Basketball Preview 2023

BASKETBALL PREVIEW 2023

THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN | THEDP.COM

THIS ISSUE’S TEAM JESSE ZHANG President EMI TUYẾTNHI TRẦN Executive Editor IMRAN SIDDIQUI DP Editor-in-Chief LILIAN LIU Design Editor CALEB CRAIN Sports Editor ALEXIS GARCIA Sports Editor

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2023

ALLYSON NELSON Copy Editor JULIA FISCHER Copy Editor ANNA VAZHAEPARAMBIL Photo Editor WALKER CARNATHAN Deputy Sports Editor KAMELIJA PATOSKA Sports Photo Editor SOPHIA LIU Deputy Design Editor

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EMMI WU Design Associate

COVER Design by Lilian Liu

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

10 must-watch games

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Preseason Ivy media polls

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Johnnie Walter finds new home with Red and Blue

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Q&A with women’s basketball coach

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Men's basketball at the FIBA European Championships

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In Photos: Red and Blue Scrimmage

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Sam Brown is making his own legacy

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Q&A with men's basketball coach

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Meet women's basketball's senior captains

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Preseason Ivy power rankings

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Now-junior guard Lizzy Groetsch dribbles to the basket during last season's game at Columbia on Feb. 3.

Now-junior forward/center Nick Spinoso dunks on Princeton to end the first half of the Ivy Madness semifinal on March 11.

10 must-watch upcoming Penn basketball games From Philadelphia showdowns to contests against key Ivy foes, here are key Quaker games to look out for

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2023

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Men's vs. Villanova — The Palestra, Nov. 13, 2023 A Penn season wouldn’t be complete without a game against local powerhouse Villanova. This year, this matchup will take place at the Palestra, in the first year of a restructured Big 5 Tournament schedule. Since 2001, Penn is 3-18 against the Wildcats, with the most recent Quaker win coming in 2018 at the Palestra.

Going into this season, Villanova is the AP No. 22 ranked team in the country. After failing to secure a spot in this year’s NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats will be looking to start their season off strong, in the program's second year under coach Kyle Neptune.

In just their fourth regular season game, the Quakers will look to leverage their home-court advantage into an intra-city upset.

Women's vs. Saint Joe’s — The Palestra, Nov. 14 Penn’s first Big 5 matchup of its 2023-24 campaign is also just its second game of the season. The Hawks have traditionally dominated the Quakers, with Penn having only won five times in the two schools' 45-game history. However, last season, the Quakers nearly pulled off the upset after a late fourth-quarter comeback, led by current senior forwards Jordan Obi (17 points and eight rebounds) and Floor Toonders (nine points and seven boards). Both were named captains ahead of this season and will hope to guide Penn to its first victory over St. Joe's since 2019.

This will be Penn’s second of two games played at the Wells Fargo Center this season, the first being in the inaugural Big 5 Classic. Kentucky and Penn have played each other five times, with the Wildcats winning every game. The most recent time the two programs met was in 2011 when Penn suffered a 24-point loss in Lexington, Ky.

Megan Griffith and first-team All-Ivy selection senior Abbey Hsu, who has already been named to the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Watch List for the best shooting guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball, as well as the Becky Hammon MidMajor Player of the Year Award Watch List for best mid-major player in women's DI college basketball.

Men's at Houston — Houston, Dec. 30 The Cougars are, on paper, by far the best team Penn will face this season. Currently ranked sixth in ESPN’s Way-TooEarly Top 25 and seventh in the AP Top 25, Houston is one of the top programs in the nation. Houston entered last year's March Madness as the top seed in the Midwest region thanks to their dominant regular season, but ultimately lost to fifth-seed Miami Miami in the Sweet 16.

Penn will play Houston and Auburn back-to-back over the course of four days during the Red and Blue’s brief winter road trip. Despite being heavy underdogs, the Quakers will relish the chance to face off against a team at the top of the collegiate crop.

With relatively little to lose and plenty to gain in terms of momentum heading into the Ivy season, this game stands out thanks to its high entertainment potential.

Women's at Dartmouth — Hanover, N.H., Jan. 13 Hanover, N.H. may not be the most exciting place to be in the dead of winter. However, for Ivy League basketball fans, it will be Penn’s first look at Dartmouth's new head coach Linda Cimino. The team Cimino is taking over has struggled mightily in recent years, going 2-26 last season with a winless Ivy League campaign. Penn currently has a 16-game winning streak against the Big Green, including a dominant 54-37 win in Hanover last season. The Quakers will look to continue their dominance early in their Ivy League slate.

Women's vs. La Salle — The Palestra, Nov. 29 Penn will make a quick appearance at the Palestra when the team takes on La Salle. It will be the only chance to see the Quakers at home after their St. Joe’s game until they play Maine on Dec. 30. In this span, they will play nine total games in just 22 days. Each game will be a true test of this team's endurance leading up to the start of Ivy League play. Penn defeated the Explorers last season 72-59, as current sophomore guard Simone Sawyer led the Quakers with 24 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.

For her efforts, she was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week.

Men's at Auburn — Auburn, Ala., Jan. 2, 2024 The last and only time Penn men’s basketball played Auburn was in 1999. The Quakers lost that regular season matchup in Birmingham, Ala., but will have another opportunity to claim victory this season. The odds, however, are not in the Quakers' favor.

Auburn finished with a 21-13 record last season and went 14-2 at home. The Tigers are currently ranked just outside the top 25 in the AP's preseason top 25 and they picked up a win against Iowa in last year's NCAA Tournament before being eliminated by the next school on this list.

Men's vs. Kentucky — Wells Fargo Center, Dec. 9 As if a game at the Wells Fargo Center wasn’t exciting enough, Penn will host Kentucky, the winningest program in college basketball history, at the home of the Philadelphia 76ers. The Wildcats are the AP No. 16 ranked school in the preseason and are coming off of a subpar season by their standards. After securing the sixth seed in the East region of the NCAA Tournament, Kentucky was eliminated in the round of 32.

Women's at Columbia — New York, Jan. 6 Next up, the Quakers hit the road for their first taste of Ivy League action. It won’t be easy as Penn takes on Columbia, who shared the regular-season Ivy League title with Princeton last season. Almost exactly a year earlier to the day, on Jan. 7, 2023, the Quakers took down Columbia 71-67 at the Palestra, for one of only two conference losses the team suffered the entire season. Columbia is led by reigning Ivy League Coach of the Year

Women's at Princeton — Princeton, N.J., March 9 As the saying goes, you always save the best for last. To conclude the season, Penn will hit the road to take on the defending Ivy League and Ivy Madness Champions. Princeton defeated Penn in all three of their matches last season, including a 60-47 victory to eliminate Penn in the semifinals of Ivy Madness. In the Ivy League’s preseason poll, Princeton was ranked first and looks to be the team to beat this year. This game will likely have major conference tournament implications on both sides, and an Ivy League title could potentially be on the line.

Men's vs. Princeton — The Palestra, March 9 It’s hard to single out just one Ivy League conference game among the 14 on Penn’s schedule. Going into the season, Yale has sat atop preseason polls with Princeton trailing closely behind.

The Tigers, however, are looking to defend their Ivy League Championship title and build on last year's impressive run to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament. Princeton has consistently set the standard for men's basketball success across the Ancient Eight and the Quakers will need to play their best to exact revenge after last season’s Ivy League Tournament loss.

Penn’s regular season finale against Princeton at the Palestra could have major implications for Ivy Madness qualification and, for that matter, a regular season Ivy title. It could also, realistically, end up being a consolation prize for either team.

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Women’s basketball during last season's matchup against Columbia on Jan. 7.

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tournament – took second in the men’s poll with 110 points and two first place votes.

The Red and Blue will enter the season looking to replace many of their largest contributors from a season ago. Both the men's and women's teams lost their leading scorers to the transfer portal, with Kayla Padilla heading to USC and Jordan Dingle moving to St. John’s. Padilla is the program’s all-time leader in three-pointers, while Dingle was the 2023 Ivy League Player of the Year and finished second in all of NCAA Division I in points per game. The men’s team will also miss starters Lucas Monroe, gone to Drexel, and Max Martz, who took a medical retirement this offseason.

