Difficult. Frustrating. No fun.

Those were the words used to describe the Crimson’s 2003-04 campaign, during which Harvard lost a school-record 23 games. After the disastrous rebuilding season, the players on this year’s squad weren’t worried about Ivy standings or overall benchmarks. They just wanted to win basketball games.

The schedule, however, wasn’t stacked in the Crimson’s favor. Five of Harvard’s first eight games came on the road, including a trip to South Bend to take on Notre Dame, and the Crimson stumbled out to a 2-6 start.

Despite the slow beginning, it was clear that the attitude surrounding the Harvard basketball program had changed. The Crimson overcame a 17-point halftime deficit to draw even with the Fighting Irish before falling 66-59, and the squad gritted out a tough overtime road victory over Colgate.

Over the final 19 games of the year, Harvard went 10-9, including road wins over Cornell and Brown, a win over Princeton, and a home sweep of the Bears and the Bulldogs.

The 12-15, 7-7 Ivy mark was more than a step in the right direction. It signaled a return to the level of competitiveness that the Crimson had consistently produced during the Tim Hill ’99, Dan Clemente ’01, and Pat Harvey ’02-’04 eras.

Unlike last season, next year Harvard will have to fill the void left by four impact players lost to graduation. The top priority, as it has been each season since Elliott Prasse-Freeman ’03 left Cambridge, is finding a consistent option at the point. Senior David Giovacchini enjoyed a breakout season and provided steady play at the position, but with his departure, the onus will be on current freshman Tyler Klunick to step up and guide the Crimson attack.

Klunick, a highly-touted recruit who saw a lot of time on the floor early in the season, missed much of the year with a hand injury. He provided a spark on the defensive end, using his quickness to generate steals and harass opposing ball handlers. His grasp of the offense will need to grow in the offseason, however, as he committed 11 turnovers in 63 minutes of play.

Captain Jason Norman finished the year with the lowest scoring average of any of the starters, but his status as the team’s defensive stopper and offensive spark will be difficult to replace. Norman relished the challenge of clamping down on the other team’s top scorer and turning steals into fast-break dunks, and he memorably shut down former Player of the Year Jason Forte in Harvard’s win at Brown.

Junior guard Michael Beal is the likely choice to fill in for Norman. Beal spent most of the season serving as the backup point guard to Giovacchini, though he is capable of playing both guard spots as well as the small forward position.

The final departing starter is guard Kevin Rogus, the single-season three-point record holder. Rogus’ heir apparent is sophomore and sixth man Jim Goffredo, who averaged six points and 15 minutes per game this season. Goffredo hasn’t shot the three as well as Rogus has percentage-wise, but unlike Rogus, he makes plays off the dribble and attacks the paint.

Forward Graham Beatty is the last of the graduating seniors, and his departure will hurt the depth of the Crimson frontcourt. Beatty backed up junior forward Matt Stehle and junior center Brian Cusworth, starting five games when Cusworth was sidelined with an injury. Junior Zach Martin, who played out of position at the power forward spot all season, and freshman Brad Unger will have to step up to keep Harvard’s frontcourt as the best in the Ivies.

That frontcourt will be the key to the Crimson’s success next season. After finishing with at least 12 wins for the ninth time in 10 seasons and taking third in the Ivies, Harvard will be looking to do more than just win next year. Of the four returning players from the All-Ivy first and second teams, the Crimson has two—Stehle and Cusworth. The duo finished first and second in the league in rebounding and first and second in scoring among returning players.

The guard play will also be crucial for Harvard next year, especially since all three backcourt positions have been vacated due to graduation. With experienced role players ready to step up and fill those holes, however, the Crimson has the opportunity to build on its best Ivy finish in eight seasons and challenge for the league title.

—Staff writer Michael R. James can be reached at mrjames@fas.harvard.edu.