Ultimately though, a possible run for the Ivy title will rest on all the facets of the game and not solely on their collective defensive prowess.

The Crimson Backcourt

As a unit, Harvard's corps of guards is generally considered the strongest component of the team. The Crimson backcourt, led by returning starters Gellert and Prasse-Freeman, is not only offensively explosive and defensively sound, but this year it will also be deep with the resurgence of old and new players alike.

The success of the Crimson offense will greatly rely on the skills of its point guard, sophomore Prasse-Freeman. In addition to leading the Ivy League with 111 assists in league play, the 6'3 guard also set a freshman record with 196 assists and had a good all-around season. He also chipped in 7.2 points per game, was third on the team in rebounding and second on the team in steals.

However, Prasse-Freeman occasionally had problems turning the ball over. For his first 18 games, Prasse-Freeman had a lackluster 1.3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Over his last nine games, though, he improved to a 2.3-to-1 ratio and showed signs of continued development.

"We did a lot of things poorly last year," Prasse-Freeman said. "I turned the ball over way too much and our defense wasn't superb. Those are the things we're working on this year and hope to see an improvement, from myself on a personal level, and from the team across the board."

Playing next to Prasse-Freeman is Gellert. The 6'3 junior shooting guard started all 27 games in his sophomore campaign last year. Aside from setting a school record and ranking nationally in steals, Gellert also contributed substantially in other facets of the Crimson attack. He ended the year averaging 6.8 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, and dished out 97 assists to place him second on the team behind Prasse-Freeman.

In addition to Gellert and Prasse-Freeman, there is a litany of players that will provide experience, skill, and depth for the backcourt. Sophomore Brady Merchant, who can also play as a small forward, will backup either Gellert or Prasse-Freeman. Merchant saw a healthy amount of playing time last year, and even started his first two games before enduring a high ankle sprain.