Last season, the men’s team was picked first in the preseason poll, but ultimately failed to earn a conference title or NCAA tournament berth. While that shortcoming may still be a painful memory, it also serves as a salient reminder for the Quakers– that nothing matters until the ball tips off.

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After an offseason full of turnover, Penn’s basketball teams have work to do in their respective quests for an Ivy League title.

The conference recently released its annual preseason polls for both men’s and women’s basketball, as voted on by members of the media. Women’s basketball placed fourth in the rankings with 77 points, while men’s basketball ranked fifth, receiving 68 points.

In the women’s poll, Princeton took first with 128 total points and all 16 first place votes. Last season, the Tigers advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament before being eliminated by Utah. It was also Princeton who eliminated Penn in the first round of last year’s Ivy League tournament.

On the men’s side, Yale was ranked first with 124 points and 14 of 16 first place votes.

The Bulldogs earned last year’s regular season title before falling to Princeton in the conference championship game.

The Tigers – who also advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the men’s

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Women's and men's basketball place fourth and fifth, respectively, in Ivy preseason polls

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Sophomore forward Johnnie Walter during the team's annual Red and Blue Scrimmage on Oct. 21.

The sophomore forward joined the team after transferring from CSUN CALEB CRAIN Sports Editor

transfer portal rules. Therefore, he's the first transfer who will be able to play immediately after suiting up in Red and Blue. While Donahue wasn't totally opposed to the old rules, he looks forward to Walter being on the team this year, and for his part, Walter is ready to go.

"Being able to play right away is huge," he said. "That's a huge part of the reason why I would transfer.

If that wasn't the case, I might have tried to stay but since I could play right away now it's really nice."

Even though Walter's path to the Palestra included a yearlong stopover in Northridge, Donahue had his eye on him since high school. The coach noted how Walter's size was a plus to the Quakers, and that he thought Walter would be a good fit.

Beyond just the basketball fit, Donahue knew that Walter had a strong academic background, which would allow him to enjoy the nonbasketball aspects of life as a Penn student-athlete. But Donahue recruited Walter to be on the court.

"I thought we needed more frontcourt help," Donahue said. Walter is "someone who can play the four with a little more size. But the other part about him is his skill level and his basketball IQ, and then when we dove in depth about him, people raved about him."

What Donahue sees in Walter, the player also sees in himself. His parents are German and Walter embraced his heritage last summer by representing Germany at last summer's FIBA U20 EuroBasket. But he also looks to these roots by emulating the game of Dirk Nowitski, a German legend and one of the greatest power forwards of all time.

"We're basically the same height, so I watched him a lot," he said. "I watched a lot of his footwork in the post and I love his outside shooting."

But even as the Quakers picked up Walter in the transfer portal, they also lost a key piece to it as well.

Guard Jordan Dingle — whose 22.4 points per game placed him second in NCAA Division I and earned him the Ivy League Men's Player of the Year award — left for St. John's last May, even though he would have been eligible to play in Red and Blue this season. Now, without the services of its offensive centerpiece, Penn has had to use this offseason to rebuild significant parts of its identity as a team.

All of this has prompted discussions about whether structural change to college basketball is necessary to curb some of the chaos of the transfer portal and help midmajor programs like Penn entice and retain talent. But even as a firsthand

witness to how talent can just walk out the door to the transfer portal, Donahue isn't too concerned.

"I think our league in general is immune to what's going on in college basketball," Donahue said.

"Jordan was the only really undergraduate transfer from our eight schools. I anticipate that to be the same. All these kids, for the most part, that come to the Ivy, had other opportunities at a high school and still decided that this was the right place for them for not just the four years but the lifetime that it gives them. I don't think that's going to change. I do think there's going to be a Jordan Dingle every so often that feels that he needs to make a change for whatever reason. But for the most part, I think we're going to be immune to it in our league."

But Dingle is gone, and as the season approaches, both Donahue and Walter are looking ahead to how the CSUN transfer can help the Quakers in their quest for their first Ivy Championship since 2018. Since he traded in black and red for Red and Blue over the summer, Walter has been putting in the work to get to know his new teammates, and can't wait to get started.

"I just want to bring a lot of energy to the team this year," he said. "I'm super excited to be here."

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their interests would be best served elsewhere.

The transfer portal has exploded in the last few years — just 466 entered two years ago — following a 2021 decision by the NCAA to loosen the rules regarding onetime transfers of college athletes.

Previously, athletes would have to sit out a year before being eligible to play for their new teams, and forgo a year of their collegiate eligibility. But now, those who had not yet transferred would have the opportunity to suit up immediately.

Walter wasn't the first transfer to join Penn men's basketball under coach Steve Donahue. The program embraced the idea of adding talent through methods other than recruiting from high school years ago, and in the past has added transfers such as Matt MacDonald and Caleb Wood — who were key contributors to the Quakers' 2018 Ivy League Championship team — and Michael Moshkovitz, who graduated last year.

"When [I] got here nine years ago, we thought about [the transfer portal] from the start just to see if there's a way to supplement what you have coming back," Donahue said.

But Walter is the first transfer Donahue has added in the new era of

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Johnnie Walter had a dilemma.

The 6-foot-10 forward had just wrapped up his freshman season at California State University, Northridge. He played in 25 games for the Matadors, starting in five, and recording season highs of four points and six rebounds.

But then, his team was eliminated from the Big West Tournament, and Trent Johnson left the team as head coach. Two weeks later, Andy Newman was named the new head of the Matador men's basketball program, and he promptly gave Walter and seven other players an ultimatum.

"He basically told eight out of the 10 returners that there wasn't [going to] be a spot for us," Walter said.

"That's why, on the second-to-last day of the transfer portal, I entered my name in."

For Walter, entering the transfer portal and moving to a different school offered an opportunity for a second chance. He isn't alone.

According to On3, a recruiting aggregator, 1,134 NCAA men's basketball players entered the transfer portal during this past offseason.

Some — like Walter — entered to get away from a toxic situation.

Others were seeking more playing time or opportunities to star on a bigger stage. All of them thought

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2023

Johnnie Walter of men's basketball finds a new home in Red and Blue

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2023

Now-senior forward Floor Toonders celebrates with her teammates during last season's game against Columbia on Jan. 7.

Ivy Media Day highlights Obi, Toonders, and new talent on women's basketball's 2023-24 roster The Quakers enter the season without last year's leading scorer, Kayla Padilla ETHAN CRAWFORD Sports Reporter

Taking a glance at Penn women's basketball's 2023-24 roster, you may think it lacks experience. At the Ivy League Women's Basketball Media Day earlier this month, Penn's relative inexperience was a key focal point of the comments from coach Mike McLaughlin. With 10 underclassmen on the roster, and the team facing its first season after losing a senior class that included star guard Kayla Padilla, the Quakers will certainly be relying on some newer faces as they look to finish in the top half of conference standings, and qualify for Ivy Madness.

Despite all this, though, McLaughlin is optimistic about the future and hopes that these younger players will capitalize on the chances they will be afforded given the youth of the squad.

“I really want them to take advantage of an opportunity in front of them, both the younger players and the inexperienced players that are going to be playing a lot for

the first time, to grow together,” he said.

McLaughlin acknowledged that the Red and Blue have lost out on some veteran presence, most notably in Padilla who took a graduate transfer to USC following a season where she led the conference with 17.7 points per game and earned a unanimous first-team All-Ivy selection. Yet, McLaughlin believes there is a true successor on their team in senior forward Jordan Obi. “Jordan has the ability to play on the perimeter, around the basket, away from the basket, and [this year] a lot of things will go through Jordan,” McLaughlin said. “I’ve been at Penn 15 years and I haven’t seen a kid make as much [of a] jump as Jordan has on the floor and off the floor. I really believe the growth is about as impressive as any kid I’ve had at Penn.”

While Obi has some big shoes to fill, she is no stranger to the spotlight, averaging just under 13

points per game as a junior last season and looking for more as she takes on the central role of the offense.

