Most Penn fans will not remember Chris Skrelja's visit to the Palestra earlier this year, and nor should they.
The Brown freshman simply ate up time, scoring just two points and failing to pull down any rebounds over eight minutes of playing time.
That was the way his season had been going. Skrelja was averaging just 1.64 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.5 assists, in 10.8 minutes per game coming off the bench.
Worst of all, the forward had been shooting a lackluster 34 percent from the field. This was particularly unimpressive considering that he shot over 40 percent from beyond the arc in his senior year of high school.
Coming to Brown, Skrelja believed he was destined not just to contribute but to have a chance to start.
That was a reasonable expectation, considering Brown's starting roster features only one senior, three sophomores and a freshman.
"My expectations were to be a starter," Skrelja said. But "I had a slow start."
But since that Penn game, Skrelja has seen a dramatic turnaround in his production.
In his seven most recent Ivy League games, he is averaging 6.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 17.6 minutes per game.
For Skrelja, it is all a matter of confidence. He began the season in a vicious cycle of missed shots and lowered morale, followed by more missed shots.
Then he decided to go to work on improving his confidence. He started spending an hour on the court before practice and another on the court afterwards.
"Most specifically [I started working on] my jumpshot," Skrelja said. "Coming off screens and knocking it down rather than being a standstill shooter."
All that extra practice time has paid off. Since playing Penn, Skrelja is shooting at a torrid 53.3 percent from the field, a 19-percentage-point improvement over his previous clip.
"He's just a good basketball player, and the opportunity presented itself and he's done a good job with his opportunity," Penn coach Fran Dunphy said. "All you want from your young guys when they're given that chance is to play their very best. It looks like he's really stepped his game up."
Skrelja's turnaround and newfound confidence was highlighted by Brown's 79-66 win at Harvard. At Lavietes Pavilion in early February.
In that game he posted his first career double-double, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Skrelja's effort in that game earned him Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors.
"That Harvard game instilled confidence in my teammates and coach in me," he said.
And while Skrelja's shooting has fluctuated during the season, he has been amazingly consistent handling the ball. He is averaging just 2.3 turnovers per 40 minutes and 1.62 since the Penn game.
That rate is amongst the best in the league. Penn's Ibrahim Jaaber averages 1.67 turnovers per 40 minutes and Brian Grandieri averages 1.87.
"I have a pretty good knowledge of the game of basketball," Skrelja said. "If you don't make any turnovers you'll stay in the game."
With his recent performance, Skrelja has earned his chance to stay in the game.
