No one can deny that the 1979-80 version of the Harvard's men basketball team has come--and gone--a long way.

Accustomed to playing most of their games before sparse crowds in the dilapidated Indoor Athletic Building, the Crimson cagersfoundthemselves in settings of a different sort a few weeks ago as they played to packed houses in the People's Republic of China.

The two-week, six-game tour of mainland China provided coach Frank McLaughlin, his squad and the accompanying entourage--including athletic director Jack Reardon and dean of admissions Fred Jewett--with a bonanza of memories.

How well did the trip go? McLaughlin put it this way yesterday: "Let's just say that the only thing that went wrong was that the airline showed the same movies on the flight home as it did on the flight going over there."

Overall, the hoopsters compiled a 24 mark on the tour, somewhat troubled by jet lag, unfamiliar food and an intense travel and sightseeing schedule. But everyone agreed the trip was the thing.

"We all learned an awful lot about meeting and getting to know people," assistant coach Terry O'Connor said yesterday. And McLaughlin chipped in. "You can't put a dollar value on the exposure and the public relations generated. We had the chance to be diplomats."

Everyone who met the squad was impressed, McLaughlin said. "The players did a tremendous job--they conducted themselves in the right way before all those people. We played an important part in U.S. China relations, and projected a good image of Harvard and the U.S."

Under NCAA regulations, a team is allowed one visit abroad every four years. McLaughlin was searching for a sojourn of some type and contacted his buddy Bill Wall at the U.S. Amateur Basketball Association. Wall corresponded with the Crimson mentor, and suggested a trip to the PRC.

With the idea born, all the cagers needed was the financing. So they employed a touch of the alumni network, counting on Crimson connections. Tom Stenberg and Ed Lee coordinated the drive with the Fung Ping-fan family playing a major role. Having received funds from several graduates, Coca Cola, American Express and Braniff Airlines, the Harvard hoopsters were on their way--to Beijing.

Although beset by injuries to All-Ivy forward Don Fleming (ankle) and next year's co-captain guard Tom Mannix (wrist) in the first two contests, the Crimson acquitted itself well, losing a couple of tight see-saw battles.

Against the PRC's national team, the cagers stayed close until a late first half splurge by the Chinese. But for a team which had an 11-15 won-lost slate this season (6-8, fifth place in the Ivies). Harvard registered solid performances before sellout crowds of up to 18,000 (10,000 at lowest) and several large T.V. audiences.

O'Connor explained that it was in many ways an eye-opening experience. "We went to a commune. People there are born, live and die on that commune. There's no picking up and moving in China. There's little night life. The people go to sleep at 9 p.m. and are up at 5 in the morning--to farm."

And, O'Connor added that the Chinese support the U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics.

The verdict on the trip? Unanimous, according to McLaughlin. "When the guys think of four years at Harvard and all the great things that are going to happen to you, this was the most memorable. And that's saying an awful lot."