"Basically, we have raised our expectations to 'This is the way we want you to run the floor and this is the way we want you to play defense. And so if you don't, then someone else will. And if you do, then you'll need the rest.' "

Harvard will stick primarily with its traditional man-to-man defense this year. But with the height, Delaney-Smith occasionally may bring in a few zone defenses.

"We are probably going to be playing more zone than we've ever played," she said. "It has to be an agressive zone. I don't like lazy, pack-it-in zones. I want agressive match-up zones, trapping zones."

Harvard will stick with the triangle offense it has used for four years. The offense, popularized by NBA Coach Phil Jackson, is difficult to scout because it is keyed by a pass. Wherever the first pass goes, the play follows, and each first pass keys a different set of cuts and screens. Delaney-Smith said she found out about the offense from the former Loyola head coach after losing to the Greyhounds in a game she feels she should have won.

Harvard flew the Loyola coach to Cambridge to teach the Crimson the offense, and when the two teams met the next season, Harvard won.

But Harvard's athleticism in spite of its size will allow the Crimson to play hard-nosed basketball, especially in the transition.

"We have a transition offense that I just love," Delaney-Smith said. "It compliments our inside game as well as our outside game. And I think if I were trying to scout our transition game, I would be very worried. It's a game that sets a lot of screens for shooters and puts one of our 6'5 kids on the block so that we either take the shot and we're in great rebounding position or we get it inside and open up shooters. That being said, it is an offense for a team that wants to control it a little more."