His efforts were accompanied by freshman forward Evan Smotrycz’s 18 points, a game-high.

The Wolverines, which lost Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims—their top two scorers and rebounders in 2009-10—were predicted to occupy the cellar of their conference, during a clear rebuilding year for a team that features no seniors.

But as Amaker knows all too well, taking down a Big Ten team on its own floor will be a tall task for the Crimson, which arrives in Ann Arbor on a tear of its own.

Fordham visited Lavietes Pavilion Wednesday evening and left on the wrong end of a 80-57 blowout. The rout was the fifth consecutive victory for Harvard, which was buoyed by 15 three-pointers and 56 percent shooting from behind the arc in the contest.

The long-range accuracy will need to continue against a stingy Michigan defense that has allowed its opponents to shoot just under 25 percent from three—good for ninth-best in the nation.

Look for Amaker to rely on big man Keith Wright, especially early in the game. Currently sixth in the nation in shooting percentage, the junior co-captain will have to make his presence felt in order to free up space for perimeter shooters—of which the Crimson has plenty.

Junior co-captain Oliver McNally, freshman Laurent Rivard, and sophomore wing Christian Webster have combined to drain 36 three-pointers on the year.

With no players Amaker recruited or members of his coaching staff remaining with the Wolverines, tomorrow afternoon’s contest will be a chance for the visitors to take a clean slate and make a lasting statement—not about Amaker but about his budding program.

“We’re all thinking about it; we’re not dumb,” McNally said. “It’d be awesome to be able to get it for coach. He won’t admit it...but there’s going to be an extra something because he came from there. But essentially it’s still about us making strides, doing what we’ve been doing, and trying to get another tough road win.”

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