Dave Zeitlin: They want more than a party favor

BOSTON -- He was up on the podium, and he couldn't stop laughing.

In front of clicking cameras and rows and rows of reporters, Penn senior point guard Andrew Toole didn't exactly match the nervous, we're-just-glad-to-be-here underdog profile.

He poked and giggled with teammate Jeff Schiffner. He chided the always-serious Ugonna Onyekwe, telling reporters that Onyekwe "hangs all the press clippings in his locker."

Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan asked a vapid question about the USC game and whether it was "scary" to make so many shots -- the Quakers shot 36-for-50 from the field and 15-for-20 from three-point range in that Jan. 11 demolition.

"It wasn't scary for us," Toole said with a sly smile. "It was probably scary for USC."

Yep, it's official. The Quakers aren't in the Dance to get their toes stepped on and then go home with a pretty party favor (they've already done that too many times).

This time, they're here to win.

"We want to win real bad -- there's no other way to say it," Penn senior David Klatsky said.

"We've been close before, but couldn't pull it out. This is it. We want [the season] to keep going."

This is Klatsky's third NCAA Tournament appearance, and he does not want to leave Penn with an 0-3 tourney record.

Three years ago, the Quakers fell short against Illinois. Last year, California bounced them from the tournament.

Klatsky believes this senior-laden team can learn from the past mistakes in today's first round game against Oklahoma State.

"We've got to stay poised. If we let up at all, they're going to run it down our throats," Klatsky said. "If we stay under control and run our offense, we'll get good shots. And if we get good shots, we will knock them down."

Indeed, the Quakers must keep their composure and not fall behind early.

Against Illinois, then-senior Michael Jordan lost his head and picked up a dumb third foul late in the first half. The Quakers trailed the entire game and ended up falling just short. The same thing happened last year against Cal, as Penn trailed most of the way before eventually losing, 82-75.

The Quakers remember that. They remember that they did not play their best game against the Golden Bears, and that's making them even hungrier.

Can the Quakers pull off the upset today? It's very possible -- if they're able to follow these keys: First, they must figure out Oklahoma State's tough perimeter defense. The only team that Penn has seen this season with such a stingy 'D' has been Saint Joseph's, which defeated the Quakers, 66-48.

The Quakers believe they can do better this time around if they're patient and wait for their shots.

It's no secret that Penn likes to pound it in the post early to Onyekwe and Koko Archibong and establish the inside game, which usually frees up Penn's lethal three-point shots. That's been the Quakers' recipe for success all season, and they must do the same today.

The Cowboys have a pair of inside bruisers in Ivan McFarlin and Andre Williams, who match up well size-wise with Onyekwe and Archibong. Penn's two big men must be aggressive inside without falling into early foul trouble.

Another important key is rebounding. The Quakers are 16-0 when they outrebound their opponent and 6-5 when they don't.

And, of course, Schiffner and Klatsky, Penn's best perimeter defenders, must do their best to neutralize Oklahoma State's talented guards -- Victor Williams, Tony Allen and Melvin Sanders all average at least 13 points per contest this season.

Sure, the Cowboys are a talented, well-coached team from the deep Big XII, but the Quakers have the ability to win. And they definitely have the desire to do it.

"This is what we've been working toward all season," Onyekwe said. "We're looking forward to putting on a good show."

Well, let the show begin.

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