He handed the team over to the freshman, and the Crimson have won six of seven ever since. During that time, Curry especially has excelled, increasing his 5.3-point average when coming off the bench to 11.6 points per game as a starter.

“I think it’s a coincidence,” said Curry of his improved play since being inserted into the starting lineup. “I’m a lot more confident with myself, with running the offense and playing in the system.”

It’s not just Curry’s offense that’s recently been receiving heavy praise.

“He definitely brings high intensity on the defensive end when he comes into the game,” Casey said. “He really gives us a good rhythm because of the pressure he puts on the opponent’s point guard, which disrupts their offense.”

Amaker said that it was Curry’s defense that earned him the starting role in the first place.

“I think he’s been able to do a tremendous job pressuring the ball,” the coach said.

The freshman has made such strides that he was chosen by Amaker to be the only non-senior starting on Senior Night against Yale.

But with great play also comes great responsibility. Since Amaker handed him the reigns to the team, Curry knows he now has to step up and be a leader—something not easy for any freshman.

“Sometimes when things are hard, we tend to defer to the seniors like Jeremy [Lin] and Doug [Miller],” he says. “I’m starting to become more comfortable, but I definitely think being more vocal as a leader of the team is an area I can improve in.”

Curry said he’s learned a lot from watching his teammates, especially Lin, the Cousy Award finalist for the nation’s best point guard.

“Just watching J, one thing I learned is he constantly makes plays for the team, he’s constantly finding open men” Curry explained. “Just being able to play with him every day and seeing the intensity and the enthusiasm he brings just makes you want to work hard.”

Curry also said he got a lot out of the competition for playing time with McNally, whose play also has improved once Curry started pushing him for time on the court.

“It’s been a good competition,” McNally said. “I think both of us have done some good things this year, and it’s definitely been a positive thing for the team and for us individually.”

The weekend was a special one not only for Curry but also for the entire squad. Harvard earned its 20th win of the 2009-2010 season against Yale, its most wins ever in a season.

And with Curry running the team for the next three years, it’s not too much of a stretch to foresee a string of winning seasons in the Crimson’s future.