The Quakers will also be counting on a pair of sophomores who started last season--center Hassan Duncombe and forward Dean Watts. Duncombe (7.9 p.p.g.) is a force in the middle who blocked 39 shots last year, while Watts (3.9) is one of the better man-to-man defenders in the league.

But Penn Coach Tom Schneider will certainly miss the bulk provided by sophomore forward Ben Spiva, who decided to transfer to Memphis State after starting in 25 games last year.

Cornell earned its first Ivy title since 1954 last year, but the Big Red will have to play a whole lot of alumni games to repeat that feat this season.

Last year, Big Red Coach Mike Dement fielded seven seniors--including five members of the All-Ivy team, and they have all graduated, taking with them 59.1 p.p.g. and 25.9 r.p.g.

This year's squad, which features only four returning lettermen, is very inexperienced. Only Co-Captain Josh Wexler (7.9 p.p.g., 4.8 assists per game) saw extended action last season. It is unlikely that he will be enough to bring another title to Ithaca.

Yale is also suffering from the inexperience virus after losing four starters--including Ivy League Most Valuable Player Paul Maley--to graduation. The Elis will be counting on sophomores Dean Campbell (6.6 p.p.g.) and Travis McCready (3.8 p.p.g.) to carry the load.

Brown is continuing to rebuild after winning the Ivy title in 1986, and the team appears to be at least another year away from contending again.

Forward Marcus Thompson, (19.3 p.p.g.) who was an All-Ivy honorable mention last year, is one of the most explosive offensive players in the league. He will be helped by junior forward Arthur Jackson (7.0 p.p.g.), who improved greatly at the end of last season.

Columbia has also been rebuilding, and second-year Coach Wally Halas looks like he can turn around the stuggling program--with a little more time.

The Lions will be led once again by Captain Matt Shannon (17.4 p.p.g.), who was an All-Ivy honorable mention last year. Forward Galen Sorrells (7.1 p.p.g.) also returns for Columbia.

All in all, the Ivy race should be decided between the top four teams--Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn and Princeton. But there's no telling what can happen in the Ivy League nowadays.