"It happens sometimes, but not very often," Pino says. "Usually one player makes varsity from j.v. about every other year."

In some sports the junior varsity serves as a principle feeder for the varsity, but in basketball--where outside recruiting is relied upon heavily--the path to the varsity team does not usually lead through the j.v.

"There are some students who have the potential to play varsity but just aren't good enough yet," Bazzell says. "Then there are those who just want to play organized basketball. Everyone enjoys playing. The ultimate goal is not to play varsity ball, it's just to win."

As is the case for most Harvard j.v. teams, preparatory school varsity teams like Phillips Andover or Governor Dummer regularly wind up on the schedule. Of the six prep school teams the Crimson has faced this year, it has defeated only two.

"A lot of these prep schools have post-graduates," Bazzell says. "So it's just as if [our team] were playing against college freshmen."

Whether it's facing preps or Ivy League rivals, the team doesn't seem to mind, as long as it's playing the game.

"It's perfect for me," sophomore Tim Fogarty says, "I get to be serious, have fun and play basketball two hours a day."

The Beach Boys would be jealous.