“Everyone knows their roles on this team,” Coleman said. “I know that every time, I’ve got to get that rebound.”

Filling Big Shoes

After spending two years stuck behind Clemente, Winter finally has a starting spot at power forward. Yet for Winter, starting will be nothing new.

Winter filled in for Harvard two years ago when Clemente missed two months with a detatched retina. The then-freshman from Topeka, Kan., exceeded all expectations, containing opposing forwards and often providing an unexpected scoring boost, regularly scoring in double-figures.

Unfortunately, the forward has been hard-pressed to duplicate that surprising first-year success.

Winter’s best asset is his outside shooting, but he has struggled to find his touch this year—making just a third of his field goals—and he is far from satisfied with just being an outside shooter.

“I’m trying to work on my consistency with my outside shot,” Winter said. “I also need to become more effective with my post moves, defense and rebounding.”

Winter has shown flashes of his ability in the last two games, following up a solid offensive performance against Northeastern with his first double-double of the year Saturday against Stoney Brook.

Coleman is confident that Winter will find his range.

“In practice he hits shots all day,” Coleman said. “It’s just a matter of time until that carries over to the court.”

The Best JV’er Ever

No regular has overcome greater odds to earn his way into the rotation than junior center Brian Sigafoos. Recruited by Sullivan from high school, the 6”11” was cut from the varsity squad as a freshman and relegated to the JV team—usually a death sentence for a player’s collegiate career.

“I was under the impression that I would never play varsity basketball here,” Sigafoos said.

No Ivy player in recent memory has even risen from the JV level to start for the varsity team. But rather than letting this fact demoralize him, Sigafoos worked constantly after his freshman year building size and strength.

“Brian has become an effective runner with great agility,” Sullivan said. “He can catch the ball in the post real well.”