Even with all the big stories surrounding tomorrow's game against La Salle, the Penn men's basketball team is focused on one big man.
Tomorrow marks the opening of the Big 5 at 50 years old, the Big 5 Classic and Penn coach Fran Dunphy's first game against La Salle since the Explorers made him a job offer this summer.
But to beat La Salle, Penn must make sure that Explorers forward Steven Smith doesn't become another big story.
ESPN's Andy Katz called the 6-foot-7 junior power forward out of Northeast High School in Philadelphia one of the 50 preseason favorites for the Wooden Award. Smith has backed that up so far, as he ranks eighth in the nation with 23.7 points per game as of yesterday morning.
"He's certainly one of the best," Dunphy said of Smith's status among Big 5 players.
According to Penn forward Mark Zoller, the challenge of facing Smith is in defending all the facets of his game.
"He's a great ballplayer," Zoller said. "He's inside, outside. He's a real versatile player."
As for La Salle as a team, this past year has been a roller coaster off the court and the ups and downs have continued on the hardwood.
After losing its coach and two of its best players to an offseason rape scandal, La Salle is looking toward new coach John Giannini to restore the program.
The season didn't start well for the Explorers, who fell at home to James Madison and then lost at Hofstra.
But they will come into the Palestra riding the momentum from a 71-62 win over Southern California on Tuesday.
"I think their win the other night really helped them a great deal," Dunphy said.
And it hasn't been just Smith contributing for the Explorers.
Junior guard Jermaine Thomas has added 13 points per game and sophomore forward Mike St. John has contributed eight points and seven boards per contest.
Penn has had success against La Salle in the past, marked by a 35-22 record and a three-game winning streak against the Explorers.
In its last meeting on Jan. 14, Penn's defense and Tim Begley's 20 points led the Quakers to a 71-47 thrashing of the Explorers at Tom Gola Arena. But that is no reason to expect the same tomorrow.
"We think that everybody has the opportunity to kick our butt and we better be ready for every opponent that we play," Dunphy said.
One of the main factors for Penn will be the health and performance of Zoller. At Sunday's practice, the Blue Bell, Pa., native tweaked the ankle that he injured in the offseason.
Zoller played only 15 minutes in Wednesday's win over Bucknell, as he was plagued by injury and early fouls.
Zoller describes his condition as "not quite 100 percent but getting there" and Dunphy said he will treat Zoller's minutes like anyone else's tomorrow.
"When you play well, you stay out. When you don't, you come off," Dunphy said.
While the action at the Big 5 Classic is always intense on the floor, it is impossible to ignore the storylines that surround this year's game.
Dunphy said that his emotions are always high, but "especially [against] La Salle, because I went to school there and they were very good to me in my days there."
After the rape scandal led to the resignation of La Salle head coach Billy Hahn, Dunphy was offered the head coaching job this summer.
Dunphy turned down the job in favor of returning to the Quakers, but still holds his alma mater in high esteem.
"I wish them great success except when we play them," he said.