“Coming into college, I never really thought of myself as a scorer, per se, and I think being here now that Kayla is gone, I’m trying to take on that role more,” Obi said.

Not only is Obi prepared to show the improvements in her game and her willingness to score, she is also honing in on what it means to be a leader as one of the key seniors on the team, being selected by McLaughlin as a captain for the season.

“I like to lead by example, and Kayla did a lot of that last year,” Obi said. “Getting to practice early, staying after practice to get shots up, doing all the extra little things really well. Hopefully those younger players see what I’m doing and are able to follow my example.”

Obi was joined by fellow

senior forward and captain Floor Toonders in addressing the media, who played her first season for the Quakers last year after transferring from Florida.

Toonders prides herself on her defense — having ranked second in the Ivy League in blocks last year — and fits in well with what coach McLaughlin prioritizes. McLaughlin emphasized Toonders’ professionalism above all else, which should serve the young members of Penn's squad particularly well.

“As we rolled into practices, I felt like I just fit in here," Toonders said. "I love my teammates and I’m glad I can help on the court with defense of course, and I’m just trying to continue that road into this season and I think we got some great things coming."

While the senior leaders are ready to go, they also noted the contributions of some of the young talent on the team that should make an immediate

impact when the Quakers tip off their season. In particular, freshman guard Mataya Gayle and sophomore guard Simone Sawyer stood out.

Gayle’s speed when bringing up the ball will allow the team to capitalize on fast breaks and a quick pace of play, and her defensive tenacity is a welcomed sight from the point guard position. As for Sawyer, Obi mentioned her expanding her game beyond just the three-point shot as she has been able to score effectively inside and around the basket as well.

Per McLaughlin, the biggest key to the Quaker’s success this season is practice. The ongoing preparations for the season will be vital to a team hoping to exceed expectations and capitalize on an influx of young talent.

With less than two weeks to go before Nov. 11's season-opener against Marist, the Ivy Media Day provided one of the clearest snapshots yet of what the team will look like.

Less than two weeks ahead of the Quakers' season opener against Marist, the DP spoke with McLaughlin about the upcoming campaign ALEXIS GARCIA Sports Editor

we knew he’d be a natural fit. He's got high energy, loves the game, he's from the area, and he really understands Penn and what we're trying to get at. He’s a great fit, culturally. We have a couple coaches with young children, and he adds to that — he has a one-year-old himself. What a great fit at the right time, for all of us.

With Penn women’s basketball soon to tip off its 2023-24 season, coach Mike McLaughlin’s optimism is surging high. Embarking on his 15th season at the helm, McLaughlin looks to best the success that improved the team from 7-7 to 9-5 against Ivy opponents last season.

Less than two weeks ahead of the Quakers' season opener against Marist, The Daily Pennsylvanian spoke with McLaughlin about the season ahead.

There were almost two versions of the team last Ivy season: one that secured dominant wins, and one that experienced double-digit losses. How is the team working to be more consistent this year?

Some of that you have to take each game a little separate. I thought we played really well at times, then we played against some really good teams where there were certain areas we struggled in, which created a little bit of separation.

Consistency is always tough in this work because it's based on your opponent. Sometimes you’re doing the same thing, but you could get a different result because of the talent of the other team. But this team has been consistent. We’ve practiced hard every day; we've got a pretty good routine. Hopefully that will pay dividends.

How have the new faces on the team been acclimating to the collegiate level?

Mataya Gayle is a freshman who is going to have probably the

biggest impact: she'll be the one we're going to hand the ball to; she's going to be our point guard.

It's a tough challenge for any freshman to be in that role and [have] that responsibility, but she's gifted.

She's a very quick kid, she can score multiple ways, and she's got a great confidence in her. We're going to use her natural ability to move us forward. I'm excited for people to watch her; I think she is going to be a really fun player to follow.

[Freshman guard] Abby Sharpe has the chance to be a very good player at Penn. She's going through this learning curve like any other kid, but I'm excited to watch her [improve] from day to day, because she has growth that she needs to make. But I am confident in the next month or so [that] she's going to be much further along.

There’s even a new face on the sidelines with Andre Gibbs joining as an assistant coach. What impact has he made on the team already?

He's been awesome. When we talked about bringing [Gibbs] in,

What are you most excited to witness this season?

I want to see them mature. I put them in environments that help them grow.

I really do think Stanfield, Obi, Toonders — our three seniors — have been amazing. They want to win, but they need these younger players to develop in order to win.

So I'm really excited to watch that meshing. They can’t get to where they want to go without helping these kids’ experience. I love to see that natural growth. It doesn't pay dividends all the time right away, but I'm confident that the three seniors will help nourish the younger players — not just themselves.

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How have different players on the team stepped up to fill Padilla’s role?

Obi has been absolutely terrific from her growth over her career, but she particularly had an amazing offseason. She looks so much better as a player, so much more mature on the floor, and she has become a great leader. I think she's the one who took that step up with her ability and her leadership.

I think [junior guard] Lizzy Groetsch has really grown mentally.

The first two years didn't really go her way in terms of making a big impact, but I'm really confident in her this year. Her work ethic in the offseason is second to none. She's off to a great start, and I expect her to be a big factor for us this year. [Sophomore guard] Simone Sawyer has also really grown from her freshman year, and we have some younger kids that are skilled and talented.

That may take some time, but I like their potential.

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The team had a big turnaround last season, clinching its first Ivy Madness berth in four years.

What improvements are you focusing on to replicate this success?

We’ve certainly grown. [Last year's team] really matured as the year went on, obviously being led by Kayla [Padilla] — she set the tone.

But I'm excited about this group.

We have a lot of younger, inexperienced players led by [current senior forwards] Jordan Obi or [Floor] Toonders with great experience.

I'm excited to watch the team grow.

We have a lot of work to do to get to where we're going to hopefully land, and I want them to understand

that it’s a process to get there, and every day is really important for the growth of the program. But we're off to a good start. This [year's team] is a hard-working and compassionate group. We really care about success.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2023

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Women's basketball coach Mike McLaughlin paces the sidelines during last season's matchup against Dartmouth on Jan. 14.

Which non-conference game do you think will serve as the team’s biggest test before Ivy play begins?

There's quite a few of them. Obviously, we’ll play Villanova and St. Joe's pretty quickly. They're both going to be really, really good teams; I think St. Joe's will have a chance to win the Atlantic 10 this year.

I love the trips that we go on too.

Going out to California, we get to be together, mature, and grow as a group, and get the experience that we need. I'm looking forward to that. We do have a challenge going out to Marquette, but we have different phases of the schedule that I am excited about.

I’m just trying to prepare our team and get ready from day one, so looking too far ahead is not where we want to be. They're going to have bad times, they’re going to have great moments. It's just important that we grow from each experience.

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'We've definitely grown': Coach Mike McLaughlin placing trust in women's basketball's seniors

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Freshman guard/forward Niklas Polonowski during the team's annual Red and Blue Scrimmage on Oct. 21.

Sophomore forward Johnnie Walter looks to block a shot from sophomore guard Cam Thrower during the Red and Blue Scrimmage.

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Walter, Polonowski reflect on 'eye-opening' FIBA European Championship experience Sophomore Walter represented Germany, while freshman Polonowski played for Denmark KRISTEL RAMBAUD Sports Reporter

How do you spend your summers?

Working as a lifeguard at your local beach? Moving across the country for your unpaid internship? Or staying in Philadelphia to do research?

Well, Penn men's basketball's sophomore forward Johnnie Walter and freshman guard/forward Niklas Polonowski took their summers in a different direction: playing basketball on the international stage at the FIBA European Championship.

FIBA is the global basketball governing body, which administers competitions and outlines the rules for basketball all around the globe.

They also host a multitude of tournaments, including the recent FIBA World Cup and European Championship, also known as EuroBasket, which takes place every four years.

Furthermore, FIBA hosts yearly championship tournaments for the younger teams, like the U20 and U18 tournaments that Walter and Polonowski competed in, respectively.

