Afternoon Game in LAB Crimson Cagers Seek First Win Over Midshipmen in 12 Attempts

When the Crimson basketball team plays Navy this afternoon at 3 p.m. in the IAB, it must contend with the Mid-shipmen's tenacious man-to-man defense and their winning tradition against Harvard teams.

In a series that dates back to 1929, the Crimson has been unable to defeat Navy in 11 attempts. Harvard fell last year, 70-58, to a team that finished with a 7-14 record, but this year the Crimson has a good chance to top the Midshipmen for the first time.

Navy opened its season with a victory, but since then has not won a game in eight tries. There are only four lettermen returning from last year's squad.

Can't Be ignored

However, it would be a bad mistake to ignore the Midshipmen. Navy has played a tough schedule this winter, losing by 14 points to top-ranked Kentucky two weeks ago in the Kentucky Invitational and by 67-60 to a strong Princeton team two days before.

By playing a conservative, well-disciplined style, the Midshipmen have stayed close to their opponents, but have not scored the six or eight-point bursts necessary to defeat them.

Harvard has that explosive potential, and if it is put to use, the Crimson will have a slight advantage. With continued aggressive board play, Harvard's top rebounders, 6' 5" Ernie Hardy and 6' 7" Brian Newmark, will be able to clear the boards quickly-the key factor of an effective fast break.

Rebounding Advantage

Coach Bob Harrison plans to start his 'small team' in order to counteract Navy's conservative style with the fast break. Junior Dale Dover and sophomore Matt Bozek will be at the guards, while 6' reserve guard Joe Stanislaw plays forward.

The Crimson will have an advantage under the boards even though only two big men' will start. The Midshipmen's leading scorers are both guards, and their leading rebounder, 6' 7" Bob Kenney, is averaging just five rebounds per game.

Since Navy lacks rebounding strength and has good shooting guards-6' Jack Conrad and 6' 3" Richard Buff, it runs a shuffle offense that involves numerous picks to free backcourt men for jump shots. If Harvard anticipates these screens and picks, it should be able to weaken the Midshipmen's scoring threats.

Navy's strong point is its man-to-man defense. By tiring their opponents with that defense, the Midshipmen force them to play a slower game-one that Navy plays best.

If Navy is successful in forcing the Crimson into a slow game, Harvard will have to rely heavily on Hardy and Newmark to score as well as rebound. In Saturday's game at DePaul, Hardy and Newmark scored 15 and 16 points respectively in addition to controlling the boards.

"This game could go either way if we don't play well," said Harrison. "But I think that we'll be up for them since we've never beaten them."