior to the exam period. The first of these was an 11-1 shellacking at the hands of a brilliant squad of professional amateurs from the Soviet Union; the second, an unexpected humiliation before lowly Providence College.

Mike Hollern and Rod Anderson are major scoring threats for the Green, and Dirk Frankenberg is a more than competent goalie. Frankenberg's biggest trouble is usually his own temper; but unfortunately there will not be enough Crimson fans at Hanover this weekend to get it stirred up.

In other contests, the varsity wrestling team will lock up with Dartmouth at the I.A.B., while the swimmers take on Navy. Crimson fencers will match swords with Columbia, and the squash team battles Dartmouth.

Finally, five freshman teams will also put their talents on display.