Walter and Polonowski are both new arrivals to Penn; the former is a sophomore transfer from California State University, Northridge and the latter is a freshman. They both primarily grew up in the United States — Walter is from California, and Polonowski hails from Illinois — but they each hold European citizenship: Walter holds German citizenship and

Polonowski holds Danish.

Due to this dual citizenship, they each had the opportunity to represent Germany and Denmark, respectively, in international competition over the summer. The first prerequisite of competing on a national team is proving citizenship, so after Walter and Polonowski's dual citizenship were verified, they each had the opportunity to partake in an in-person tryout in their respective country.

Despite the challenges that come with trying out for a team across the Atlantic Ocean, they both rose to the occasion.

Walter took inspiration from his parents when making his decision.

His parents Laura and Eckhard Walter played volleyball competitively at both the NCAA Division I level at CSUN, and internationally, on the German national team. Reflecting on their experiences playing at that level, they encouraged their son to pursue the opportunity when it presented itself.

“They were at the same training facility I was years ago, so it was kind of a full circle moment to put that jersey on and play for a country that I hold very dear to my heart,” Walter said.

Despite living in the United States, Walter’s parents made sure that he still grew up around German culture.

Walter speaks fluent German and uses it when communicating with most members of his family. He also spent multiple summers during his childhood living in Germany, where most of his family still resides.

Polonowski, half Danish on his mother’s side, says that he too was exposed to his Danish heritage growing up. He lived in Denmark when he was very young but acknowledged that he is not fluent in Danish.

He can understand but not speak it, which thankfully did not pose major troubles during his time with the U18 team. For the most part, everyone spoke English except when they met in team huddles, where his teammates and coaches would break out into their native Danish.

That language barrier did not stop Polonowski from contributing on the court, though. This summer, his U18 team traveled to Sweden to play in the Nordic Championship against teams such as Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland, and Estonia, where the Danes ultimately took home a gold medal. This five-day tournament served as excellent preparation heading to the FIBA U18 European Championship held in Nis, Serbia.

“You don’t really think of European basketball, in a sense, but also Serbian basketball, to be that big. But it is big, if not bigger. It was

really eye-opening,” Polonowski described.

Polonowski really got a warm welcome to Serbian basketball, as Denmark played against the host nation in the Round of 16. While Denmark’s European Championship campaign ended there, in 13th place, Polonowski had a standout performance on the international stage. He scored 19 points — 15 of which were from three-pointers — and pulled down six rebounds all in front of, what he described as, a highly energetic crowd against the eventual championship-winning team.

“That was by far the craziest game that I’ve played in," Polonowski said.

"Just everybody — whether they’re four years old or 30 years old — they’re on their feet, cussing us out in Serbian. It’s just the love for the game there. It was a surreal experience.”

During their three-tournament, seven-week journey this summer, Walter and the U20 German national team visited Serbia for one tournament, competed in Italy the next, then arrived in Heraklion on the island of Crete of Greece to compete in the FIBA U20 European Championship.

There, the team advanced all the way to the quarterfinals. While they did not get to eventually hoist the trophy, finishing sixth was an

invaluable experience as Walter describes — from exploring the beautiful island of Crete to developing his basketball skills. The latter is especially important to him, as Walter finds the FIBA style of play comparable to the Ivy League style.

“It’s a lot of team schemes, offthe-ball play, not a lot of isolation plays. Whereas traditional American basketball [in D1] is usually just [isolations],” Walter said. “I feel like here and in FIBA basketball, it’s a lot of team play. It’s a lot of get an open shot for anyone on the court — it’s not just one particular guy. It’s a lot of cutting. It’s a lot of team defense.

Everything is oriented about playing together.”

Polonowski shared similar sentiments about how the trip emphasized to him the differing FIBA and American basketball playing styles — neither wrong, but neither the perfect definitive style of how to play.

“It opens your eyes that we’re not the only country that plays basketball,” he said.

With their European summer over, and Philadelphia autumn underway, it'll only be a matter of time before they take the court in the Palestra for the first time. Then, they’ll embark on a new championship quest: bringing the Ivy League title back to Penn.

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Men’s basketball’s Sam Brown is more than father’s NBA legacy Being the son of an NBA coach places a huge burden on the freshman's shoulders, but Brown is used to the pressure WALKER CARNATHAN Deputy Sports Editor

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2023

Adjusting to life as a freshman at Penn is a difficult task. Adjusting to life as a student-athlete is even more challenging. But making the transition as the son of one of Philadelphia’s most recognizable sports figures? Nearly impossible.

Yet, Penn men’s basketball freshman guard Sam Brown has found a way to not only survive, but to thrive, as he prepares for his first game in a Quaker uniform. Sam is the son of longtime NBA coach Brett Brown, who is best known for his time as head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers

– the last two freshman classes have each averaged under 10 minutes per game.

But thus far, Brown says he’s amazed by how much of a place he and the other first-years found.

“The team has done a great job of allowing us freshmen to develop, allow us to make mistakes, and take a legitimate role on the team already,” Brown said. “Which I didn’t expect to this extent. … I’ve been watching Ivy League basketball since I was in eighth grade, and I wasn’t really surprised with

"I’m so used to the label.

It doesn’t affect me at all,” Brown said of his father’s reputation preceding him.

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“At the end of the day, I plan to make my own name.”

PHOTO BY ANNA VAZHAEPARAMBIL

Freshman guard Sam Brown during the team's annual Red and Blue Scrimmage on Oct. 21.

from 2013-2020. Brown piloted the 76ers to three straight playoff appearances and was in place for the acquisition of several franchise cornerstones, including 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid.

Despite his father’s stature in the basketball world, Brown is out to form his own legacy.

“I’m so used to the label. It doesn’t affect me at all,” Brown said of his father’s reputation preceding him. “At the end of the day, I plan to make my own name.”

Brown is one of four freshmen for the Quakers this year, a class that coach Steve Donahue says is “more mature” than most he’s coached in the past. At Penn, it is common for freshmen to take a secondary role on the roster

what I was coming into athletically.”

Being the son of such a successful coach has also informed much of Brown’s identity as a player. Before taking the helm with the 76ers, Brett Brown spent six years as an assistant for the San Antonio Spurs under the NBA all-time coaching wins leader Gregg Popovich. As a result, Sam has spent nearly his entire life in and around the highest level of basketball in the world.

That upbringing has made Brown a highly intelligent player, both in the way he plays and the way he approaches the game. Donahue says Brown has been the beneficiary of “a world of knowledge,” while Brown himself

lauds the experience of watching pro players up close.

“Growing up I would be in these high-level gyms, watching high-level players, and you would pick up on things,” Brown said. “Every pro, every high-level player has similarities in their work ethic. They take what they do very seriously, and it’s cutthroat, and it’s efficient.”

That cutthroat approach is what Brown hopes to bring during his time at Penn, and it will be invaluable in his quest to make his own mark on the city of Philadelphia. Brown has already left a legacy at nearby Lower Merion High School — which also produced NBA legend Kobe Bryant – where he set a program record for made three-point field goals.

The Brown family’s familiarity with the city also made for an unorthodox recruiting process.

As two of Philadelphia’s most prominent coaches, Donahue had a relationship with Brett long before Sam was involved. When Brown was coach of the 76ers, he allowed Penn players to participate in practices and team meetings. But when it came to recruiting Sam, Donahue knew he had to divide the two worlds.

“What I tried to do during the recruitment was kind of separate Brett and I’s relationship, and try to deal with him as a parent, as I would any other family,” Donahue said. “First I had to figure out, ‘Is he the right person for our program?’ and then sell it the same way I would. He wouldn’t be here unless I felt strongly that this was the right place for him and us.”

When Brown logs his first minutes for Penn, many will know him solely as Brett’s son.

But if the freshman has anything to say about it, when all is said and done, they will know him by another name: Sam. “Who he is isn’t who I am,” Brown said. “All the work I put in is to make myself better [and] to help the team win in whichever way.”

