2013-2014 Overall Record: 8-20
Ivy League Conference Record: 5-9
Graduating Seniors: G Miles Jackson-Cartwright (11.6 ppg), F Fran Dougherty (12.7 ppg), G Dau Jok, G Steve Rennard (.760 FT%), C Cameron Gunter
Returning Impact Players: Tony Hicks (rising junior guard), Darien Nelson-Henry (rising junior center), Jamal Lewis (rising junior guard)
After finishing 9-22 last season, an 11 win dropoff from 2011-12, Penn was expected to right the ship. Almost all the writers had Harvard continuing their dominance of the Ivy League, and to their credit, they did win their 4th straight Ivy League title. The Quakers were picked, on average, to finish anywhere around 3rd to 5th in the Ivy League. Seventh place is ultimately where Penn would finish though, above only Cornell, unarguably one of the worst teams in all of Division 1.
Penn got off to a rough start, going 1-3. It didn't seem too bleak though, since it was a tough schedule, including a game against Iowa on the road and a game against rival Temple, who had yet to realize they were terrible this year. It skid only progressed from there, as a 7 game losing streak ensued. Penn never righted the ship and took their lackluster, turnover-riddled play into the conference schedule on their way to 8-20.
All five starters returned for Penn this season, making their 8-20 record all the more unexpected. There were high points, no doubt. Fran Dougherty was a beast on the boards, averaging 7.3 rebounds per game, and Darien Nelson-Henry was always consistent down low, with a 59% FG percentage. The one stat that absolutely killed the Quakers this year though was turnovers. The team averaged 16.1 per game, which is among the worst of all 350 teams in Division 1.
Tony Hicks, this season's leading scorer (14.9 ppg), and Darien Nelson-Henry will be the leaders of this team going into next season. If they can keep up their pace, and possibly improve it slightly, Penn should still be competitive in the Ivy League. Jamal Lewis looks to be Hicks' right hand man next year. He was not a starter this year, but if he had as many minutes as the starters he probably would have led Penn in assists.
Penn's recruiting class is not looking stellar, a handful of 1 and 2 star recruits. To be fair though, only 3 teams in the Ivy League landed a 3 star recruit or higher for next year. (Harvard, Princeton, Columbia) Harvard is looking to be the favorite again next season, and with no conference tournament, it is harder for teams to catch them. I know the Ivy League players have to study and all, but would it really hurt them discontinue their streak of being the only conference without a tournament? With 8 teams, you could do the whole thing in 3 days. Barely anyone misses school! But talks of that happening have not been happening anytime recently, so I wouldn't expect a change soon.
-Ben Lebo
Follow us on Twitter: @BroadStBeat
Penn got off to a rough start, going 1-3. It didn't seem too bleak though, since it was a tough schedule, including a game against Iowa on the road and a game against rival Temple, who had yet to realize they were terrible this year. It skid only progressed from there, as a 7 game losing streak ensued. Penn never righted the ship and took their lackluster, turnover-riddled play into the conference schedule on their way to 8-20.
All five starters returned for Penn this season, making their 8-20 record all the more unexpected. There were high points, no doubt. Fran Dougherty was a beast on the boards, averaging 7.3 rebounds per game, and Darien Nelson-Henry was always consistent down low, with a 59% FG percentage. The one stat that absolutely killed the Quakers this year though was turnovers. The team averaged 16.1 per game, which is among the worst of all 350 teams in Division 1.
Tony Hicks, this season's leading scorer (14.9 ppg), and Darien Nelson-Henry will be the leaders of this team going into next season. If they can keep up their pace, and possibly improve it slightly, Penn should still be competitive in the Ivy League. Jamal Lewis looks to be Hicks' right hand man next year. He was not a starter this year, but if he had as many minutes as the starters he probably would have led Penn in assists.
Penn's recruiting class is not looking stellar, a handful of 1 and 2 star recruits. To be fair though, only 3 teams in the Ivy League landed a 3 star recruit or higher for next year. (Harvard, Princeton, Columbia) Harvard is looking to be the favorite again next season, and with no conference tournament, it is harder for teams to catch them. I know the Ivy League players have to study and all, but would it really hurt them discontinue their streak of being the only conference without a tournament? With 8 teams, you could do the whole thing in 3 days. Barely anyone misses school! But talks of that happening have not been happening anytime recently, so I wouldn't expect a change soon.
-Ben Lebo
Follow us on Twitter: @BroadStBeat
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