Line joins 375 Men's Hoops' fans in storied Palestra slumber party

"The Line? There's no way I'd go! Anyone who went to The Line must be crazy!" a sophomore student said. For the less basketball-crazy part of the University population, the student may have a point.

Season tickets to Penn men's basketball are still available today, despite the hundreds already sold. And, because the Palestra is not the most spacious of arenas, every seat is a good one.

Still, 375 students camped out last weekend at the Palestra. If their purpose was not to secure the best- viewing seats, then what was their reason for the overnight slumber party?

"No one wants to sit center court with the Alumni," College freshman Ari Friedland said. "Everyone wants to sit behind the basket to taunt the opposing free- throw shooters, and in the corners to yell at the referees."

Quakers' fans such as Friedland left their lives and work outside the Palestra, and devoted their weekend to Penn basketball -- or so they would like you to think.

In actuality, The Line was merely a blown-up version of a typical Penn undergraduate dorm, with a higher concentration of insomniacs.

"People brought beds, televisions, video games, and even laptops," Friedland said. "It felt just like home."

But Line participants had more than video games in which to participate.

The Line began with a Penn volleyball match versus then first-place Harvard on Friday night. The crowd's support ultimately sparked the Quakers to a win over Harvard, and then helped push Penn past Dartmouth on Saturday.

"Cheering for the volleyball team was so much fun," College freshman Rebecca Silver said. "The Harvard and Dartmouth teams left the Palestra not only with a loss, but also with their confidence crushed."

Indeed, the Quakers' Ivy League opponents faced a redoubtable combination of a dominant Penn volleyball squad and a taunting crowd.

While Line fans succeeded in agitating Penn's opponents, however, their basketball chants amidst the volleyball game seemed somewhat out-of-place.

After a Dartmouth middle-hitter swung through the ball, the crowd chanted, "Airball! Airball! You suck!"

But the main purpose of the Line was to unite all of Penn's most devoted basketball fans in a century-old tradition.

Consequently, most of the activites centered around roundball.

Throughout the 27-hour span, there was a three-on-three basketball tournament and several fun contests on the court of the Palestra.

The most notable event, though, was the Red and Blue game, a scrimmage amongst the Penn basketball team.

Although Ugonna Onyekwe and Koko Archibong did not play in Friday's scrimmage due to minor injuries, it was still a chance for the crowd to get to know its home team.

The White team highlighted by Charlie Copp, Jeff Schiffner, and David Klatsky beat teh Blue team 45-31.

The Blue team was comprised of Adam Chubb, Friedrich Ebede, Jan Fikiel and Andrew Toole.

Copp, who went 5 for 6 from behind the arc, led the night with 15 points. Blue teammate Schiffner dropped 10 points.

Chubb tallied eight points for the White team and Ebede and Fikiel both contributed seven.

For freshman Jason Rubin, it was an unforgettable sight.

"It was the first time I'd seen the team," Rubin said. "They're amazing!"

Friedland was also awestruck by the Penn team.

"I felt like I was at the NBA All-Star game," Friedland said.

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