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Turning the page: Men’s basketball coach Steve Donahue talks about his plans for upcoming season Donahue spoke to the DP about the starting five, team chemistry, and everything in between ASHIL SRIVASTAVA Sports Associate

Last year, Penn men's basketball finished third in the Ivy League during the regular season before losing to eventual champions, Princeton, in the semifinals of the Ivy League Tournament.

Then, the Quakers went through an offseason that saw the transfer of last year's Ivy League Player of the Year, Jordan Dingle, the medical retirement of guard/ forward Max Martz, and the graduation of key pieces such as Lucas Monroe and Jonah Charles.

Now, on the cusp of a new season, coach Steve Donahue sat down with The Daily Pennsylvanian to discuss the offseason and expectations for the upcoming campaign.

How do you feel just about the team right now? What's the general atmosphere like?

I think it is a little bit unique since we had such a big turnover.

You lose seven and then bring in five, that's just not typical of the Ivy [League] and Penn. I'm just more conscious of really being engaged to each and every guy, and making sure the freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors are getting personal time with me so they feel if there are any issues, I can kind of nip it in the bud.

Last year we had two new guys and we were able to really do what we wanted to from day one. This [year] has been a little slower pace, but it's been good in some ways. It's like anything else when you do something: When you go back and start from scratch, you forget some things, and this way, you really make sure that you're covering every aspect of your program. I think it's been a fun first six weeks to do that.

Due to the influx of freshmen, are you worried about that inexperience factor?

I don't know if worry is the word. Here's what I think will happen: The guys who are returning will have an impact and probably play more of a role

was at times, in practice last year, one of our best offensive players, if not the best. He was behind real experienced guards and his skill set didn't fit exactly what we needed, but he continued to get better last year. I think he's taking a big step and he's the guy that you'll see is a really different player than I think people saw in games last year.

PHOTO BY ANNA VAZHAEPARAMBIL

Coach Steve Donahue during last season's Ivy Madness semifinal against Princeton on March 11.

overall than the younger guys.

At some point, do some of the younger guys jump in there because now they're experienced and they're talented? I don't know, but even though we have these new guys, the things I've been really pleased with are the returnees and their improvement.

Obviously, [senior guard] Clark [Slajchert] and [senior forward/center] Nick [Spinoso], to me, have taken another step and they played a lot [last year]. But also, [junior guard] George Smith and [senior guard] Andrew Laczkowski have taken a big step, and then two guys that really didn't play at all, [junior guard] Eddie Holland III and [sophomore guard] Cam Thrower, have taken a big step. That is extremely important if we're going to be good and challenge for a championship.

I think you need guys who have

been in your program and understand what it takes.

Is it safe to say that your juniors and seniors are a lock for the starting rotation?

I told the guys today we probably have 11 guys that are in the rotation, and 11 can jump to four really quickly. If you looked at our starting lineup from our first game and looked at our starting lineup [during] the last game of the season, [it looked] pretty dramatically different. What I think is important for me is that I reward really good play and practice. Those guys deserve an opportunity. There's young guys that are playing really well too, so that is really up for grabs.

With Dingle gone, how do you think that void is going to be filled? Do you think it's going to be a combination of guys

like Spinoso, Slajchert and Laczkowski?

I think we can run better offense now, with more guys sharing the ball, doing different things, not strictly figuring out how we can get Dingle in good spots. Not that that was awful, it's just the way that was best for us to win last year. I think we can win quite differently this year moving the ball with a lot of different guys and probably playing better offense — getting good shots, good cuts, and sharing it between multiple guys. I've been pleased with that. I'm excited to see where that all goes.

Is there someone that you think has had a great offseason that we should watch out for?

I think Thrower is probably the obvious choice there. He

As a coach, part of the job is making sure your players gel and build chemistry. With so many new faces in the building, how are you managing that?

Outside the top 20 real talented teams, everybody wins essentially with chemistry.

Playing together and toughness — that's the beauty of college basketball. You look at Florida Atlantic and San Diego State, and you look at even Princeton — there's a level of togetherness, tightness, and competitiveness and not caring who or how it got done. That's why we developed our leadership council this year.

I wanted the pulse of the young guys and to figure out if they are seeing stuff. Are they not liking it? What do they like? We met each week to figure that out. I think it's been good. I feel I’ve got the pulse of the team better than I would have, if I hadn't done that.

What are you most looking forward to this season?

Every year I'm excited. That's the beauty of what I do for a living. There's a beginning and an end. For us specifically, I'm so excited because we can turn the page. I don't think people expect as much from us. We were picked to win it last year, but it's a slightly different role [now], so I'm excited to really go out and kind of play with the chip on our shoulder and play the way Penn basketball should play all the time. I think if we do those things, in that process, each and every day, then I think we're going to be challenging for a championship.

The Quakers' goal for the season: An Ivy League Championship CALEB CRAIN Sports Editor

Junior guard Clark Slajchert drives to the basket against Dartmouth last season on Feb. 25.

before their season tips off next week. The team lost a talented senior class that included forward Michael Moshkovitz and guards Jonah Charles and Lucas Monroe. Star guard Jordan Dingle — who finished second nationally in scoring during 2022-23 and won Ivy League Men's Player of the Year — transferred to St. John's.

In September, forward Max Martz took a medical retirement, ending his Quaker career.

With this, some familiar faces from last season will have

to step into increased roles, especially Slajchert and Spinoso. "[With] Clark, I don't think there's a better guard in the [Ivy] League, quite honestly, and I don't know if there's a better big than Nick Spinoso," Donahue said. "What I'm asking them to do now is just be a consistent player every single day [and] when we go and play an opponent, those two are going to have to play really well up to their capabilities."

For his part, while Slajchert welcomes this challenge, he

acknowledges that the burden of replacing the pieces Penn lost will be a group effort.

"I expect to draw teams' best defender [or] at least best guard," he said. "But I think we're going to replace guys that we lost by committee. It's not going to be just me, it's not going to be just Nick. It's going to be the team."

Some of the members of this committee will be suiting up in Red and Blue for the first time this season. In addition to sophomore forward Johnnie

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It's often said that there's no such thing as a second chance to make a first impression. Last month, Penn men's basketball showed the first glimpses of its upcoming season at Ivy League Media Days, where coach Steve Donahue, senior guard Clark Slajchert, and senior center Nick Spinoso spoke to the media at large for the first time since last March.

Given the turnover that's taken place since that point, it may be necessary to get reacquainted with the Quakers

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2023

PHOTO BY ANNA VAZHAEPARAMBIL

Walter — who transferred from CSUN over the summer — the Quakers are welcoming a strong freshman class that includes local Philadelphia product Sam Brown and Washington-area recruit Tyler Perkins. "[He] is going to help us out a lot," Slajchert said of Perkins. "I think the way that he rebounds the ball, the way that he pushes the ball offensively, the way that he scores, the way that he says screens is really important."

But beyond just the new faces, Donahue expects several returners to have larger roles on the team this season, including players like junior guards Ed Holland III and George Smith.

This year's team also predicts to have a new look on offense, which is set to capitalize more on the strengths of Spinoso, the reigning Big 5 Most Improved Player. Donahue complimented the center's improvement, and suggested that he could have even more room to grow this season. Beyond just his ability on the boards, Spinoso could be more of a focal point as an offensive distributor.

"My intention when I go to play basketball is just to include absolutely everybody, and just getting everybody a touch," Spinoso said. "The way we run offense [and] the way coach orchestrates everything just fits what I've always brought to the table."

In terms of the team's goals for this season, Donahue was steadfast that they remain the same as they are every year: an Ivy League Championship. On the cusp of beginning his ninth season at the helm of the Quakers, he doesn't think his team is terribly far away.

"I'm [as] excited as I've ever been for this year and these guys," he said. "We have really good basketball players. I think we build a strong culture here. I think we can take it to another level. The goal is to get them to the NCAA Tournament. That's what I want these guys to experience."

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First glimpses of men's basketball's 2023-24 season showcased at Ivy Media Days

THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN | THEDP.COM THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2023

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Meet the three seniors set to captain women's basketball for 2023-24 season Jordan Obi, Floor Toonders, and Michaela Stanfield are ready to lead the Quakers this year NEEMA BADDAM Sports Reporter

The offseason is a time for preparation. As Penn women's basketball moved into a new chapter, without the services of a talented class that played their last games in Red and Blue last spring, the summer was also a time for looking ahead and finding the next class of Quaker leaders.

