26 days is a relatively short time in the average life span of an average human. But for the student-athlete, for the competitor, 26 days is forever. Enough time to run at least six more conditioning tests if the coaches really wanted you to. Enough to repeat the entirety of the loathed pre-preseason workout schedule. Enough to launch you into the second round of midterms???yes, there often is a second round. I could probably grow, kill, and then re-grow a Chia Pet by the time our first game rolls around.

26 days until we can begin to wage our battle for a repeat of the Ivy League Championship, and a return to the NCAA tournament. What will we do with 26 WHOLE days? Become a team. Integrate our seven freshmen into the Harvard system of basketball. Learn new plays. Create new memories. Recover from injuries. Share some laughs. Learn to anticipate when one girl will cut, and when another wants to drop the no-look pass down the lane. Yes, 26 days to grow into the team we need to be to achieve our goals.

Of course we will continue to grow, and develop, and meld after the 26 days of waiting are over; but by the time the 26th day comes, we???ll have already set the tone for the season. On the 26th day, we???ll already have to be good; and we???ll also have to be ready to keep getting better. So until the 26th day, we???ll continue to embrace our extra conditioning opportunities, to crash through our heavy lifts, and to dominate our marathon days of practice. Because we want to be great. Because we want to make history. Bring on the 26 days of preseason.