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Harvard Basketball Cracks Top 25 For First Time

BOSTON (CBS) – The Harvard Crimson are a Top 25 basketball team for the first time in school history.

At 8-0, the men's basketball team topped the nation's Top 25 in the AP Polls, coming in at 25th.

"What a neat accomplishment for our school and for our kids," head coach Tommy Amaker said after practice on Monday. "I'm so pleased for them. All these things are byproducts of what they've been able to put into and buy into what we've been preaching and maintaining a focus about themselves. Being able to do it at this great institution is special and a lot of fun."

Amaker, Travis On Being Ranked 

"It feels great; just the buzz around the campus," said freshman Jonah Travis with a big smile on his face. "How many facebook messages, people in class; even teachers are congratulating us. They know how special this is. It's just a great  time to be around campus."

Harvard remained unbeaten last week with an 80-70 win over Seattle and topping Vermont 55-48. Travis was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week after scoring a career-high 19 points and grabbing a career-best 10 rebounds against Seattle.

Polls: NCAA Top 25

Earlier in the season, Harvard won the Battle 4 Atlantis title, upsetting Florida State University in the semifinals, who were ranked #22 at the time.

Stats: Harvard Basketball Schedule

"We've worked hard," said Amaker. "We've been fortunate but I give credit to our staff and our kids who have done a phenomenal job at keeping it simple and taking it one step at a time. We've had a decent run so far, especially the tournament in the Bahamas that kind of gave us a shot in the arm and confidence. We're very pleased and proud of where we are now, but knowing we have a long way to go."

Harvard has a tough task ahead of them if they want to remain in the Top 25, as they play the UConn Huskies in Hartford on Thursday.

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