Basketball Preview 2008 | Among unheralded seniors, someone has to step up

In 2005-06, it was Eric Osmundson. In 2006-07, it was Ibrahim Jaaber. Last year, it was Brian Grandieri.

For the last three seasons, the Quakers have had a clear floor general and locker room presence, a leader both on and off the court.

But this year, with five seniors - Kevin Egee, Cam Lewis, Aron Cohen, Brennan Votel and Tommy McMahon - on the Red and Blue's roster, it is unclear who will step into the captain's shoes.

Moreover, no senior has been able to make an impact or consistently crack the starting lineup in his three years at Penn.

Juniors Justin Reilly, Andreas Schreiber and Darren Smith have been similarly erratic in their play (Smith also missed all of last season due to a knee injury). And although sophomore Harrison Gaines took the on-court reins at times last year, it's unlikely that a sophomore or freshman will be considered for the role.

As a result, coach Glen Miller and his staff have yet to name a captain and have not decided whether they will select him or have the players vote.

"I'm looking to anybody and everybody" to step up, Miller said. "I'm looking for guys who are going to take ownership of what happens on the floor."

The coach added that he's looking for players who can lead vocally and by example.

Although nothing is set in stone, it seems that Egee and Votel will get the "C's," regardless of who makes the decision, and they are certainly willing to step up. Egee said he'd vote for himself for the role and argued that the two would make an excellent leadership tandem because their contrasting styles fit Miller's mold; Votel is unafraid to rile up his teammates, while Egee gets the job done quietly.

"Last year, having one leader, one captain - that was a problem, because it was all on him," Egee said, referring to Grandieri.

At the same time, the spotlight falling solely on Grandieri forced him to step up his game, and he gritted out a points-per-game average in the double digits. That accountability may not be there when the burden is shared by a pair of players who are only on the court 15 minutes per game.

There's also the possibility that a de facto captain could emerge among starters like Bernardini, Gaines or even Zack Rosen. Despite his freshman status, Rosen is known for his ability to work well with teammates and make them better.

This is a crucial year for a team with very promising talents in its freshman and sophomore classes. But if Miller wants to maximize those talents, he'll need to hope that someone is willing to take the lead. And fortunately for him, even if nobody appears to be a clear-cut choice, plenty of players are clamoring for the job and making an impression on the underclassmen.

"There are a lot of [seniors] who . not as much was expected of them," freshman Mike Howlett said. "And now they're stepping up."

- Senior Staff Writer Andrew Scurria contributed reporting to this article.

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