On Friday, in the biggest men’s basketball game in school history, Harvard will face Cornell. Ever heard of it? (Its most famous alum is Andy Bernard).

Last weekend, Penn did the unthinkable and, with a 3-15 record, soundly defeated the then-No. 22 Big Red, 79-64. The score elicited double takes around the country with some calling it the biggest upset of the college basketball season.

Cornell bounced back the next night against Princeton in a battle for first place in the Ivy League. The Big Red survived a last-second three from Douglas Davis to escape with a gritty 48-45 win.

Meanwhile, the Crimson escaped an upset bid from Yale, rallying from three points down in the final minute. A free throw by sophomore Oliver McNally with 1.4 seconds left forced overtime, where Harvard edged Yale despite having Jeremy Lin on the bench after fouling out.

The following night against Brown, the Crimson pulled away late, winning 81-67, thanks largely to a monster effort from its two healthy big men, co-captain Doug Miller and freshman Kyle Casey.

Where does all this leave the Ivies?

Three teams control their own destiny. Cornell and Princeton will win the league outright if either runs the table, whereas Harvard will clinch at least a share of the title if it manages to win out. For that reason, the playoffs start tonight in Lavietes.

The Big Red is easily the favorite. Three weeks ago, it embarrassed the Crimson in Ithaca with an 86-50 drubbing. Jeff Foote scored at will. Cornell knocked down 12 threes. Lin led Harvard with eight turnovers.

Since then, the Crimson has lost another big man, sophomore Andrew Van Nest—this time to pneumonia (Van Nest and classmate Keith Wright are out of tonight’s game, and senior Pat Magnarelli is questionable with a high ankle sprain).

Yet the outlook is surprisingly bright for tonight’s contest. The Crimson is riding a wave of good karma after its first road sweep in 10 years, due mostly to the freshmen getting over their winter swoon: Casey won Ivy Player of the Week, Brandyn Curry carried Harvard on his back late in the Yale game, and both Christian Webster and Dee Giger found their stroke.

The Big Red, on the other hand, is not playing its best ball, with its shocking loss to Penn (which Harvard beat by 14 previously) and a narrow (albeit impressive) win over the Tigers.

The last outcome, 86-50, looms, but every sports movie has an equivalent. Henry Rowengartner surrendered a homerun, hit a batter, and threw a wild pitch in his first appearance for the Cubs in Rookie of the Year. The Little Giants trailed the Cowboys by 21 points at halftime. The Mighty Ducks lost to the Hawks 17-0 before beating them to win the state championship. The Jamaicans finished last in the first heat of Cool Runnings (maybe a bad example because they ultimately lose, but who isn’t jacked up by these Winter Olympics! No?).

For a real-life example, the Soviets beat team USA 10-3 before the Miracle on Ice.

I don’t know if this Crimson team is destined for Hollywood. All I know is, I…I Believe…I Believe That…I Believe That We…

CORNELL (21-4, 7-1 Ivy) at HARVARD (17-5, 6-2 Ivy)