Ranking Men's Basketball's Nonconference Opponents: No. 7

In a series that began on Sunday and will continue through the Crimson’s season opener on Nov. 10 against MIT, men’s basketball beat writer Stephen Gleason will look at Harvard’s 13 nonconference opponents. Coming in at No. 7 is Northeastern.

No. 13: MIT

No. 12: Holy Cross

No. 11: Fordham

No. 10: Manhattan

No. 9: Massachusetts

No. 8: Wofford

Northeastern

2017-2018 Matchup: Thursday, November 30 at Matthews Arena, Boston, Mass. (7:00 p.m.)

2016-2017 Record: 15-16 overall, 8-10 Colonial Athletic Association

2016-2017 Matchup: Harvard, 86, Northeastern, 80

Head Coach: Bill Coen (12th season)

Key Returning Players: senior guard Devon Begley (lone senior on roster, started 21 games a season ago, averaged 9.7 points per game and 3.7 assists); sophomore guard Bolden Brace (6’8” wing, made 56 three-pointers a season ago)

Stat to Watch: 86: the number of points that the Huskies conceded to Harvard a season ago. It was the second-most points that Northeastern gave up last season and was the third-most that the Crimson scored in a game.

Overview: Northeastern is a young team that will be searching for its identity after losing its top two players in T.J. Williams and Alex Murphy. The Huskies’ strength will be in their backcourt, which returns three impact players from a season ago (Devon Begley, Bolden Brace, and Donnell Gresham). Juniors Anthony Green and Jeremy Miller (both 6’10”) will need to take steps forward (most likely as starters) to shore up Bill Coen’s frontcourt.

—Staff writer Stephen J. Gleason can be reached at stephen.gleason@thecrimson.com.