Penn (4-3) vs.Villanova (6-1)
Villanova, Pa. - The Pavilion
Dec. 31, 2004
4p.m.
Listen Live at www.pennathletics.com
The Quakers are coming off a 23-day layoff from the basketball court. Penn, who hasn't played since Dec. 8, faces Villanova for the 52nd time in program history. It's the third- consecutive Big 5 match-up for the Quakers who look to improve upon their 1-1 record.
Last Time Out
In a game that saw 14 lead changes and 11 ties, the Quakers lost a heartbreaker to Temple, 52-51, on Dec. 8. Senior Eric Osmundson scored a career-high 20 points for the Red and Blue on 7-for-11 shooting from the field. Mardy Collins nailed two free throws with four seconds left to give the Owls a one-point victory. Osmundson, who topped his career best by 12 points, went 6-for-8 from beyond the arc, and was the only Quaker in double digits. The Quakers shot 35.8 percent from the field and held Temple to 33.3 percent shooting. Collins led the Owls with 20 points, while Mark Tyndale was the only other player in double figures with 13.
Coaches Corner
Penn
Head Coach Fran Dunphy is in his 16th season at the helm of Penn basketball. Coach Dunphy is the winningest coach in Penn basketball history with 274 career victories. Dunphy has had 11 winning seasons at Penn including three-straight 17 plus-win seasons. Dunphy is the second winningest coach in the Ivy League with 166 Ancient Eight victories.
Villanova
Head Coach Jay Wright is in his 11th season as a head coach and fourth at Villanova. Wright sports a 174-131 all-time coaching record with six postseason appearances. Wright has 55 career wins with the ?Cats and has made a postseason appearance (NIT) in all three season at Nova. The Churchville, Pa. native's began his career as an assistant at Rochester and also coached at Drexel, Villanova and UNLV before starting his head coaching career at Hofstra in 1994. He took the Pride to the NCAA Tournament twice.
Scouting the ?Cats
Villanova is coming off an 81-62 win over Middle Tennessee on Dec. 27. Curtis Sumpter led the ?Cats for the fifth time this season, scoring a season-high 26 points. Nova is currently riding a five-game win streak and is undefeated at home this season. The Wildcats have lost only one contest this season - to Temple at The Palestra on Dec. 4. Three Wildcats are averaging double-digit points - Sumpter (18.3), Allan Ray (15.0) and Randy Foye (13.7). Nova leads the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 46.8 point per game (as of Dec. 20). The Wildcats are dangerous from the free throw line, as four players average 80 percent or better from the charity stripe.
The Series
Nova holds a 33-18 lead in the all-time series. Under Head Coach Fran Dunphy, the Quakers have gone 3-7 against the ?Cats, having won two of the last three meetings. Penn returns to the Pavilion for only the fifth time in series history and in search of their first win on Nova's home court. Coach Dunphy won his first game against the ?Cats on Dec. 15, 1992. Led by Barry Pierce's 18 points, four Quakers scored in double figures to lead Penn to a 71-59 victory.
Under Coach Dunphy
Largest margin of victory: Penn, 14 (2002)
Nova, 29 (1989)
Smallest margin of victory:Penn, 1 (2001)
Nova, 2 (2000)
Little Known Fact
Penn and Villanova have only playedtwo overtime contests. On Dec. 26, 1964, Penn fell to Villanova, 52-47 at The Palestra. Penn edged the 'Cats on Dec. 5, 2001, 75-74, at The Palestra.
Last Year
Then-senior Adam Chubb recorded 17 points to lead all Quakers as Penn fell, 73-63, to Villanova on Dec. 9, 2003 in The Palestra.
The first half saw both teams struggle from the floor as the Quakers and Wildcats combined for 21-of-54 shooting. The Quakers went on a 9-2 run in the next four minutes, giving them what would prove to be their only lead of the game. With 13:01 remaining in the period, Villanova's Randy Foye hit a trey to tie the contest at nine. The ?Cats would go on to take a 29-21 advantage into halftime.
The Quakers made an offensive surge in the second stanza, but it was not enough as Villanova shot 63.2 percent from the floor to maintain its lead.