Coach Mike McLaughlin found that group in a trio of seniors, naming forwards Jordan Obi and Floor Toonders, and g u a rd M icha ela St a n f ield Penn's captains for the upcoming season, in what he described as a relatively easy decision.

“I think this year was, more than any year, an amazing process of choosing captains,” he said. “We had three returning seniors that are incredibly dedicated, mature, and experienced in a lot of ways. Jordan being the best player in the program, Floor being an incredible, mature, professional young lady, a nd M ichaela Stanfield being the ultimate team player.”

Since being selected, the three captains have already stepped up to lead the team on and off the court. Following the departure of five seniors and the transition to a younger team, they see the urgency in taking a leadership role for their teammates, despite some of the added pressure and decreased room for error of this season.

“I feel like, whether you realize it or not, people are always watching what you do,” Stanfield said. “You just have to be aware of that, I think.”

Two of three captains have been stepping up despite suffering from injuries. Toonders and Stanfield will be contributing from the sidelines as the

season begins, but McLaughlin believes that experience will empower them when they do return.

Sophomore gua rd Sania h Caldwell has already felt the impact of these seniors and attributes the captains’ successes so far to the uniquely challenging experiences they’ve had at Penn over the past four years.

“T hey've actua lly had a crazy experience at Penn,” she said. “They've exper ienced [COVID-19], but also have had plenty of basketball experience. They've really been great leaders for us on the court and are definitely showing all the other underclassmen and me the way.”

She also recognizes the captains’ excellence off of the court.

“They're just super thoughtful a nd ca r ing,” she sa id.

“They've been in our position, so they’re so welcoming because of that. They also all have very different personalities, so I think that just as a collective, that makes them a good team.”

All three captains take inspiration from last year’s captains — guards Mandy McGurk and Kayla Padilla — who set a precedent of leading by example and setting a high standard of behavior and performance for the underclassmen.

“Mandy was more of a vocal leader,” Obi said. “So Kayla was doing the little things really well, and Mandy was telling us on the sidelines what to do. The energy that they brought each day set a standard, and it was easy for the underclassmen and everyone to follow that.”

McLaughlin appreciates everything last year’s captains contributed to the program,

but also sees value in this season's group having their own approaches to leadership and helping the team succeed.

“When you're talking about casting, you're also talking about developing leaders in life or what we're trying to do,” he said, “I don't want them to duplicate what someone else did.

I want them to create their own way and use the tools that the others have given them.

When asked about what specific plans they have for the coming year, Obi highlighted plans for group bonding. Stanfield agrees with the value of these activities, saying that some of her favorite basketball memor ies involve g rowing closer to her teammates.

“We're trying to do a variety of activities across all four classes, whether we're suppor ting other spor ts, or we love doing Hill dinners every once in a while,” she said.

The team's goals for the season include making it back to the Ivy League Tour nament and beating its biggest rival, Princeton, which eliminated t he Qua kers in t he semifinals of last year's Tournament. When asked how he feels about his three seniors’ last season in Red and Blue, McLaughlin also said he’d love to see them get back to the Ivy League Tournament, but he wants them to enjoy every day along the way.

“At some point, the basketball's gonna stop bouncing,” he said. “I want them to enjoy the process of their senior year and not think about what the end’s going to look like or what tomorrow’s going to bring. That's the power that gives you the chance to celebrate every day, and I want them to enjoy it.”

PHOTO BY ANNA VAZHAEPARAMBIL

Now-senior for ward Floor Toonders puts up a shot against Dartmouth during last season's game on Jan. 14.

PHOTO BY ANNA VAZHAEPARAMBIL

Now-senior forward Jordan Obi puts up a layup against Temple during last season's game on Dec. 11, 2022.

PHOTO BY BENJAMIN MCAVOY-BICKFORD

Now-senior guard Michaela Stanfield looks to drive to the basket during last season's Red and Blue Scrimmage on Oct. 29, 2022.

THEDP.COM | THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN

Freshman guard Ese Ogbevire during women's basketball's annual Red & Blue Scrimmage on Oct. 21.

Women's basketball welcomes five freshman, new assistant coach for upcoming 2023-24 season

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2023

PHOTO BY GRACE HU

Penn's new assistant coach, Andre Gibbs, previously was a coach and recruiting coordinator for Utah State PHOEBE WEINTRAUB Sports Reporter

love with the process [at Bryn Mawr],” he said of his beginnings in coaching. He then moved to coaching at Utah State, and upon seeing the open position at Penn, made the transition back to the Philadelphia area.

Not a newcomer this year, coach Mike McLaughlin moves into his 15th season at the helm of the program. The 20-time Conference Coach of the Year is one of only 20 Division I active coaches with over 600 wins, holding a 635-210 career record.

Looking ahead to the upcoming season, McLaughlin is excited to see what the team brings to the court.

On Oct. 21, the team opened its season with the annual Red

and Blue Scrimmage, where “they competed at a really high level” according to McLaughlin. “There are a lot of areas [we need] to improve on, [but] their energies, the way they competed, is a great start.”

“Something special is definitely brewing. They love to compete and they’re playing hard every single day,” Gibbs added on the team’s new connection.

A new face to keep an eye out for is freshman guard Mataya Gayle. With potential to be a starter this season, the three-time Regional Champion won the Georgia State Championships her senior season.

“It definitely was different

coming in, but over the past two months, we’re starting to get the hang of it and it’s been a lot of fun,” she said.

A mong ot her f resh men, shooting guard Abby Sharpe is likely to make a splash this season. A local player from Lafayette Hill, Pa., Sharpe won both the District and State Championships as captain of her high school team in 2022.

“I’m excited for the Big 5 games. Being a local, I have gone to them before and I also know a lot of players on St. Joe's [and] Villanova’s [teams], so I’m excited to be able to compete against them,” Sharpe said.

Ot her f resh men include

center Tina Njike, guard Ese Ogbevire, and forward Tobi Ademuwagun. The team also returns star talents like senior forwards Jordan Obi and Floor Toonders, who each played in all 29 games last campaign, starting in 28. Last season, Obi averaged 32.1 minutes per game, scoring a total of 366 points, and led the team in defensive rebounds at 182.

Toonders averaged over 30 minutes per game, totaling 179 season points, and led the team with 32 blocked shots.

T he women’s basketba ll season officially kicks off on Saturday, Nov. 11 with a home game against Marist at the Palestra.

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Penn’s women's basketball finished the 2022-23 season with a 17-12 winning record, which it hope to continue this year with a new slate of fresh players to carry the team to championship trophies this season.

A new season brings new players, and new coaches too.

In addition to five new freshmen players, Penn has brought on a new assistant coach, Andre Gibbs, who was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Utah State. Previously an accountant, Gibbs started coaching as a volunteer at Bryn Mawr College.

“I just wanted to help out and be a part of the women’s basketball program and [I] fell in

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Veterans excite, newcomers command attention at Red and Blue scrimmages Freshman Mataya Gayle scored 17 points for the women, and men's sophomore Cam Thrower is poised for a leap CONOR SMITH Sports Reporter

of Dingle, Martz, and a talented senior class. Fans will get to see if this mentality pays off as Spinoso, Slajchert, and the rest of the Quakers open their season against John Jay College on Nov. 6. The women's squad will take the court not too long after, when the team faces Marist on Nov. 11 to open its season.

Men's sophomore guard Cam Thrower puts up a shot during the Red and Blue Scrimmage on Oct. 21.

Sophomore center Ella Ray attempts a shot over junior forward Iyanna Rogers during the Red and Blue Scrimmage.

PHOTOS BY ANNA VAZHAEPARAMBIL

Freshman guard Mataya Gayle during the Red and Blue Scrimmage.

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+/- of +35. Obi is looking to pick up where she left off last year as well as make up for the absence of former guard Kayla Padilla.

