After losing only two seniors from last year’s Ivy championship team, Harvard didn’t have to rebuild to remain the league favorite this season. With seven freshmen on the 15-man roster, however, the Crimson may be the Ivy League favorite for years to come.

“[The freshman class is] potentially one of the most talented classes that I’ve ever recruited,” coach Kathy Delaney-Smith says.

Most of Harvard’s “diaper-dandies,” five guards and two forwards, should provide quality minutes for an experienced squad this season.

“In the Ivy portion of the season they’ll all be able to contribute,” co-captain Lindsay Hallion says. “They are that talented.”

The incoming guards are Jackie Alemany, Lisa Harchut, Caitlin Hyduke, Lindsay Louie, and Christine Matera. The forwards are Emma Markley and Claire Wheeler.

Since so many of the freshmen have missed time during the preseason with injuries, their roles remain undefined. Wheeler has been plagued by shoulder problems and Harchut recently returned from a concussion that kept her out for two weeks. Both Alemany and Markley had concussions and have been easing back into practice. Hyduke will be out for the entire season with a knee injury. In fact, Louie and Matera have been the only consistently healthy rookies.

According to Matera, the first-years are just trying to push themselves in practice and do whatever Delaney-Smith and teammates ask of them in hopes of earning floor time.

Even if some don’t receive major minutes during the non-conference portion of the schedule, all of the freshmen will eventually be integrated into the Crimson’s system.

“[The freshmen] are going to have to contribute,” Hyduke says. “[The team] can fast-break a lot and it will help that we have such a big bench.”

Hyduke, a 5’9 guard, was supposed to be a freshman last season, but a knee injury last October forced her to return home to rehabilitate.

“Going home was a good decision for her because she has a fresh start,” Hallion says. “It gave her a leg up—she’s really part of the team.”

Still recovering, Hyduke will not play this season, but she hopes to return for the 2008-2009 campaign.

“Hyduke will be a great little player in the future,” Delaney-Smith says.

The plethora of injuries among the Crimson could be due to chance, but the intensity of practices most likely had an impact as well.

“I’ve heard that this is one of the most intense preseasons they’ve ever had,” Markley says.

Adjusting to the collegiate level will be difficult, but the rookies have been tested before. For instance, Matera’s AAU team, Fencor, was a national champion in 2002, 2004, and 2005.

The 5’8 Matera, who has already impressed coaches and players with smart play and accurate shooting, will be playing behind stars Hallion and junior Emily Tay, the team’s top two scorers last season. Many of the veterans, Hallion in particular, have provided leadership and acted as role models for the incoming players.

“Lindsay is such a hard worker and such a great leader,” Matera says. “We just try to follow her example and be as intelligent as she is when we play.”

Hallion and senior Jessica Knox have assumed the leadership mantle from last year’s co-captains, Kyle Dalton and Christiana Lackner. Lackner’s departure may not have created a leadership vacuum, but it has created a hole in the Harvard frontcourt. One of the talented freshmen, 6’3 forward Emma Markley, looks to fill this spot.

“[Markley] is probably the closest player that can replace [Lackner],” Hallion figures. “She has a lot of finesse around the basket, so hopefully she’ll be able to come in and help us.”

Delaney-Smith calls Markley’s play a “European kind of game” because the forward can play inside and out. This versatility stems from Markley’s greatest strength: her athleticism.

“She can grab the rim, effortlessly,” Delaney-Smith gushes. “She’s just so good.”

Markley and others will be fighting all year for playing time, striving to contribute to another championship run.

“[The freshmen] just want to play,” Delaney-Smith says. “They’re angry. They’re ready to go.”