“I’ve been impressed with both of them,” Prasse-Freeman said. “We’re definitely going to have put a lot of pressure on them.”

Veterans also have starring roles on the squad. Forward Paul Vitelli scores 12.5 ppg and also leads the team in rebounds with 8.6 per game. His matchup with Harvard’s big men, senior Tim Coleman and junior Sam Winter, could prove to be the difference in the game.

Yale also has been encouraged by the return of junior guard Chris Leanza, who missed most of the nonconference schedule recovering from shoulder surgery. While Leanza has not returned to his former position as a starter, Crimson players remember his efforts against them in 2001 and refer to Leanza as the “x-factor” in the contest.

With all these teams clumped together at the top of the Ivy standings, this weekend’s games will be key contests for Harvard.

“We have the perfect situation at home to control our own destiny,” Sigafoos said.

Considering the way the Ivy race tends to go, that’s hardly an understatement.