Against the Big 5
The Red and Blue are 1-1 in Big 5 contests this season. Penn opened the season with a 78-67 victory over La Salle but fell to Temple, 52-51, in its second city match-up. The Red and Blue sport a 103-133 mark against Big 5 opponents. In official Big 5 games, the Red and Blue are 73-110. Penn has won five Philadelphia Big 5 titles and shared the honor eight times.
Versus the Big East
Penn is 85-106 all-time against teams from the Big East. The Quakers have winning records against five of the 12 Big East opponents they have faced. Of those schools, Penn has the best record against Rutgers, leading, 19-4, in the series.
The Red and Blue on Dec. 31
Penn is 4-3 on games played on the last day of the calendar year. The Quakers have not played a game on Dec. 31 since 1963 when they fell to Texas, 69-61, in the Charlotte (N.C.) Tournament
Up Next ...
The Quakers travel to the Golden State for a match-up with San Francisco on Jan. 4. It's the Red and Blue's second trip to California in three years. On Jan. 8, Penn takes on the University of Illinois Chicago in the windy city.
Ozzfest - 2004
Senior Eric Osmundson scored a career-high 20 points against Temple on Dec. 8. Osmundson connected on 6-of-8 three pointers and went 7-for-11 from the field, all career highs. The Carlsbad, Calif. native scored the first basket of the game for the Red and Blue, a trey, and stayed hot from beyond the arc for the rest of the contest. After putting the Quakers up 3-2 to start the game, He gave Penn an 11-8 lead at the 10:27 mark. In the second half, Oz scored back-to-back treys to give Penn a 38-35 lead.
Speaking of Career Highs
Junior Friedrich Ebede equaled his career-high against Temple, scoring six points on 2-of-2 shooting from the field. Ebede nailed a three pointer with 9:43 remaining against the Owls to give Penn a six point lead. Five minutes later with the Red and Blue down four, he added three more points with a slam dunk and free throw. In nine minutes of action, Ebede grabbed three rebounds, picked up a steal and scored six points.
Lending a Hand
Senior Tim Begley tied a career-high in assists, dishing out nine helpers against Temple on Dec. 8, for a total of 38 assists in 2004. He stands sixth in program history with 327 helpers. He needs 18 more to move up the all-time list. Begley is currently averaging 5.43 apg, which leads the Ivy League and stands 50th in the nation.
From Downtown
Five players are shooting over 40 percent from beyond the arc. Senior Eric Heil is 1-for-1 from three-point land, while Friedrich Ebede is shooting 75 percent (3-of-4). Senior Tim Begley, who leads the Ancient Eight in three-pointers made, is shooting 48.1 percent. Senior Eric Osmundson and sophomore Mark Zoller are shooting 43.5 percent and 40 percent, respectively.
Among the Best
Tim Begley and Ibrahim Jaaber rank among the best in Division I in several different categories. Jaaber ranks 16th in steals per game, averaging 3.0 picked pockets per game. Begley stands seventh in the nation in three-point field goals per game averaging 3.6. He also ranks 26th in three-point field goal percentage at 48.1 percent.
Picking Pockets
Ibrahim Jaaber leads the Ivy League in steals with 21 this season. He collected a career-high seven steals against Bucknell on Dec. 1. Last season, as a rookie, he snatched the ball away 32 times.
How May I Assist You
The Red and Blue handed out 22 assists against La Salle on Dec. 4. It's the first time this season the Quakers have dished out more than 20 helpers. Tim Begley led the way with seven assists, followed by senior Eric Osmundson who had six, senior Jan Fikiel (four), sophomore Ibrahim Jaaber (two), freshman Michael Kach (two) and sophomore Mark Zoller (one).
Love for the Long Ball
Led by Tim Begley's 8-for-11effort from beyond the arc, the Quakers scored a season-high 13 trifectas against La Salle. Ibrahim Jaaber added career-high three treys, while Eric Osmundson and freshman Michael Kach each added one. You have to go back to Feb. 27, 2004 against Cornell to find a game in which the Quakers scored more three-pointers in a game.
Honors All-Around
The Quakers have had two Ivy League and two Big 5 Players of the Week so far this year.
