Be careful what you wish for.
When the Penn men's basketball team takes the floor tonight against Providence in the second round of the Preseason NIT, it will have the unpleasant task of trying to shut down one of the best players in the country.
The biggest challenge for the Quakers will be to find a way to contain Ryan Gomes, the 6-foot-7 senior forward who was a first-team All-American last season.
"We've got our hands full," Penn head coach Fran Dunphy said. "But this is something we wanted."
Against Niagara on Tuesday night, Gomes scored 25 points while collecting 19 rebounds and five assists over a full 40 minutes. If the Quakers are to mount a serious fight, they will surely have to limit Gomes' production.
Much of the defensive responsibility will fall upon sophomore forward Mark Zoller, who is relishing the challenge.
"I'm really excited to get my chance and show my skills against an All-American," Zoller said.
However, according to Dunphy, Gomes will not see many one-on-one situations.
"We'll probably have to help on him greatly," he said. "He's a great player."
Double-teaming Gomes seems to be a popular tactic among opposing coaches. When asked how Penn could defend the All-American, Quinnipiac head coach Joe DeSantis emphatically agreed with Dunphy's game plan.
"Double-down Gomes," he said. "You're really going to have to pay attention to him. Dig him, post, heavy dig, double down, double from different areas.
"I saw films last year watching Penn, that they like to double with the opposite four-man, so maybe they'll do that. But Dunphy will figure a way out."
However, Providence is not merely a one-man show. Penn's forwards will also have to contend with 6-9 forward Tuukka Kotti. The senior from Forssa, Finland, scored 11 points in the team's season opener and will certainly have some opportunities with so much attention focused on Gomes.
Penn's guards will get little relief as well, as Providence boasts sophomore guard Dwight Brewington, who registered 19 points and five blocked shots against Niagara.
Defensively, the Friars will present quite a test, and the Quakers' offense must improve from their last game against Quinnipiac.
Mark Zoller and Ibby Jaaber combined for 12 turnovers, and Dunphy was unhappy with the team's effort in the second half.
While the Quakers face a stiff challenge on the court, the rigors of playing two games in three nights while traveling do not seem to bother the team.
"We're really excited to go to Providence and play a Big East team," Zoller said. "Hopefully we can take them and get a date at the Garden."
Penn senior captain Tim Begley, who played against Providence in 2002 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, believes there is no need for him to supply any extra motivation.
"If guys can't get up for a game playing a Big East team with a chance to play at the Garden over Thanksgiving, then I don't really know what to say to them," he said.
Starting tonight, the Red and Blue begin a crucial stretch that will give the team an idea of where it stands on a national level.
After Providence, the Quakers will travel to Madison, Wis., to face off Saturday against No. 20 Wisconsin. Then they will return home for a matchup against Philadelphia rival Drexel at the Palestra on Tuesday.
"I think we're going to learn about ourselves as we go along here," Dunphy said. "It's three really good teams we're playing."