In the second scrimmage of the game, an array of players played well for men's basketball. Notably, senior guard Clark Slajchert logged a game-high 16 points as he looks to take on a larger role following the departures of former guard Jordan Dingle and former forward and guard Max Martz.

After losing out on Dingle's 23.4 points per game last season, Penn may be looking to Slajchert to increase his scoring.

Another guard that fans should keep their eye on is sophomore Cam Thrower. After a lackluster first half, Thrower bounced back in the second and ultimately finished with 11 points, five assists, and four total rebounds. Thrower seemed noticeably more comfortable on the floor once his shot started hitting and was able to be an effective floor general in a winning effort for his team.

“In the first half, I was struggling and trying to force stuff," Thrower said postgame. "But in the second half, once I kind of calmed down a little bit and played within the offense, everything was a lot easier."

“In some ways, he could be our best scorer some nights because he can really get it going," men's coach Steve Donahue said of Thrower. "He's got a good motor.”

Junior forward/center Nick Spinoso was also doing it all on the court. Ending with six assists, Spinoso built on the play-making ability that made him the Big 5's Most Improved Player a season ago. But passing aside, Spinoso’s paint dominance and unshakable rebounding were on full display for the fans in attendance.

When asked to describe his team using one word, Spinoso replied, “dogs.”

This designation may be appropriate, as men's basketball's offseason was largely dominated in the media by the departures

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2023

Serving as a preview for the season to come, the Red and Blue scrimmages for Penn men's and women’s basketball were held on Oct. 21 at the Palestra. The scrimmages allowed Quaker fans to get a glimpse of both returning players primed for productive seasons and new faces looking to leave their mark on the program.

For the women’s squad, an injury cast a shadow of doubt over the scrimmage — and the start of the season. Senior forward Floor Toonders was seen wearing a large boot on the court during pregame workouts. During the scrimmage, Toonders was stretching out her injured foot as well as pedaling on an exercise bike. This injury could take a toll on the Quakers as Toonders ranked second in the Ivy League in blocks and anchored Penn's defense last season.

When asked about the nature of Toonders’ injury, women's coach Mike McLaughlin said, “I would just say she’ll be out a little while.

Unfortunately, she's in a boot as you saw. She has a fractured bone in her ankle. She’ll return.”

But on the positive side, freshman guard Mataya Gayle looked like she would be ready to make an instant impact on the Red and Blue. The 2023 Georgia 6A Player of the Year was exceptional throughout the scrimmage, scoring the first points of the game off free throws following a tenacious drive into the paint and never looking back. Gayle was on fire from the three-point line, going threefor-three from deep and ending the game with 17 points. Additionally, the freshman logged five assists including multiple key passes to her teammates on fast breaks.

“It felt really awesome to play in front of everyone," Gayle said when asked about what it was like playing at the Palestra in front of fans for the first time. "This gym is amazing.”

Senior forward Jordan Obi also impressed in the scrimmage, finishing with 10 points, seven rebounds, and a game-high

THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN | THEDP.COM THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2023

22 BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Ivy League preseason power rankings: Men's basketball After Princeton’s historic run in last year’s NCAA tournament, Penn is among the teams looking to return to the big dance LUCAS MILGRIM Sports Reporter

Penn men's basketball entered last season as the consensus favorite in the Ivy League, but fell far short of expectations with their third-place regular season finish and semifinal exit from the Ivy League Tournament.

Last year’s disappointment, coupled with the loss of several key players, leaves multiple squads ahead of the Quakers heading into the 2023-24 season.

1. Yale (2022-23: 21-9, 10-4 Ivy) After finishing the regular season with a share of first place in the Ivy League, Yale fell in the finals of Ivy Madness to Princeton. Despite the early end to the Bulldogs' 2022-23 season, the Bulldogs are the favorite to earn the conference’s designated NCAA Tournament bid in early media polls.

Yale returns with the majority of the roster that powered last year's best defense in the Ivy League, with three of five starters coming back, headlined by junior guard Bez Mbeng, the reigning Ivy Defensive Player of the Year and anchor of the Bulldogs' defensive schemes.

Coach James Jones, last year's Ivy Coach of the Year and Yale’s all-time leader in wins, should be able to put together another strong strategy to limit opponent scoring.

Offensively, Yale has the potential to top 80 points per game after averaging 75.8 last season.

Senior forward Matt Knowling, a unanimous first team All-Ivy selection last year, will look to follow up a campaign during which he scored 13.6 points per game while shooting at a ridiculous 62.5% clip from the field.

Knowling will be complemented

by Mbeng, who averaged 10.1 points and over four rebounds per game last season, as well as sharpshooters such as senior guard August Mahoney and junior guard John Poulakidas.

2. Princeton (23-9, 10-4) The Tigers put together a run

for the ages last March, becoming the first Ivy League team to reach the Sweet 16 in over a decade, after beating Arizona and Missouri in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament. However, the shift of Princeton’s roster entering the 2023-24 season lands them below last year’s runner-up.

Forward Tosan Evbuomwan was the heart and soul of the historic Tigers team last season, averaging 15.1 points, leading the team in steals at 24, and tying a school record for total assists en route to a unanimous first team All-Ivy selection and Ivy League Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Despite the loss, Princeton returns a strong cast to build on last year’s run.

Sophomore forward Caden Pierce, the reigning Ivy Rookie of the Year, has the potential to take another leap after averaging 8.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season. Senior guard Matt Allocco will also strive to build on a strong performance, after his 10.7 points per game earned him second team All-Ivy recognition.

3. Penn (17-13, 9-5) The Quakers easily suffered the biggest losses in the Ivy League during this past offseason. In 2022-23, guard Jordan Dingle put together one of the most memorable seasons in recent Penn history. Dingle’s 23.4 points per game led the Ivy League and was the second highest in school history and all NCAA Division I for the season.

After being named both the Ivy League Player of the Year and Big 5 Player of the Year, Dingle transferred to St. John’s in May. In addition to their leading scorer, the Quakers lost leading rebounder guard Lucas Monroe, who transferred to Drexel, and guard/forward Max Martz, an honorable mention All-Ivy who medically retired prior to the season.

While the hole in the offense left by Dingle won’t be filled by

just one player, freshman guard Tyler Perkins fits a similar prototype. Perkins, a highly touted recruit out of Virginia, averaged 24.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.5 steals per game in his senior season, winning the Interstate Athletic Conference Player of the Year. On the defensive side, junior center Nick Spinoso will look to anchor the paint after being named the Big 5’s Most Improved Player, following a campaign where he averaged 8.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, and was third on the team in both steals and blocks.

4. Brown (14-13, 7-7) In recent history, Brown has been a mediocre team at best.

Their best finish in the past decade was fourth place in 201819, which saw the Bears’ only Ivy Madness appearance. Last season was more of the same, with a .500 record in Ivy play and a fifth-place finish in the conference. This year, though, they have a chance to break through and not only make the Ivy League tournament, but also find their way into the finals.

Junior guard Kino Lilly Jr. will be the leader of the offensive attack, with the potential to develop into a star. In 202223, Lilly averaged 16.9 points and shot nearly 40% from deep, making him the lone sophomore to earn first team All-Ivy honors. Last year, Lilly was complemented by guard Paxson Wojcik, but he graduated, leaving the team in need of a second option, which could be a role filled by junior forward Nana Owusu Anane, a strong rebounder and scorer.

The X-factor for this year’s Bears team is sophomore forward Kalu Anya. Coming from IMG Academy, Anya was a highly anticipated freshman last season, and averaged 8.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game before his season was cut short due to injury.

5. Cornell (17-11, 7-7) Cornell’s fast-paced play style leads to a fair share of exciting, high-scoring games. Last season, the Big Red scored 81.7 points per game, while allowing 76, both above the league average. Plenty of forced turnovers were key in creating fast break points, keeping the high-octane offense up and running at all times.

Leading Cornell last year was guard Greg Dolan, who scored 13.3 points per game and led the league in assist-turnover ratio, leading to second team All-Ivy honors as a senior. But with Dolan gone, junior guard Nazir Williams will need to fill that role offensively, building on his All-Ivy honorable mention last year. Defense will be a concern for the Big Red, but if they are able to slow down opposing teams, their dominating offense will lead them to another Ivy Madness appearance.

