The time has finally come

M. Hoops tips off tonight The first college basketball game in America could not take place in a more appropriate venue. When the ball is tipped at the Palestra tonight, Penn and Canisius will kick off the 1994-95 season -- not just for the Quakers and the Golden Griffins, but for the entire nation. Playing in the first game of the first round of the first preseason tournament at 7 p.m., the start of the season could not come a moment too soon for Penn. With nationally ranked Syracuse, Virginia and Alabama all occupying slots in the prestigious Preseason National Invitation Tournament, the Quakers have the chance to do some damage. However, before Penn can even begin to look at these potential opponents, the Quakers must dispose of Canisius -- a task that may not be easy. The Golden Griffins posted a 22-7 record a season ago, rolling off 16 consecutive wins to end the regular season. Canisius captured the regular season Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship, but was upset in the conference tournament by Loyola. Buoyed by their regular-season success, the Griffs earned a bid to the NIT before being bounced by eventual-champion Villanova. With four starters returning, Canisius is a team on the rise. "We'll have our work cut out for us," Penn assistant coach Gil Jackson said. "This team doesn't care about us. They think they're every bit as good or better." The major reason behind this confident attitude is the frontcourt. Intact from last year, this group consists of forwards Craig Wise and Darrell Barley, and center Micheal Meeks. Wise, a Philadelphia native, led the Griffs in scoring a season ago, averaging 16.1 points while managing to haul down 7.0 rebounds per contest. Barley and Meeks posted similar numbers to the Central High graduate, each averaging more than 15 points and seven rebounds last year. "Our defense has got to be there," senior guard Scott Kegler said. "We have to pressure the hell out of them. Teams have a lot of trouble executing offensively when we play defense like we can." While the frontcourt may be strong, the Golden Griffins backcourt is not nearly as talented or experienced. Junior Chris Young posted only 6.9 ppg, while sophomore Javone "Bam" Moore will have to step into the starting lineup. One area which helped the guards and the rest of the squad gain experience was the team's trip to Europe during the summer. Canisius played seven games in nine days while touring Portugal. "The trip was very helpful," Canisius coach John Beilein said. "The kids grew together as a team. Hopefully, it will put us in position to win some games early on." Penn will play its usual style. Aside from the man-to-man defensive pressure, the Quakers know they must be patient in their half-court offense -- working the ball around and waiting for the open shot is crucial. While Penn will take its time in the offensive set, the Quakers will look to run the break whenever possible. "We're a new team this year," junior forward Ira Bowman said. "We want to create our own identity. We want to push the ball and make teams take shots they don't want to take. Canisius will be a great test." What makes tonight's opener even more special is it marks the start of the final season for Penn's five outstanding seniors. The Quakers are excited to be at home to tip off the year. While everybody may have a slight case of the jitters early, Penn knows it can use this game and the Preseason NIT stage to set the tone for the rest of the year. "We've got to look at this as the biggest game right up front," junior Tim Krug said. "If we can get through the NIT, win all four games and bring back the championship, that shows people we're really here to play." The Golden Griffins must hold the explosive Penn backcourt in check. Canisius will primarily set up in a man-to-man defense, and will mix in some zone to throw the Quakers off balance. However, with all of the talent Penn has, the Griffs believe it is going to take more than good defense to come away victorious. "We have to hope we catch Penn on a bad night," Beilein said. "Hopefully, Jerome Allen and Matt Maloney will have some in-and-out baskets. It could be a close game or it could be a blowout. Penn is just an extremely talented team." Canisius travels to the Palestra, which makes matters worse for it. Opening the season in a hostile road environment is a daunting task. For the Quakers, the familiar surroundings of the Palestra should make the home-court advantage a significant one. For the seniors, starting the year at home is extra special. "It's great to be at home," Kegler said. "The fans have been unbelievable. The support that we've gotten at the Palestra is the best I've ever seen. Playing the first game of the NIT in front of the home crowd is going to be wonderful."