Then began the gutsy clutch play that characterizes comebacks, upsets and songs like “Eye of the Tiger.”

Tricia hit a three-pointer to tie the game and Bev Moore knocked down another from behind the arc. Five free throws later, the Crimson had fought back to the top. The close call gave Harvard even more to celebrate.

Call it grit, perseverance or sheer nerve—it’s the quality of the successful underdog. It’s when Trot Nixon hits a home run in Yankee Stadium, Josh Beckett shuts down Bronx Bombers and the 16th seed beats No. 1 in the NCAA Tournament.

When Harvard knocked Stanford out of the 1998 tourney, it sewed up one of the greatest upsets in basketball history. Moreover, it fostered the hope that Harvard—and the Ivy League—could compete.

The success of the underdog highlights the power of a team with nothing to lose. Four losses or no, there’s no denying that the Crimson is still a good team, but the pressure to dominate is gone.

I fell into the hype surrounding this season too. After covering the Big Dance for two years, this was the year that I wouldn’t have to write the word “disappointment.”

Now, having watched Harvard play scared as the favorite, it was thrilling to see the underdog back at work last weekend. That was the team that can accomplish its goal of avenging all its losses.

With Penn standing at 8-1 and Dartmouth at 7-2, Harvard still has a distant shot at the title. If the Crimson does storm back to a perfect second half, some may lament the lack of a league tourney to determine the champion.

But, again, Tubridy gets it right.

“I’m still really partial to the league title because it makes the regular season special and it makes every game important.”

Pride may be all that’s at stake for Harvard now, but in this league, that’s enough.

Anyone want to give me a ride to Penn next weekend?

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