Harvard's basketball opposition will be better tonight than in the first three nocontests, but Springfield College pales next to Tuesday's visitors from Boston College.

The Crimson figures to be the better team tonight in the IAB, but they can't exactly treat this as a tune-up for the meeting with Cousy's boys. Springfield lost, 68-66, to Brown, and the Springfield coach, Ed Billik, says Harvard has a somewhat better squad than the Bruins. He saw Harvard clobber Tufts on Wednesday.

Springfield is loaded with sophomores, including two in the starting five. Their star and high scorer is a 6 ft. 5 in. center named Paul Wagner. Once again, the Harvard five will not be facing a real big man.

But they will be facing their toughest opponent so far, and if they win big -- why, even B.C. isn't out of the question.

The freshmen meet Springfield at 6 p.m. Home Events Basketball vs. Springfield  8 p.m. Freshmen vs. Springfield  6 p.m. Fencing vs. CCNY  2 p.m. Freshmen Hockey vs. Exeter  4 p.m. Squash vs. Army  2 p.m. Fr. Squash vs. Exeter  2 p.m. Swimming vs. Navy  4 p.m. Fresh. vs. Williston Acad.  2 p.m.