For a team that returned almost the entire roster from the previous year, last year's Quakers team couldn't piece it together on the court. Plagued by inconsistency and turnovers, 2-3 was the best it got for Penn in the 2013-14 season. This was quickly followed by a 7 game losing streak that saw the Quakers go winless the entire month of December. Sixth year coach, Jerome Allen, will have to quickly integrate the incoming talent into the system to have a chance in the the Ivy League this year, with defending champion Harvard once again the favorite.
2013-14 Record: 8-20 (5-9 Ivy League)
Key Losses: PF Fran Dougherty (12.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG); SG Miles Jackson-Cartwright (11.6 PPG, 3.4 APG)
The 2013-14 Quakers only had four players average more than 6 points per game, Dougherty and Jackson-Cartwright were 2 of them, the team's second and third leading scorers respectively. Jackson-Cartwright leaves Penn sitting at 13th for all-time scoring with 1,401 points and has played the second most minutes in school history. Averaging 31.2 minutes last year, Jackson-Cartwright will not be easy to replace.
Dougherty did not start until his junior season, and even that year was plagued by injury, but he came into his own his senior year. The big man pulled down 204 rebounds and was the only Penn player to start all 28 games.
Key Returning Players: Jr. G Tony Hicks (14.9 PPG, 2.9 APG); Jr. C Darien Nelson-Henry (10.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG)
At 6'11" 265 lbs. Darien Nelson-Henry is an imposing force down low. Averaging just under 1 block per game last year, this is a number he should look to improve upon, especially considering that he is the second tallest player in the entire Ivy League. Nelson-Henry averaged 21 minutes per game, but that number will surely go up, given the absence of Dougherty. His hip surgery in the offseason could be a speed bump for Henry, but so far reports are that he looks completely fine.
Tony Hicks will easily be the starting point guard for the Quakers this season based on experience alone. Though last year's leading scorer, Hicks has some kinks to work out. He also led the team in turnovers with 85, or 3.1 per game. (More than his assists per game average) Hicks may be better suited for a shooting guard role, but it will be up to one of the younger guys to step up and take the starting point guard job.
Additions: G Darnell Foreman (Fr, Pennsauken, NJ) G Antonio Woods (Fr, Cincinnati, OH) PF Mike Auger (Fr, Hopkinton, NH) F Sam Jones (Fr, Gilbert, AZ) F Dan Dwyer (Fr, River Forest, IL)
Mike Auger and Sam Jones are the only Penn recruits who earned stars, Auger a 2-star recruit and Jones a 1-star recruit. The power forward position is up for grabs and Mike Auger could very well be the one to take it. Allen isn't afraid to start rookies and Auger is the most polished of the incoming freshmen.
Expect Foreman and Woods to battle for the top PG spot if Hicks shifts to the 2-guard. Woods would especially be good for the roll, given that he also played quarterback in high school.
Bottom Line: Outside of last year's big 4 (Dougherty, Hick, Henry & Cartwright) who started an average of 25 of the 28 games, nine other players started in the fifth spot. This inconsistency does not lead to successful college basketball teams. There's going to a period of figuring things out early in the season, but Jerome Allen is going to need to find a solid rotation before Ivy League play to get some continuity going with his players.
The glaring elephant in the room is still turnovers. Penn had the 4th most turnovers per game of all 345 Division 1 NCAA basketball teams. 16.1 turnovers per game can't continue, Allen needs to hammer this home. (By the way if you're curious, the team with the most turnovers per game was Ball State with 16.8)
Prediction: 13-15 (6-8 Ivy League)
-Ben Lebo
Follow us on Twitter: @BroadStBeat
Key Losses: PF Fran Dougherty (12.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG); SG Miles Jackson-Cartwright (11.6 PPG, 3.4 APG)
The 2013-14 Quakers only had four players average more than 6 points per game, Dougherty and Jackson-Cartwright were 2 of them, the team's second and third leading scorers respectively. Jackson-Cartwright leaves Penn sitting at 13th for all-time scoring with 1,401 points and has played the second most minutes in school history. Averaging 31.2 minutes last year, Jackson-Cartwright will not be easy to replace.
Dougherty did not start until his junior season, and even that year was plagued by injury, but he came into his own his senior year. The big man pulled down 204 rebounds and was the only Penn player to start all 28 games.
Key Returning Players: Jr. G Tony Hicks (14.9 PPG, 2.9 APG); Jr. C Darien Nelson-Henry (10.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG)
At 6'11" 265 lbs. Darien Nelson-Henry is an imposing force down low. Averaging just under 1 block per game last year, this is a number he should look to improve upon, especially considering that he is the second tallest player in the entire Ivy League. Nelson-Henry averaged 21 minutes per game, but that number will surely go up, given the absence of Dougherty. His hip surgery in the offseason could be a speed bump for Henry, but so far reports are that he looks completely fine.
Tony Hicks will easily be the starting point guard for the Quakers this season based on experience alone. Though last year's leading scorer, Hicks has some kinks to work out. He also led the team in turnovers with 85, or 3.1 per game. (More than his assists per game average) Hicks may be better suited for a shooting guard role, but it will be up to one of the younger guys to step up and take the starting point guard job.
Additions: G Darnell Foreman (Fr, Pennsauken, NJ) G Antonio Woods (Fr, Cincinnati, OH) PF Mike Auger (Fr, Hopkinton, NH) F Sam Jones (Fr, Gilbert, AZ) F Dan Dwyer (Fr, River Forest, IL)
Mike Auger and Sam Jones are the only Penn recruits who earned stars, Auger a 2-star recruit and Jones a 1-star recruit. The power forward position is up for grabs and Mike Auger could very well be the one to take it. Allen isn't afraid to start rookies and Auger is the most polished of the incoming freshmen.
Expect Foreman and Woods to battle for the top PG spot if Hicks shifts to the 2-guard. Woods would especially be good for the roll, given that he also played quarterback in high school.
Bottom Line: Outside of last year's big 4 (Dougherty, Hick, Henry & Cartwright) who started an average of 25 of the 28 games, nine other players started in the fifth spot. This inconsistency does not lead to successful college basketball teams. There's going to a period of figuring things out early in the season, but Jerome Allen is going to need to find a solid rotation before Ivy League play to get some continuity going with his players.
The glaring elephant in the room is still turnovers. Penn had the 4th most turnovers per game of all 345 Division 1 NCAA basketball teams. 16.1 turnovers per game can't continue, Allen needs to hammer this home. (By the way if you're curious, the team with the most turnovers per game was Ball State with 16.8)
Prediction: 13-15 (6-8 Ivy League)
-Ben Lebo
Follow us on Twitter: @BroadStBeat
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