Zachary Levine: After three trips, they finally own the place

LEXINGTON, Ky.

Two years ago, there would have been no "Sugarlips."

The chorus of teammates would not be heckling Stephen Danley as he conducted an interview after the selection show.

And Mark Zoller and Ibrahim Jaaber would not have been putting schoolgirls to shame with their giggling during the press conference.

But this trio of seniors - Zoller, Jaaber and "Sugarlips," as Danley was called lovingly by teammates in front of all the Selection Sunday press - is taking "act like you've been there before" to a whole new level.

Why shouldn't they? They have been there before. And they're just as loose 24 hours before the biggest game of their lives as they would be if they were getting ready for a summertime pickup game.

"We're just regular kids," Jaaber said. "That's what kids do, joke around."

Not that it's a bad thing. In fact, quite the opposite. It's this loose, relaxed attitude that has characterized this team all season and has perhaps kept them going for their first 30 games.

Today, they hope it'll keep them going for No. 31 and right on through to No. 32.

It was not always this way for the core group that's been part of three consecutive Ivy League titles.

Two years ago, the Quakers were taking in the atmosphere in Cleveland, really cherishing the attention. It was Tim Begley telling Bob Ryan how much he enjoys watching "Mr. Ryan" on television.

Last year, they were all business, not getting caught up in the sideshow and nearly finding the right formula for the upset.

Now they give off the attitude like they own the place.

From the goofy grins at the press conference to a dunk contest between Brian Grandieri and Zoller at Tuesday's practice session, "the biggest game of their lives" seems to these guys like just another day in their lives.

"I'm used to it now, but at first I was a little uneasy with a team that was so relaxed," said Glen Miller, the ringleader of this 15-man circus. "But they've shown that they're ready to play."

And they'd better be.

Texas A&M; is as well coached as they come and doesn't seem to exhibit any of the critical weaknesses that so often leads to an upset.

So as Wednesday turns into Thursday here in Lexington, the grins will have vanished. Sugarlips will have gone back to being Stephen Danley, 6-foot-8 forward, and every last bit of attention will have been transferred from the guy giggling next to him to Miller's gameplan.

"As soon as they get on the bus to come to the game tomorrow, there'll be silence and concentration," Miller said. "Every second and minute before that I'm sure they'll be loose and loud."

And who knows? Maybe that will really help.

Maybe this is that big test or that big date where the more you think about it, dwell on it and make it a big deal in your head, the worse it will turn out.

Penn better hope so, because at 3:10 this afternoon, it's the big exam, the big date and any other big thing you can think of crammed into one legacy-defining game.

Four college careers could end today, or Penn could be partying like it's 1994.

All joking aside.

Zachary Levine is a senior Mathematics major from Delmar, N.Y., and is former Sports Editor of The Daily Pennsylvanian. His e-mail address is zlevine@sas.upenn.edu.

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