Overview:
Very quietly they had another fine season in the
Ivy League. Outside of the league they had some nice
wins, beating Drexel, Hawaii, La Salle and Siena.
They also served notice that they could compete with
the big boys, as they competed well against the
likes of Duke, St. Joseph’s, Temple and Villanova.
Junior guard Ibrahim Jaaber was hands down the best
player in the league. He is not just a good player
in the Ivy. He is a legitimate talent that could
play in a lot of leagues around the country. Winning
the league gives Penn the edge over Princeton in
NCAA appearances, 13-12.
Potential Difference Maker: Jaaber. He is a
very athletic and dynamic guard. He can do a lot on
the floor both offensively and defensively. Playing
in the Ivy normally equates to very little national
attention and that is the case with Jaaber, but
don’t be fooled -- He can play. Steve Danley and
Steve Danley are solid, physical forwards but they
are not game-changers.
On Offense: It’s all about Jaaber. They run a
motion option, with fades and slips and screen on
the ball for Jaaber. Everything they do on offense
goes through him.
On Defense: They are a good zone team and
they do a nice job with their sagging man-to-man. In
league play they will extend that defense a little,
but outside the league they will pack it in and dare
you to shoot it.
Strength: They have really good ball
movement. They do a great job of screening and
passing.
Weakness: Aside from Jaaber they are not very
athletic. They are also not very deep.
Key to Success: They will need to slow it
down and make it a halfcourt affair at both ends of
the floor. They need to be very deliberate to be
successful.
How to Beat Them: It’s pretty simple -- Make
them play fast.
