The last six weeks have not been kind to Dartmouth.
Over the last month-and-a half, the Big Green has won just a single game -- a 56-54 thriller over Harvard -- while losing eight.
But for one player in Hanover, N.H., freshman Leon Pattman, the team's current eight-game losing streak can be at least slightly tempered. Pattman, a 6-foot-2 guard from Memphis, Tenn., has reaped Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors five times in the last six weeks.
Unlike other freshmen around the Ivy League who are role players on teams with seasoned veterans, Pattman has assumed the starring role on a Big Green team that features just one senior.
Pattman has been forced to become a leader on a team that needs one desperately -- and he has risen to the occasion.
The freshman currently leads Dartmouth in minutes, points and rebounds per game, while also boasting the team's top field-goal (49.4) and free-throw (87.0) percentages.
After missing Dartmouth's Jan. 30 game against Columbia with what Dartmouth Athletics called "an unspecified ailment," Pattman returned the next night. Despite losing to Ivy League leader Cornell, the freshman scored 21 points while grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds.
His stats "speak highly to the fact that he's a real good basketball player, good athlete and he knows what he's doing," Penn coach Fran Dunphy said.
Pattman headed to Hanover from a White Station High School in Memphis, Tenn. that has produced its fair share of Ancient Eight athletes.
Last year's points and rebounds leader for the Big Green, Charles Harris, also went to the Tennessee school.
"It's almost like a Dartmouth feeder school," Dunphy said about White Station.
And more Spartans are on their way to the Ivies.
Joining Pattman in Hanover next year will be 6-4 small forward Jonathan Ball, while 6-7 small forward Taylor Schall will head to Yale next season.
Pattman, along with Tennessee freshman Dane Bradshaw, led White Station to a Class AAA State championship last season, as the team finished ranked 10th in the nation by USA Today.
"I felt it was the best choice for me," Pattman told Memphis' The Commercial Appeal in November 2002 after committing to Dartmouth, "not necessarily athletically, but for my future."
In 2003, Pattman was named honorable mention All-State, regional and city championship MVP and All-Metro, despite fracturing his wrist early in the season.
Despite the fact that it is Pattman's first year in the Ivy League, one member of the Penn men's basketball team has seen the freshman phenom in action before.
Freshman Ryan Pettinella's McQuaid Jesuit High School defeated White Station on Dec. 29, 2002. The Penn forward shot 9-for-11, scoring 22 points while recording three blocks.
Pattman mustered only seven points on 3-of-10 shooting in a losing effort.
Despite Pattman's impressive numbers so far this season, Dunphy concedes that the Quakers did not try to recruit him.
"We had already gotten our full compliment of guys," the Penn coach said. "We knew who was coming. Pattman was not a guy who we looked at. We kind of put our eggs in the Ibby basket."
For Saturday night's game at the Palestra, Dunphy intends on using senior Charlie Copp, senior Jeff Schiffner and junior Tim Begley to stymie the freshman.
