Quakers face two testers out of the gate

Penn will have to wait almost a full two weeks to try and get rid of the sour taste in its mouth, but that might be easier said than done.

After being outclassed by Fordham on Saturday, the Quakers have a 12-day break for final exams before they have a chance to redeem themselves.

Illinois-Chicago will come to town on Dec. 21 as part of a two-game pre-Christmas set for Penn, who will then pack up and head to the Meadowlands to take on Seton Hall on the 23rd.

But until then, the Quakers will take advantage of a much-needed break to rest their minds and bodies after the disheartening home loss this weekend.

"We're real banged up right now, and it gives a couple of guys with . injuries a chance to rest up," Senior forward Stephen Danley said. "We have a lot of little things we need to sharpen up, both defensively and offensively."

And in the thick of its unforgiving nonconference schedule, Penn will have to be sure to complete both of its objectives.

"You can look at UIC, Seton Hall, any of these teams." Penn coach Glen Miller said. "You can go on and on and on - we're going to continually be in a situation where we're not as talented as those teams physically."

That is the main obstacle the Quakers will have to overcome to avoid losing consecutive games at home for the first time since 2003.

They will have to contain reigning Horizon League Newcomer of the Year Othyus Jeffers, who leads the Flames with 15.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.

The 6-foot-5 community-college transfer has led the team in boards in seven of its 10 games despite the inside presence of legitimate big men Jovan Stefanov and Scott Vandermeer, 6-9 and 6-11 respectively.

This may force one of Penn's less physically imposing guards to match up with Jeffers - an unappealing prospect for the Quakers.

Penn won't be afforded a chance to rest after this battle of mid-majors, as it will have to turn around and head north to take on the Pirates, who, despite a breeze of a schedule so far have, suffered a minor blip in losing to Fairleigh Dickinson.

But Seton Hall, which received an at-large bid to last year's NCAA Tournament out of the Big East before falling in the first round, will be a tough out. Bobby Gonzalez, formerly the coach of upset-artist Manhattan, and heralded freshman Eugene Harvey, the team leader in scoring and assists, will call the shots for the Pirates.

One bad loss isn't enough to send Penn into a rut, but a win over the Pirates would put the Quakers in a good place.

"We have some great opportunities to win some big basketball games," Danley said. "We need to get back to doing that."

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