The Big 5 landscape is changing, but the rivalry between Penn and Villanova is still alive and well.
After the Quakers nearly shocked the then-No. 3 Wildcats at the Palestra last year, it would be impossible for the rivalry to die down, even with all the old faces swearing new allegiances.
Gone to the NBA are Villanova guards Randy Foye, Kyle Lowry and Allan Ray. Add to that former Penn coach Fran Dunphy's move across the Schuylkill to Temple, and these teams may look like shadows of their former selves.
But Penn's trio of super seniors, forwards Mark Zoller and Steve Danley and guard Ibrahim Jaaber, are out to get the Wildcats (6-1), something they have yet to do in their stay at Penn.
And more than ever in the past three years, these Quakers (4-2) appear able to pull off the upset.
With Villanova's spot in the top 25 out the window and Penn's saturation of veterans, the time may be ripe for a change at the top of the Big 5 rankings.
The recent history between these two squads may give the Red and Blue a little bit of an extra incentive to take its Big East rival by surprise. The Quakers fell to the Wildcats by seven last year and 10 both times before.
"Definitely, it hurts losing those close games," Zoller said. "We made it interesting last year, but that one hurt more so than any other loss."
Despite the fact that the Wildcats are only returning two of their starters from last year, they do have a wildcard in their deck. But it's a wildcard that few are unaware of.
Senior Curtis Sumpter, a versatile forward, re-injured his anterior cruciate ligament before last season, and was forced to accept a medical redshirt.
But Sumpter's reputation precedes him.
"He can score in a variety of ways," said Penn coach Glen Miller. "He's very comfortable on the low block, he's very comfortable on the perimeter shooting threes, he can also take you off the dribble. So he's a scorer."
Another asset the 6-foot-7, 225-pounder brings is his size. While the gap left by Foye, Lowry and Ray will be difficult to fill, it will allow the Wildcats to get out of their four-guard set, and go with a more conventional lineup with three big men.
While sharpshooting guard Mike Nardi remains, forwards Dante Cunningham and Will Sheridan will provide the muscle inside for the Wildcats along with Sumpter, and may be more irksome to the Quakers than the smaller lineup they went with last year.
However, what Penn lacks in size it makes up for in experience.
With a solid core of veterans figuring to log the lion's share of the minutes, the Quakers' Big 5 experience should give them a leg up on Villanova's more youthful squad.
Freshman guard Scottie Reynolds and sophomore forwards Shane Clark and Dwayne Anderson have been averaging 20 minutes per game apiece. But their first experience at a packed Palestra may be a bit daunting.
"We've got a lot of young guys on our team and they'll get a taste of this for the first time," Villanova coach Jay Wright said. "They're going to get a baptism by fire."
Someone on the home side may be subject to this type of test: Coach Miller.
But Miller won't be the same wide-eyed puppy dog that Villanova's youngsters could be, and he maintains that the Big 5 opener is just business as usual.
"Every night you go out, you lace them up and try to win," Miller said. "Beyond the atmosphere, Villanova's no different from anybody else."
