With just one weekend remaining in regular season play, five reams are still in he running for the Ivy League men's basketball crown, and as many as four could tie for the Ancient Eight title.

At 9-3 Penn has already assured itself of at least a tie for first place, but Harvard, Cornell, Columbia and Princeton--all 7-5--could each conceivably force a playoff for the crown and the accompanying NCAA berth.

The Quakers would need to lose both games at Cornell and Columbia this weekend to force a playoff with any of the other four that wins both its games this weekend.

Since Princeton also plays both Cornell and Columbia, it is impossible for all three to participate in a playoff.

Thus, the only four-way possibility involves Penn, Harvard, Cornell and Columbia.

There are, by the way, four three way possibilities.

If four teams are involved in the playoff, two semifinal games would be held next Monday at a site to be determined, with the championship game taking place next Tuesday.

If three teams are involved, one squad will receive a bye and the two remaining teams will play next Monday. The championship game would be held next Tuesday.

If two teams are in the playoff, just one game would be held next Tuesday.

Confused?

Then just assume all games are random, and you've got a one in 64 chance there'll be a four-way playoff.

And that way you won't have to worry about it.

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Because of reasons that would take more space than we've got, Harvard cannot be involved in a two-way playoff. The only possibilities for the Crimson are a three-way or a fourway playoff.

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