The stakes will be much higher when the teams meet next weekend, and Oklahoma State appears to be a much-improved, having won its last nine matches. Graham said Harvard won the last meeting by getting ahead early, and he hopes for the same again next weekend.
Arizona will be the Crimson’s likely second-round opponent, should it advance. The Wildcats finished sixth in the nation’s top-rated conference, the Pac 10, which earned seven of the top 16 tournament seeds.
The Wildcats earned a top 16 seed despite beating just two top 25 teams all season, while Harvard beat four, including No. 6 Washington. Harvard also had a better record against common opponents and fewer losses to teams outside the top 30. Among the listed NCAA seeding criteria, Arizona was only stronger in strength of schedule.
The Wildcats two top 25 wins were, however, in its last two matches of the season. One was against No. 4 California, who dealt Harvard its worst loss of the year.
The NCAA’s seeding decision is largely irrelevant, however, because Harvard will get to prove itself on the court after another week and a half of preparation.
“We’re already excited and pumped,” Bajin said. “None of us have played in NCAAs, so we’re excited, but we want to make sure we’re not trying to overdo it, causing any injuries or practicing too hard.”
Harvard Men
This year, the Harvard men (17-8, 7-0 Ivy) lucked out, avoiding a difficult top seed at its site.
Being only its site’s third seed, Harvard could have been paired with any of the top 16 seeds that opted not to host. Last year, the Crimson drew No. 4 seed Baylor. This year the top-ranked team at Beren will be No. 15 seed Alabama (17-9), a more beatable foe.
But with the easier second round matchup comes a tougher first round matchup in Colonial Athletic Association champion Virginia Commonwealth (24-3), ranked No. 16 nationally.
Fish said he does not mind being the underdog. It’s a role reversal from the Ivies, where Harvard has lost just eight league matches in the last 15 seasons.
“We always love this part of this season because we’ve already done the heavy lifting and played the matches where everyone’s out to get you,” Fish said. “Now it’s fun to be the hunter.”
Harvard might not be the heavy underdog that the rankings indicate. The Crimson has been on a tear, winning its last 10 matches entering the tournament.
Harvard’s juniors and lone senior know what to expect, this being their third straight season hosting NCAAs.
“I hope experience helps,” Fish said. “You go through something enough, you realize if you get so excited that you’re there, you won’t be able to tie your shoes.
“There is that opportunity to be distracted because someone puts up a big sign that says NCAA and you forget what you’ve been practicing and trying to make automatic all season,” Fish added. “I don’t expect that from this team.”
—Staff writer David R. De Remer can be reached at remer@fas.harvard.edu.