Dixon, flashy but inconsistent last year, has the potential to both move the Crimson offense and be among the Ivy League assist leaders in the process. "People may have expected too much from Dixon last year," McLaughlin says, "but he is much more consistent now." With a full Ivy League season and the China trip behind Dixon, McLaughlin counts on the Philadelphia to fulfill expectations this season.

Junior Robert Taylor will come off the bench to help in the backcourt, filling in as a solid, experienced play-maker.

With Harris the only experienced front line player, untested depth will characterize the Crimson up front. In addition to Trout and Carrabino, freshmen Chris Mitchell, Ken Plutnicki, and Terry Murnin, all of whom hover around 6-ft. 8-in., will provide uncharacteristic bench strength.

If the freshmen and McCabe produce as expected--and McLaughlin is "very optimistic"--the Crimson will take the ball inside, and thus accent their traditionally strong outside game.

McLaughlin says this year's team has the best all-around talent of any of the Harvard squads he has coached. The question mark, and it's a biggie, is the overall inexperience. But with the first Ivy game not until January 6th against Brown, the young team should settle down against non-conference opposition, including four games against Division 2 teams. In a crucial turn-around from last year, 12 of this season's first 15 games will be in the friendly confines of the IAB, where the Crimson went 8-3 last winter.

"If this were a year from now," McLaughlin says, "I'd say we'd have a great shot at winning the Ivies. But because of the inexperience, on some nights we'll look great, and on others we'll look terrible."