Once preseason workouts started, unfortunately, the injury kept nagging Clemente, and it bothered him off the court too. It was that injury that started Clemente's love affair with the medical profession.

"I went and saw a bunch of doctors, and basically they told me I needed surgery, and wouldn't be able to play the season," Clemente said. "It was kind of a bummer. I found a doctor in New York City who told me if I could play through it, I just might be able to do it."

So Clemente did it. He went to the trainers and they worked his ankle with "joint mobilization." Structurally, they fixed it to the point where Clemente could deal with it and play basketball.

Sophomore year, Clemente believed, was the year it could all happen. He played effectively through injury, and Hill was a senior that led a good team. However, Harvard stumbled through another 13-13 season, going 7-7 in the Ivy League.

"I thought we were a little better than we played," Clemente said. "It just didn't come together, the guys didn't come together as a team. You know, everyone wanted to win, everyone worked real hard, but they didn't all know their role on the team, maybe something like that. We just couldn't put it together for a whole season."

Last year was another bittersweet season for Clemente. Coach Sullivan essentially called for a do-over, bringing in four freshmen looking to shake things up. Finally, it was supposed to be Clemente's team, where he led the offensive charge with his post-up play and spectacular long-range shooting.

Harvard started out the season playing well and adjusting to the new lineups, which included Long and freshman point guard Elliott Prasse-Freeman. The Crimson won its first three games and lost a few more until fate once again nailed Dan Clemente in the face.

"I was watching TV one day and I had my contacts in, and I was looking at the TV and thinking, 'Gee, it's blurry,'" Clemente said. "So I took my contacts out, thinking something was wrong with them. I put my glasses on, and it did the same thing. It wasn't my contacts."