Time to Rebound for Quakers

When Penn plays Monmouth on Saturday, the home team comes in with only two wins, three freshman starters, a deep rotation and a sub-30 percent clip from three.

And no, the game isn't at the Palestra.

"We're starting three freshmen, a sophomore and a junior, so in some ways we're very similar, even in record," Monmouth coach Dave Calloway said. "You've got two similar teams that play two difficult schedules and have to kind of throw these young freshmen right into the firing pit."

In some games, Calloway's squad has played like a bunch of rookies, and in others, like All-Leaguers.

At 2-5, Monmouth has lost some tough games, including a 43-point debacle against Notre Dame and a 27-point loss to Sacred Heart.

But the Hawks also beat Wichita State and a 6-2 Charlotte team that itself has since topped Davidson and Wake Forest.

"We scored eight points in one half of one game, and 11 in another half in another game, so that's a recipe for disaster," Calloway said.

In the spread offense, Monmouth has indeed struggled, shooting a mere 37 percent from the floor. Only one player has more assists than turnovers.

Still, it put up 50 points in the second half to force overtime against Seton Hall in a 20-point comeback that ultimately fell short.

Penn coach Glen Miller didn't get a chance to play against former Temple coach John Chaney's famed defense, but he will get a taste of it against Monmouth.

"They play a matchup zone, which is difficult to attack, and they spread the floor offensively, so we're going to have to play very well to get a win at Monmouth," Miller said.

As for the Quakers, they will have to summon the energy a few days after expending it all against No. 1 North Carolina.

In that game, Penn got doubled-up in rebounding, a few games after grabbing eight fewer than both Virginia and Villanova. But against weaker opponents, the Red and Blue have looked strong on the glass, so this could be a good matchup.

"We historically are a weaker rebounding team, and I think some of it is the style we play," Calloway said. "Our offense is spread . and on the defensive end we match up, so it's not like in the man where you have to box out one man."

Against the Tar Heels, Penn remained in the game throughout most of the first half, a big difference from many of the year's slow starts. Still, Miller wants his Quakers squad to keep that up for a lot longer.

Monmouth's inconsistency has been game-to-game, but Penn's has happened within each contest.

"Since we got out to such a poor start against Villanova [down 28-4], it was nice to come out and correct that," Miller said.

"But again, it's a 40-minute game and we've shown with a very, very young team that we can have our moments, but we have to play a complete game."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.