Think of This as Your New Year's Eve Party Warm-up

If you haven't followed MIT men's basketball lately, you've been missing out. The team has been on fire the past couple of years with back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division III tournament. Last year's team was the winningest in program history. And in May, the team again went to Taiwan to compete in the 5th Annual Kainan University Invitational—and won. Read dispatches from the trip.

Coming up, there's a great opportunity to cheer the team on and drown out those Harvard fans.

Guest blogger: Bob Ferrara '67 (former MIT hoopster, member of the MIT men's basketball alumni reunion committee, and senior director for strategic planning, communications, and alumni relations, MIT Division of Student Life)

On New Year’s eve at 2:00 p.m., the MIT men's basketball team again plays Harvard at their gym. Last year marked our first varsity game against Harvard since 1985 and, despite a valiant and spirited struggle, MIT came out on the short end of the score against a highly-ranked Division I Harvard team. We did, however, have more fans in the stands—more than 1,000 of us were cheering for MIT. We need to duplicate the fan performance this year because both teams are even better. Harvard is looking to win the Ivy League while MIT has four returning starters, a deep bench, and maybe its best freshman class ever. Every friend of MIT is welcome to come! Buy tickets ahead of time for $10 each.

Afterwards, around 4:00 p.m., MIT people are invited to a post-game reception less than a mile away at the MIT Alumni Association welcome center at 600 Memorial Drive in Cambridge. Mix and mingle with fellow MIT basketball fans and to greet the players and coaches. Refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres will be served. Parking and the reception are free, but we request that you please RSVP.

Did you play MIT hoops? Then save the date

The reunion coincides with the last regular-season home game. Many ballplayers and their families and friends gather for a full day: an alumni game, a reception, men’s and women’s varsity contests, and much more. Check out the full schedule and register to play, watch, and reminisce.

You are all welcome, and this year former captains have an extra incentive. At halftime of the men’s game vs. Springfield College, we will be celebrating all the team captains who have led MIT squads though the years. Ted Heuchling ’46 will be leading the cast. All captains, going back to the very beginning of our program over a century ago, are now on the MIT basketball blog.