Defense will be the name of the game, as the Crimson contends with a league that hasn’t changed enough for Harvard’s dominance to be questioned.

“[Nonconference games] only prepare us for when we have to play Harvard,” Penn coach Kelly Greenberg said. “There’s no question that if people think of the Ivy league, they think of Harvard’s front line.”

Greenberg’s team, though boasting one of the top players in the league in Jewel Clark, is struggling at present with a case of mononucleosis and two ACL injuries.

“Right now, we’re going into the season with a lot of question marks,” Greenberg said.

“Penn is always there,” Peljto said. “They have a great coaching staff and a great program, so regardless of conditions, they’ll be a challenge for us.”

Brown has been slated into the No. 2 spot in the Ivies, what would be a shocker to anyone who witnessed the Bears’ mismatched games with Harvard in the spring. However, Brown has the potential to stifle teams with outstanding defense, led by Nyema Mitchell, and the athletic ability to boot.

“Brown has great players and athletes that could not put the ball in the basket,” Delaney-Smith said. “This year, I think they will, because they were just really young.”

Columbia demonstrated the folly of underestimation last spring, when the Lions entered halftime with a BLANK lead over the Crimson. Yale will not let its opponent forget that it brought in a tall front court this year, nor will Dartmouth bench its stellar recruiting class.

But before Harvard’s dynasty is tested in the Ivy, it has the chance to prove much more in the Subway Classic.

—Staff writer Jessica T. Lee can be reached at lee45@fas.harvard.edu.