With its grueling holiday road trip behind it, the Harvard basketball team reopens its Ivy League play tonight when it faces defending Ivy champion Penn at 8 p.m. in the IAB.

Judging from the Crimson's 2-5 performance during the holidays, the squad hasn't made full use of its potential yet, and for that reason, upsetting Penn. ranked fifth in the nation, won't be easy.

One explanation for the team's failure to jell is its attitude, according to head coach Bob Harrison. "We don't have a championship attitude on this squad." he said. But attitude can change overnight, and if it does, Harvard has the material to stay in the game.

But Penn won't fall easily. It ran its regular season winning streak to 27 Monday night against Princeton, 70-62, in its Ivy opener.

Included in that streak are nine wins this winter, one of them over Ohio State, 71-64. Harvard fell to the Buckeyes, 103-87, in the second round of the Far West Classic last week.

The Quakers boast one of the tallest front lines in the Ivies with 6-8 Tom Wolf at center, and 6-3 Bob Morse, Penn's leading scorer and rebounder, and 6-7 Corky Calhoun at the forwards.

Less Height

With some juggling of the Harvard line-up during the holidays the Crimson will be at a definite height disadvantage. Junior Matt Boze? and captain Dale Dover are at the guards, while 6-7 sophomore Floyd Lewis. the team's leading scorer and rebounder plays center in place of Tom Mustoe. 6-6 senior Hal Calbom and 6-6 sophomore guard James Brown are at the forwards.

"Our rebounding has suffered some what because of the shift," said Harrison yesterday. "But having three guards on the floor should get us moving and help us utilize our fast break game," he continued.

Penn has a balanced scoring attack with four starters scoring in double figures, so the Crimson can't single out any one player on defense. Consequently Harvard will have to play team defense against the Quakers' disciplined pattern offense.

Good Quakers

And Penn coach Dick Harter said last week that what pleased him most about his club's performance this year was its attitude. If the Quakers are keyed for tonight's contest, the Crimson's upset chances are much smaller.

But if Harvard is really up for the game, as it was against its only other Ivy League opponent, Dartmouth, in December, the Crimson just might upset Penn.