The veteran point guard and his young teammates will be tested by the experienced Crusaders, who bring back five double-digit scorers and were picked to finish fourth in the Patriot League preseason poll.

The biggest change for Holy Cross has been the introduction of first-year coach Milan Brown, who will lean on junior guards Mike Cavataio, R.J. Evans, and Devin Brown. Cavataio and Evans each had 16 points in a season-opening loss to the College of Charleston on Saturday.

“You’re looking at some guys there who’ve been around,” Amaker said. “They’re playing up-tempo, they’re playing aggressive man-to-man...they’re not afraid to put some points on the board.”

Center Andrew Keister, a preseason all-Patriot League selection, holds down the interior for the Crusaders. He posted a team-high 22 points and eight rebounds against the Crimson last year and is coming off a double-double—the 20th of his career—against the Cougars a few days ago.

Given its dearth of experience in the frontcourt—little-used sophomore Jeff Georgatos received the start against George Mason—it would not be surprising to see the Crimson utilize a small lineup tonight and in the upcoming weeks before Casey’s return.

“I can see us doing that, based on some of the lineups [Holy Cross] has shown in a couple of scrimmages and its first game,” Amaker said.

Whether it plays four guards or not, Harvard is sure to have its hands full with a Holy Cross squad looking to exact its revenge on a Lin-less lineup.

—Staff writer Dennis J. Zheng can be reached at dzheng12@college.harvard.edu.