“We decided to make changes in our lineup back when we played over at Boston College,” Amaker said. “We talked about practices being open, with opportunities for players who wanted to start. Jonah gives us an edge, he gives us a toughness that we need, and he’s earned that [role].”

Since then, Travis has started each of Harvard’s 11 contests, helping his team to a 9-3 record during that time. With that larger on-court responsibility, he has also taken on more of a leadership role on the youthful Harvard team.

“I think [our youth] has forced a lot of people to step up,” Travis said. “They might not have thought they were going to or that they had no idea that they were going to be thrust into this position so soon, but I think everyone’s responded really well.”

“[Being more vocal on the court] was kind of not something I expected but something I was willing to embrace,” he continued. “I didn’t think I was going to be the one having to yell at people or trying to communicate as much as I am, but I’ve been trying to embrace it as much as I can.”

Despite a few blips on its non-conference record, Harvard sits at an impressive 4-0 in league play—and, along with Princeton, is one of just two teams undefeated thus far in Ivy contests. And though Travis has found increased success down low, he admits that much work remains to be done if the team hopes to accomplish its goals.

“Collectively, our goal is to make it to the tournament and advance,” Travis said. “If that’s not our goal, and that’s not on the forefront of our mind going into every day of practice and every day when we go to work out, it’s a waste of time being here.”

—Staff writer Catherine E. Coppinger can be reached at ccoppinger@college.harvard.edu. Follow her on Twitter @catcopp.