11/29 Ivy League Player of the Week
- Mark Zoller
Big Five Co-Player of the Week
- Mark Zoller
12/6 Ivy League Player of the Week
- Tim Begley
Big Five Player of the Week
- Tim Begley
Moving Up the Charts
Begley continues to climb the career ladder in three-pointers made. The Freehold, N.J. native nailed two threes against Temple on Dec. 8 to surpass current Assistant Coach Matt Langel on the all-time list. Begley needs only 42 baskets from three-point land to nab the top-spot, which is held by former Quaker Matt Maloney. Begley also stands third in the Penn accolades in three pointers made in a season with 83 in 2003-04.
244 Matt Maloney 1993-95
220 Jeff Schiffner 2001-04
202 Tim Begley 2002-present
201 Matt Langel 1997-00
199 Garrett Kreitz 1995-98
On The Line
Junior Friedrich Ebede is 4-for-4. Several other Quakers are shooting well from the foul line this season as well. Sophomore Ibrahim Jaaber is 15-of-18 from the charity stripe for 83.3 percent accuracy. Freshman Michael Kach is shooting 75 percent (9-of-12).
Beyond the Arc
The Red and Blue shot 78.6 percent from the three-point line against Drexel, breaking the program record for three-point accuracy in a game. The previous record of 75 percent was set against USC on Jan. 11, 2003 when the Quakers went 15-of-20 from beyond the arc. Penn tied the record just 19 days later against Princeton, nailing 6-of-8 trifectas.
Continuing His Streak
Senior Tim Begley has scored at least one three-pointer in his last 13 games, dating back to Feb. 21, 2004 against Yale. Begley had a 23-game stretch last season where he scored at least one trifecta, but Brown denied him from three-point land on Feb. 20, 2004.
What a Difference a Year Makes
Sophomore Steve Danley leads the Quakers with six blocked shots this season. Last season the Germantown, Md. native batted away nine shots in 27 appearances on the court. Danley has also found his shot as she has scored 68 points in seven games this season, after tallying 69 points in 27 games in 2003-04.
Penn Tabbed Second by Media
The Quakers finished second in the 2004-05 Ivy League Media Poll. Princeton garnered the top spot with 14 of the 16 first-place votes. Penn received one first-place nod, while Brown grabbed the final one. Yale was picked to finish third followed by Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard and Dartmouth.
Ivy League Media Poll
Team Votes
Princeton (14) 125
Penn (1) 111
Yale 85
Brown (1) 83
Columbia 62
Cornell 54
Harvard 37
Dartmouth 19
A Decade Worth of Victories
For the 10th time since his tenure began, Head Coach Fran Dunphy's team has recorded at least 17 victories in a season. The current Ivy League dean of coaches has 11 winning seasons under his belt and three straight heading into the 2004-05 campaign.
He's No. 2
Head Coach Fran Dunphy is second all-time in the Ivy League with 274 career victories, after surpassing Cappy Cappon who recorded 250 wins in 20 seasons at Princeton. Princeton's Pete Carril, who spent 29 seasons with the Tigers, is the all-time Ivy League wins leader with 514. Dunphy is also second in all-time Ivy League wins with 156. He has amassed an overall record of 156-42 against Ivy League opponents in his 14 seasons at Penn, giving him a .788 winning percentage.
Home Sweet Home
The Red and Blue are 726-313 all-time in The Palestra. Penn has not had a loosing season at home since 1984-85 where the Quakers went 4-9. The Quakers have had 19 perfect Ivy League seasons at home and four seasons without a loss in the Palestra.
Welcome to The Palestra
The Palestra, which was built in 1927, was refurbished in 2000 and reopened amid some hoopla on Dec. 7 as "The Palestra 2000." Known as college basketball's most storied gymnasium, The Palestra was renovated into a type of museum of basketball history that includes players, coaches and fans from Penn, the Ivy League, local high schools, national powerhouse colleges, and of course, the Philadelphia Big 5. In an article titled, "A Museum in the Cathedral," Sports Illustrated's Alex Wolff said "...Old friends - and the new friends The Palestra is making, like the Maryland basketball team, which strolled the halls in December on orders from Coach Gary Williams - regard the temple at 33rd and Walnut as "holier than a mere landmark."
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