Penn, 'Bama clash styles and strengths

Tomorrow at 7:40 p.m., Penn and No. 20 Alabama tip off at Baltimore Arena to see who will advance to the second round of the Big Dance. For the Quakers, the opening task is a challenging one, but one that is not out of the veteran team's reach. Standing tall in Penn's path is an Alabama team stacked with talented athletes and powerful rebounders. The Crimson Tide finished the year ranked No. 20 in the nation and finished third in the Southeastern Conference's West Division. Alabama's 22-9 record was impressive enough to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA field and a No. 5 seed in the Eastern Region. The Tide was hoping to stay closer to home in the Southeast Region, which takes place in Birmingham, Ala. Instead, Alabama will have to travel up the coastline to knock heads with the 12th-seeded Quakers in Baltimore Arena at 7:40 p.m. (CBS, WXPN-FM 88.5, WGMP-AM 1210). The Quakers are a team the Crimson Tide knows little about. "If you're not familiar with a team and you're a five seed and they're a 12 seed, you might think you're supposed to beat them," Alabama coach David Hobbs said. "That's not the case here, though. We're not going to start counting this game as a win. Penn is capable of beating people." If Penn (22-5) plans on emerging victorious, it is going to have to contain the Tide's front line. The frontcourt trio of seniors Jamal Faulkner and Jason Caffey and sophomore center Antonio McDyess is menacing in stature and skill. All are 6-foot-7 or taller and have the potential to take over games down low. Not only does each player average a steady 12 points per game, but McDyess has hauled down 301 boards on the season. Caffey and Faulkner compliment each other well. Caffey has averaged over eight rebounds and Faulkner more than 5 five to enable Alabama to average a full five rebounds per game more than its opponents. And the Tide did that against teams from the SEC. The undersized Quakers know that they are going to have to attack the glass to limit second-chance opportunities. "They're pretty big and athletic up front," Penn forward Shawn Trice said. "They're probably pretty physical and aggressive too. Rebounding is the biggest key to the game. We have to have all five guys crashing the boards." The Crimson Tide's backcourt is not nearly as explosive, but it is steady. Junior point guard Marvin Orange runs the offense, while senior Artie Griffin starts at the shooting guard. Both have struggled with their outside shot all season long, shooting just 32 percent and 36 percent respectively. One player who hasn't struggled shooting the ball is sophomore swingman Eric Washington. Washington is Alabama's top reserve and leading three-point specialist, knocking down threes at a 42-percent clip. "They have solid guards. Being a guard in the SEC you have to be able to handle the pressure," said Penn senior Matt Maloney, who played guard in the SEC three years ago at Vanderbilt. "They are very quick. We have to maintain the tempo." What makes the Tide such a difficult team to contend with is its defense. The athletic ability, height and intensity have combined to limit opponents to only 37-percent shooting for the season. Because of this, Penn must get out to a quick start to avoid having to come from behind against one of the nation's most tenacious defenses. The Alabama defense will likely push out to try to limit the outside shooting of Maloney and Jerome Allen. To counter this, the Penn frontcourt will have to step up its scoring output. "We have to be flawless in our execution," Penn coach Fran Dunphy said. "This is a very veteran group, one that I think understands its chore. One that wants to do well." While this is the Quakers' third consecutive trip to the Big Dance, Alabama has had its share of success in the Tournament as well. The Tide knocked off a Providence team that had just won the Big East Tournament a season ago. Still, Alabama is only 6-4 in its last ten games this season. After a victory over Georgia, Alabama was bounced from the SEC Tournament in a semifinal loss to Arkansas. The Crimson Tide has been a tough team to figure out all season long. Alabama marched into Arkansas and won by 18 and also posted victories against Mississippi State and Florida. Meanwhile, the Tide were blown out by both LSU and Georgia on their home court. The outcome of tomorrow night's contest may depend on which Crimson Tide team shows up. With five seniors starting, which Penn team will show up is in little doubt. The Quakers are more relaxed than a season ago, but the team is excited to hit the court. While many felt Penn was deserving of a higher seed, the cards have been dealt, and the five seniors are ready to lace up their shoes for one final run. Come 7:40 tomorrow night, the Quakers will be ready to go to war. "I think we've got a great shot at winning this game," Trice said. "This is our last chance. There are no regrets. No next year."