Issuu

SPORTS

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA • FOUNDED 1885

PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023

VOL. CXXXIX

NO. 4

P wering ng

PHOTOS BY ANNA VAZHAEPARAMBIL DESIGN BY SOPHIA LIU

SYDNEI CALDWELL • SENIOR • GUARD

STINA ALMQVIST• SOPHOMORE • GUARD

MAX MARTZ • JUNIOR • FORWARD/GUARD

GEORGE SMITH • SOPHOMORE • GUARD

With seven games left to play, where do the Quakers stand in the Ivy League? Penn women’s comes in ranked at No. 4 after posting a 5-2 conference record so far

Despite currently being tied for fifth in the standings, Penn men’s comes in at No. 3

KRISTEL RAMBAUD Sports Associate

Once through Ivy League play, Penn has a promising 5-2 conference record. But with most of their remaining games on the road, and Princeton and Harvard closely behind them in the standings, their bid to the Ivy League tournament isn’t guaranteed yet. Here is The Daily Pennsylvanian’s ranking of the Ivy League field with seven games left to play. 1. Columbia (17-3, 6-1 Ivy) Everyone is wondering how to stop Columbia right now. The Lions average 81 points per conference game, with three games over 90 points. A majority of their scoring come from four players averaging double digits, including junior gua rd Abbey Hsu at 17 points per game. There are other things that make them such a nuisance to defend. The Lions score 19 points per game off turnovers and notch an astounding 20 assists per game. What’s more, they get to the line and make their free throws. In their sole loss of the conference season, they only attempted three free throws, so maybe the answer is not to foul them. But against this offense, that’s easier said than done. 2. Princeton (14-5, 5-2) Princeton continues its legacy as a perennial powerhouse in the Ivy League and is riding a five-game conference win streak following an 0-2 start. In a 49-point win against Yale last weekend, they reminded the league what they are capable of. They average 37.7 rebounds per game, and against Yale, they had 18 second-chance points. SEND STORY IDEAS TO DPSPORTS@THEDP.COM

BRANDON PRIDE Former Sports Editor

They play a type of gritty basketball that always keeps them in the game. The Tigers’ main issue is their lack of three-point shooting, with the top three scorers on their roster combining for only 34% from long range. This could haunt them in the end, especially if defenses crowd the paint against them. 3. Harvard (12-7, 5-2) After a commanding win against Penn, Harvard showed it has the offensive power needed to win the Ivy League title. The Crimson have four players averaging double digits and stretch defenses thin. Furthermore, they can capitalize off opponents’ mistakes, scoring 18.4 points off turnovers and averaging nine steals per game. With a stout defense that holds most teams under 60, Harvard looks poised to be a genuine contender come March. 4. Penn (13-7, 5-2) Senior guard Kayla Padilla and junior forward Jordan Obi have been formidable in conference play, with senior guard Mandy McGurk and junior forward Floor Toonders making considerable impacts as well. But despite an impressive record, a recent loss against Harvard serves as a reminder why Penn’s spot in the Ivy League tournament is not guaranteed. Both losses were marked by underwhelming offensive performances and proved that if the Quakers’ stars are off their game, there is not an easy answer to who will fill that offensive gap. See WBB, page 8

While the college basketball season has been underway for over two months, the Ivy League is only halfway through its conference season. With seven games left in each team’s season, we take a look at how the Ancient Eight stacks up. 1. Cornell (15-5, 5-2 Ivy) From the moment the Big Red tipped off their season against Boston College in early November, Cornell’s current standing has been clear as crystal. Cornell is having what is easily its best year since Penn (then-Cornell) coach Steve Donahue led them to a legendary Sweet 16 run in 2010. Amazingly, the team has done this without any breakout stars, as its leading scorer, senior guard Greg Dolan, is averaging just 13.2 points per game. Instead, the Big Red’s wins have all been through strength in numbers. With Cornell not usually in the top spot at this point in the season, the chance to take down his former team in the conference tournament next month should serve as extra motivation for Donahue to lead the Quakers to Ivy glory this year. 2. Princeton (14-6, 5-2) The Tigers find themselves in a familiar spot near the top of the conference. Boasting an impressive defense, the team’s offense also has a variety of scorers who can get the job done. However, it’s open season and the Quakers have tiger-hunting licenses. When both teams faced off two weeks ago, Penn stayed with Princeton for an entire half before trailing off. Princeton will need to prepare rigorously for its next Penn

ONLINE AT THEDP.COM

matchup if the Quakers stay hot. 3. Penn (11-11, 3-4) This ranking may turn some heads, but if we were going to reflect current Ivy standings, there would be no point of this article. While the Quakers have had their difficulties this year, if they can play like they did against Harvard, no one is going to want to face them in the tournament. Having two of the top scorers in the conference ( junior guards Jordan Dingle and Clark Slajchert) seems like a good thing, but it can be a curse when one of them has an off game. The scoring diversity against Harvard was a promising sign for the future, as players such as sophomore guard George Smith and junior forward/guard Max Martz got more involved on offense. Penn has a New York road trip with dates against both the top and bottom teams in these rankings to build on this momentum. 4. Yale (14-6, 4-3) Although a questionable loss to Columbia taints their record, the Elis have taken down Harvard and Penn, destroyed Princeton, and hung tight with Kentucky. Rostering four players who average over 10 points a game, it is tough to catch Yale on an off night. Longtime coach James Jones knows this conference better than anybody, so don’t be surprised to see this team in the thick of things next month. See MBB, page 8