Harvard Crimson
Record: 22-7, 11-3 Ivy League
Head coach: Tommy Amaker (8th season)
Season summary: For the fourth consecutive season, former Blue Devil Tommy Amaker has led his team to the NCAA tournament. The Crimson suffered a 49-point blowout loss to Virginia in December, but rebounded during conference play, earning wins at Princeton and at Yale en route to finishing the regular season with an 11-3 conference record. Harvard is led by senior Wesley Saunders, who stuffs the stat sheet with a line of 16.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. The Crimson struggle on the glass (34.4 rebounds per game), but sport the 12th-best scoring defense in the country, holding opponents to an average of 57.2 points per game. Most recently, Harvard beat Yale 53-51 in a one-game playoff to clinch the Ivy League championship and punch its ticket to the Big Dance.
How they make a run: The Crimson rally around their defensive strengths and Saunders and sophomore guard Siyani Chambers both play at a high level.
How they falter: Opposing teams crash the boards and take advantage of second-chance opportunities against Harvard's smaller front line.
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