During last week’s interview with Athletic Director Steve Bilsky, the DP Sports Editors chatted with the Number One about Penn basketball and some improvements soon to arrive at the Palestra.
Daily Pennsylvanian: As a former Penn basketball player, what are your thoughts on the current state of the team?
Steve Bilsky: They’re playing with a lot of enthusiasm, they’re playing with a lot of spirit. They’ve had good moments in every game [and they’ve] played the national teams with a lot more confidence than we might have in the last couple years. I think the real secret to this team is a couple of guys — who we don’t know who they are yet — need to step up because depth-wise, [it] is really going to be an issue when you get into Ivies.
DP: And what do you think about freshman Miles Cartwright’s performance so far this season?
SB: I like his demeanor on the court, I like that he’s not afraid to have the ball in his hands at key times — I think that’s really very, very important, especially as a freshman. He has a chance to be very, very good.
DP: How do you keep the Palestra sacred while also staying up with the competition of college basketball arenas?
SB: There’s still no greater place to watch a basketball game. We’re doing some things to embellish the Palestra itself. It’s a real challenge to keep the Palestra from being like a pro arena because I don’t want to blast that kind of music, and I don’t want people to walk in there thinking they’re at any other place. There aren’t many Palestras left, and you don’t want to lose that aura. The new scoreboards today really have some incredible visual things. I could see us using the Palestra for things beyond basketball … So if you come back next year and see one of those 120-inch screens with picture as good as you’ll get in a movie theater, yes, it’s partially for basketball games, but it’s partially then to do some other things. I’d love to get it done for next season.
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