For the Penn men's basketball team, the three games over spring break paradoxically mean both everything and nothing.
The Quakers (17-8, 10-1 Ivy) have already clinched the Ivy League title and the NCAA Tournament invitation that accompanies it. As far as the Ancient Eight standings go, the games against Dartmouth (10-15, 7-5), Harvard (12-13, 7-5) and Princeton (13-12, 4-7) are absolutely meaningless.
However, wrapping up the campaign strong will be crucial for the Quakers in determining their seeding in the tournament.
Furthermore, Penn wants to make sure it finishes the season playing its best basketball.
"I think a lot of basketball is about momentum," sophomore forward Steve Danley said. "And if we're going to go out and play well in the Tournament, we have to play well in our last couple games. We're trying to build to that so we're playing to the peak of our abilities."
Though it might be tempting to rest some of the regulars, coach Fran Dunphy agreed it will be more important to continue playing strong basketball.
"They can rest after April," Dunphy said. "We're trying to finish out as strong as we possibly can. We want to win these games."
Though few might have expected it in November, the games this weekend will be against two of the league's top teams. The Big Green and Crimson are currently tied for second place, and each boasts impressive big men.
Tonight, the Quakers will battle against Dartmouth's 6-foot-10 center, David Gardner. The senior from Minnetonka, Minn., is averaging 10.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
Things don't get any easier Saturday, as Harvard's premier threat is seven-foot center Brian Cusworth. He is tied for fourth in the Ancient Eight with 14 points per game and second in rebounds with 8.9. His teammate Matt Stehle leads the league with 9.0 boards per contest.
Earlier in the season, Danley, Mark Zoller and the rest of Penn's frontcourt were up for the challenge as they held Gardner to 3-of-13 shooting. The previous night, the forward corps limited Cusworth to just five points.
One forward, however, who had a strong performance against the Red and Blue this season is Princeton's Judson Wallace. He netted 21 points but was sorely missed in overtime after fouling out with just over one minute remaining.
At Jadwin Gym on Tuesday, the Quakers expect the Tigers to come out with intensity even though the Ivy League race is decided -- especially after Penn's miracle win over Princeton at the Palestra sent Princeton spiraling out of control toward arguably the worst season in its history.
"You always expect a dogfight at Princeton and I don't imagine it'll be any different at their place," Danley said.
After the game at the Palestra, Penn knows the Tigers will present a stiff challenge.
"They pushed us around for a good 30 minutes the last time we played them," Begley said.
Though the final three games will be important for the Quakers to fine-tune themselves, they will also be important for sentimental reasons.
Saturday night will be the last time four seniors -- Begley, Jan Fikiel, Eric Heil and Nameir Majette -- will suit up at the Palestra.
Dunphy said he will be looking forward to recognizing these seniors for their contributions to the program.
"I'm anxious to start Eric Heil and Nameir Majette, especially on Saturday night," he said. "They've earned that right and it'll be a lot of fun to see them out there and hopefully they can play extended minutes."
Confronted with his last game at the Palestra, Begley was in a reflective mood. He reminisced about Penn's 75-74 overtime victory over Villanova his freshman year. What stuck out to him was the crowd storming the court and "realizing you're playing big-time college basketball and what a big deal it is."
And, of course, there is this year's game against Princeton.
"The Princeton comeback game was probably hands down the greatest basketball situation I'd ever been part of," Begley said.
NOTES: Fikiel's father Cristoph will attend one of his son's collegiate games for the first time this weekend.
Freshman guard David Whitehurst will start tonight for the third straight game.