6. Dartmouth (10-18, 6-8) Dartmouth — after back-toback 6-8 Ivy League seasons — is searching for any way to reclaim some relevance in the conference standings. And for the second straight year, last season's leading scorer has graduated. Dame Adelekun was everywhere on the court in his final season, and without his presence, Dartmouth could be slated for a slide from last year’s performance.

Junior guard Ryan Cornish was second in scoring with 12.5 points per game in his first year as a starter, and he averaged 1.2 steals per game. Cornish will likely see his offensive role increase with Adelekun gone, as will senior forward Dusan Neskovic, who averaged 12.2 points, while shooting 42.4% from three in 2022-23. Incoming freshman guard Ben Brown, a British recruit, could elevate the offense as well, as the decorated international prospect will look to make an impact from day one.

7. Harvard (14-14, 5-9) Generally a slow offensive team, the Crimson has their work cut out for them if they want to improve this season.

After averaging only 68.4 points per game last season, they lost their best offensive weapon, guard Chris Ledlum, who accounted for 27.5% of Harvard's points. Another hole in the roster will be left by Idan Tretout, who averaged 12.9 points per game in conference play.

Without last year’s leading guard duo, junior guard Evan Nelson will look to step into a bigger role. Nelson, a strong three-point shooter, averaged 8.4 points and 3.4 assists in 2022-23, shooting just under 40% from three. Incoming freshman guard Xavier Nesbitt has a chance to complete a new strong backcourt pair with Nelson. Nesbitt finished his high school senior season third in Illinois in points per game, and his older brother, Alex, played for Harvard from 2011 to 2015.

8. Columbia (7-22, 2-12) After an embarrassing 202223 season, Columbia should be motivated to turn things around in a big way. Their roster could hold them back, despite an increase in experience this year.

Even after finishing last in the conference, the Lions still managed to improve their Ivy record by one win from the prior two seasons.

Junior gua rd Geronimo Rubio de la Rosa led last year’s roster in scoring, with 13.6 per game. Last year’s strong freshman duo of guard Avery Brown and forward Zine Eddine Bedri need to further elevate their game to help Columbia win more than two Ivy League matchups. They averaged 9.7 and 8.2 points, respectively, but had their fair share of flaws with efficiency and defense.

If they don’t improve, Columbia may lead the league in fun names, but end up toward the bottom in everything else.

After last year's third-place finish, see how Penn stacks up in the Ancient Eight ANSH JAKATIMATH Sports Reporter

Last season, Princeton and Columbia split the Ivy League women's basketball regular season title, but it was the Tigers who emerged victorious from the Ivy League Tournament and earned the chance to represent the Ancient Eight in March Madness. But in the months since last March, teams have been able to reload, while also bidding farewell to some key contributors.

Now, with just a few weeks left before the start of the season, let's see how the Ivy League looks to shake out.

3. Harvard (20-12, 9-5) Harvard may not be the favorite for this year's title, but a podium finish is well within its range. This Crimson squad is deep and will be competitive, but they may not have the firepower to go all the way.

However, things can change: the Crimson's big three, junior guard and first-team All-Ivy Harmoni Turner, senior guard and secondteam All-Ivy Lola Mullaney, and junior guard Elena Rodriguez, will be key contributors. Beyond this core, Harvard returns plenty of talented players, giving the team a strong chemistry before a single game is played. Like Columbia's Hsu, Rodriguez also participated in international play last summer for the Spanish national team, an experience that should benefit her throughout the year.

4. Penn (17-12, 9-5) The Quakers enter their first year without one of Penn's most accomplished and storied athletes: Kayla Padilla. Padilla's absence will be felt, adding an element of uncertainty to the squad's prospects. But senior forward Jordan Obi, a second team

All-Ivy selection from a season ago, has become the player to watch this year. Filling the void left by Padilla is a tough task for anyone, but Obi seems capable of stepping up to the challenge — although an injury to senior forward Floor Toonders also complicates things for the Quakers.

While this year feels more unpredictable compared to others, Penn remains a competitive team that is well-coached and excels defensively.

The question is if there will be any turbulence during this transition into the post-Padilla era.

5. Brown (11-15, 4-10) The key to elevating this Bears unit from the bottom section of the standings to a potential Ivy tournament berth is chemistry. Concerns about the team have always centered on their youth and experience. Now, with their primary contributors from last season coming back, synergy could positively influence Brown's performance. Senior guard and floor general Kyla Jones — the team's leading scorer and defensive linchpin — will play a significant role in how the team performs. While they may not have a guaranteed chance,

the Bears have the potential to reach the Ivy League Tournament.

6. Yale (13-14, 7-7) To sum up Yale's past season in one word: mediocre. After finishing exactly .500 in conference play and missing out on the Ivy tournament, few expectations were met.

Senior guard Jenna Clark — a second-team All-Ivy selection — is returning as the Bulldogs' leading scorer and two-time Ivy leader in assists, and she must step up to help the team succeed. Coach Dalila Eshe, in her second season, will benefit from her experience as she adapts and learns on the job. A significant asset for this team lies in junior guard Nyla McGill, the reigning Ivy League Co-Defensive Player of the Year, who averaged 2.6 steals per game last year. Time will tell if the Bulldogs can adapt and become contenders, but witnessing an underdog tale unfold is always exciting.

7. Cornell (10-17, 3-11) It would be prudent not to expect too much from the Big Red this season, as questions of experience are prominent following the

departures of three pivotal starters from last season. While this turnover may be concerning at present, it could prove to be a blessing in disguise, allowing Cornell's five freshmen to find their roles on this developing squad. Regardless, there are reasons to be excited, particularly with sophomore forward Emily Pape, who averaged a solid 11.2 points per game as a freshman, and senior guard Kaya Ingram, who brings experience and pedigree to the team.

8. Dartmouth (2-26, 0-14) Finishing 0-14 in Ivy conference play last season is quite alarming.

The near future may not hold much success for the Big Green, so a top-down reevaluation of the team is necessary before they can understand what changes are needed to secure wins. New coach Linda Cimino faces the daunting task of leading this team to success. But it's not solely on Cimino — junior guard Victoria Page and senior guard Mekkena Boyd need to play a pivotal role in driving change on the court and in the locker room for this team to find success.

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2. Columbia (28-6, 12-2) The reigning Ivy co-title holders are back this year, with a shot at claiming the top spot again. Heading into the season, it's crucial to not sleep on senior guard Abbey Hsu, a unanimous first team All-Ivy selection last year and member of Team USA's FIBA AmeriCup squad, who will be the driving force behind Columbia's team. Don't be surprised if Hsu mounts an Ivy League Player of the Year campaign in her final year as the Lions aim to take the top spot.

Columbia is a cohesive unit from top to bottom: From coach Megan Griffith to new transfers and incoming freshmen, the Lions have the potential to disrupt the top of the table.

PHOTO BY ANNA VAZHAEPARAMBIL

Now-sophomore guard Simone Sawyer shoots from the three-point line during last season's game against Yale on Feb. 17.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2023

1. Princeton (2022-23: 24-6, 12-2 Ivy) Let's clarify one thing: Princeton is stacked. The Tigers are almost a sure bet for the Ivy title this upcoming season. With senior guard Kaitlyn Chen — the reigning Ivy League Player of the Year — leading the offense, senior forward Ellie Mitchell, a two-time Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year, guarding the basket, and last year's Ivy League Rookie of the Year, sophomore guard Madison St. Rose, fueling the team, a conference crown is essentially Princeton's to lose.

Besides these accolades, Princeton represents sustained success. As they prepare for Chen and Mitchell's final season, the team's recruiting has not lagged. Incoming freshman Fadima Tall promises to bring athleticism and skill when needed most for the Tigers. It's safe to say that this team is a strong contender.

THEDP.COM | THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN

Ivy League preseason power rankings: Women's basketball

24 BASKETBALL PREVIEW THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2023 THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN | THEDP.COM