Penn played an aggressive non-league schedule in the first semester and emerged with an impressive 7-4 record. Head coach Steve Donahue said he is happy with the progress his team has made so far this season.
"With all of our travel, really only one home game during that stretch in the first semester and playing eight away from home like we did," he said, "five really good, quality opponents, two tier 1 wins — at Providence, at Alabama — and through all the injuries, I'm very pleased with our progress."
Leading the way for the Quakers is senior big man AJ Brodeur. He leads the team in scoring (15.6 ppg), rebounding (8.6 rpg), assists (57) and blocks (21). He now sits seventh on Penn's all-time scoring list with 1,537 points.
"I'm obviously biased, but I think he's been the best player in this league for the last three seasons," Donahue said of Brodeur. "Just his ability to guard so many different guys, to play 35, 40 minutes at the five spot. To basically lead us in scoring, rebounding and assists, and basically one or two in that league for the last couple years as well.
"He's just more efficient. He's better with the ball, so he doesn't turn it over, yet you're still getting your five assists a game. He's not taking harder twos, he's getting to the rim. His free throw shooting has improved."
"There was a transition spot for them when they lose guys like (Myles Stephens and Devin Canady), for sure," Donahue said. "But after their first five games, they've just really played smart basketball. I think they take good shots; their defense has improved. (Senior center) Richmond Aririguzoh is really a handful down on the block. He's improved from last year and they've got other pieces that have really made them good. They've also played a very challenging schedule."
Last season, Princeton swept both meetings from the Quakers.
Related
Penn and Princeton will rematch at Jadwin on Jan. 10.
Saturday night's game at the Palestra gets underway at 7 p.m.