The Penn women's basketball team is still basking in the glory of its Ivy League Championship.
On Saturday, the Penn community was invited to a sneak preview of both the men's and women's basketball squads for the 2001-02 season.
But before the two teams hit the floor, the 2000-01 women's team was honored once again in the presence of returned alumni, as the Ivy League Championship banner was raised -- a first-ever for the women's basketball team at Penn.
The Quakers' sensational season is now immortalized, and will not be forgotten anytime soon.
The members of the team were also given rings for their championship season.
The Penn women's eight minute scrimmage was brief, but it gave a quick glimpse into the team dynamic this upcoming season.
Diana Caramanico, who became the Ivy League's all-time leading scorer before graduating last year, left some very large shoes to fill. But with the help of the new freshman recruits, Penn coach Kelly Greenberg is hopeful for continued success this year.
"Personality-wise, the freshmen fit right in and work ethic-wise too," Greenberg said. "They all came here from winning teams. They've stepped right in. We're right on target at where we should be right now."
Shortly after the women's scrimmage, the men took the floor in an exhibition that allowed alumni and graduated players to size up this year's squad.
However, the Red and Blue weren't at full strength.
Injuries are nagging the Quakers right now, but they hope to cure most of their ailments before the season kicks off.
Sophomore Adam Chubb is currently out with an injured foot. Junior Duane King made his first appearance back on Saturday, and senior Dan Solomito saw minutes while still recovering from a right ankle sprain. Junior Koko Archibong was absent for personal reasons.
"We don't have Koko or Adam Chubb, who is going to be out for another four weeks probably," Penn coach Fran Dunphy said on Saturday. "There was a lot of mixing and matching going on out there. But you have to be ready to play with whoever is out there and make good decisions."
Stepping up into the shoes of missing veterans was the Quakers' new, five-man group of freshmen.
"I think they're all going to get their opportunities at some point -- some sooner than later," Dunphy said. "They're all doing a good job and we're pleased."
Also new to the squad is junior transfer Andrew Toole.
Toole comes to Penn after two seasons at Elon College, and he proved himself a formidable penetrator and shooter at the guard position on Saturday afternoon.
Not surprisingly though, veteran Ugonna Onyekwe dominated the scrimmage this weekend. He put the icing on the cake with a 360-degree dunk with one second left.
That play expected, Dunphy didn't see anything out of the ordinary.
"There was nothing shocking going on out there [on Saturday]," he said. "I think the thing that was good about [Saturday] was that there were some people in the stands and the lights were on. How you're going to react to that, the extra pressure is a little different than a practice setting."
The men's team has two weeks to sharpen its skills before taking on its first opponent of the season, Georgia Tech, in Atlanta on Nov. 19.
The women's season opener is on Nov. 16 at the Army Tournament in West Point, N.Y.
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