That friendship was forged in a sort of fire, as Harvard limped through the trio's first season with a 6-20 record.

"I was happy to be a starter, but we didn't have very many wins," Rankin said. "I came from a high school [in Wisconsin] that had a tradition of 20 or more wins in a season, and last year it was the opposite."

Now, having somewhat established themselves personally, the three sophomores point to the team's success as their top goal.

"This year is going to be fun and more relaxed [for me]," Mann said. "And the team is definitely going to be a lot better."

"I think that this team is really good," Gilmore said. "We will be really competitive, and we play so well together."

"We have great expectations so far, and we want to turn things around and get some more wins," Rankin said.

Part of their role on this year's team, say the sophomores, is to stabilize a team that will contain three new freshmen.

"[This year] we talk to the frosh a lot," Mann said. "We tell them to keep a positive attitude, relax, and if they make mistakes that they have to take them in stride."

Gilmore, rankin and Mann may not be the Fab Five. But on this Harvard team, it's hard not to see them as the Super Sophs.