Throw it down

For the second time in three years, a strange sight will appear at the Palestra.

One of the two best teams in Ivy League history is in its proper place at the top of the conference standings. Penn (14-8) is in first place at 5-1. But archrival Princeton (10-10), as it was two years ago, comes limping into tonight's 7 p.m. tipoff at 1-5 and in dead last.

"It is a little bit of an uncharacteristic place for them to be in," senior Mark Zoller said.

But this year the Tigers have struggled, losing their first four conference games for the first time after a shaky 9-5 nonconference schedule.

Princeton finally got a win in their conference home opener, beating Harvard 74-68 in double overtime last Friday, but the Tigers then dropped a nailbiter to Dartmouth the next night.

The struggles are unnerving at least one Tigers player.

"I came from a high school program that went 32-1, and I really hadn't lost that much my whole life," freshman point guard Marcus Schroeder said. "Losing, so far, 10 games this year has been very frustrating but it's definitely a learning experience for me."

If history is any indicator, though, Penn should be ready to play. Against a 1-3 Princeton team two years ago, the Quakers came out flat and fell behind by as many as 18 points with 7:35 to play before rallying for a historic comeback and overtime win.

This time, the Quakers would like it to be a little easier.

But at least they appear to be ready for a hard-fought game.

"I think they're better than their 1-5 record," Penn coach Glen Miller said. "But even if I didn't think they were better, it's a rivalry game and in rivalry games teams know each other well; I don't think records have anything to do with it."

Tonight is Miller's first foray into Penn-Princeton. But like he said before the Big 5 season, he treats each game the same, although he admitted that he is looking forward to the atmosphere.

One thing that may help Penn is that it is Princeton who is in last place as opposed to a different Ivy squad.

"I think it's good that Princeton's 1-5 because we know how good they are," junior guard Brian Grandieri said. "Maybe if another team was we wouldn't prepare as hard."

Against Dartmouth and Harvard last weekend, Penn succeeded in getting the ball inside, after going away from that path for a number of games. The Tigers' smallish starting five contains 6-foot-9 freshman Zach Finley (who has started only nine games) as well as 6-5 Noah Savage and 6-4 Justin Conway.

The Quakers' inside advantage can also help on defense.

In Penn's 60-41 win against Princeton at the Palestra last season, the Tigers had only three offensive rebounds, all of which were "team" rebounds, and shot only 31 percent from the field, constantly having their shots challenged by the taller Quakers.

Penn had trouble last weekend rebounding defensively, allowing 16 second-chance points each night out of 53 total.

"Teams are scoring 50, and 20 are from offensive glass, so imagine if we did box out," Grandieri said.

Zoller felt that part of Princeton's offensive rebounding woes is that the Tigers are always trying to get back on defense to stop the transition game.

That all goes back to the Princeton system, where everything is deliberate and under control, which can lull teams to sleep.

"It's a matter of concentration and discipline," Miller said of trying to stop the Tigers' scheme of backdoors and three-pointers.

And while the game may not determine the Ivy title, at least both sides are excited for the latest chapter of the rivalry.

"It's Penn-Princeton, and even the younger guys have an inkling of what it's all about," Grandieri said.

"We've got a big opportunity [tonight] against Penn, and hopefully we'll try to capitalize on that," Schroeder said.

ESPN's self-styled "Rivalry Week" has ended, but don't tell anyone today.

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