Most northeasterners like to go to warmer regions for the holidays to escape the cold. Some folks go west, others head south.

The Harvard men's basketball team is doing both.

The Crimson (4-2) is leaving the Cambridge cold behind and heading for warmer climates. But this week's visits to California and North Carolina won't exactly be a vacation for the cagers, because Harvard must face Stanford and Duke, two of its toughest opponents of the season.

Tonight at 10:35 p.m. in sunny California, the Crimson will face the Stanford Cardinal in Maples Pavillion. Under Coach Mike Montgomery, Stanford has improved greatly in the off-season, and should challenge for the Pac-10 title.

The Cardinal is led by underrated junior Todd Lichti, who may be one of the best guards in the nation. Lichti averaged 17.6 points per game a year ago, and had already netted 1000 points by the end of his sophomore year.

Senior Eric Reveno and junior Howard Wright are also scoring threats for Stanford. The two 6-ft., 8-in. forwards combined for 20 points a game last season. With 6-ft., 11-in. center Greg Butler, the Cardinal will have a marked height advantage over the Crimson.

Harvard Coach Pete Roby will try to press Stanford to help minimize the size disparity. The quicker Crimson subs--forwards Neil Phillips and Kevin Collins--should get a lot of time early in the game to enforce the pressure. Tri-Captain Mike Gielen will have to hound point guard Terry Taylor into numerous turnovers for the Crimson to stay close.

If the press doesn't work, Roby may be forced to use his Twin Towers--sophomore Mal Hollensteiner and Tri-Captain Bill Mohler--together to shut down Stanford's big men. The two centers are fairly slow, and should prevent the Crimson running game from operating at top speed. If Harvard is forced to use Mohler and Hollensteiner together, it will lose.

So much for the easy part of the trip.

Exit II: Durham, N.C.

Monday night at 7:30, in Durham, N.C., Harvard will face a team that no one should have to play on the road.

The Duke Blue Devils are currently ranked third in the nation by Sports Illustrated, and in the top-10 by everyone else. Coach Mike Krzyzewski brought the Blue Devils to the third round of the NCAA tournament last season, and Duke should go even further in 1988.

The Devils are led by pre-season All-America Danny Ferry. The 6-ft., 10-in. junior power forward, whose brother Bob is third on Harvard's all-time scoring list, has emerged as one of the finest players in college ball. Ferry averaged 14 points and 7.8 rebounds per game last year.

Joining Ferry on the court are Co-Captains Kevin Strickland and Billy King. Strickland, a guard, averaged 11.5 points per game last season, while King, a forward, added 7.2 p.p.g.

Junior John Smith pumped in 11.9 p.p.g. for Duke last year, and has played extremely well so far this season. Add in 6-ft., 10-in. Alaa Abdelnaby and speedy guard Quin Snyder, and you have a team which will challenge for the national championship.

Realistically, Roby does not have a great number of options when preparing his cagers for the Devils. Last season, Duke beat Harvard, 98-86, and the Crimson played absolutely perfect basketball in the second half to lose by only 12.

In all likelihood, Roby will use the Duke game as a chance for all of his players to get some time and experience. Christmas miracles only happen on 34th Street in New York, not in North Carolina.

Even if the Crimson loses to both squads, the cagers should not be disappointed. Closing out the 1987 portion of the schedule with a .500 record is better than many people expected.

Regardless of what happens this week, Harvard has earned its vacation.