Allen trims 2013 from roster

Goodbye class of 2013.

Tommy Eggleston and Sean Mullan, the last remaining sophomores on the Penn men’s basketball squad did not make the roster for the 2010-2011 season

The dismissal of the two players trims the squad down to 18, still three above the travel roster limit.

During the offseason, the team brought in seven freshmen to play on the varsity squad and, with a growing roster and a declining win percentage, Allen decided to make a change.

“It’s the nature of the beast; this is the business that we’re in,” he said during Wednesday’s Ivy League media teleconference.

“I think we got this opportunity as a staff to try to get back to the brand of basketball that so many people are used to seeing here at the University of Pennsylvania,” he added. “For lack of a better way of saying it, there are some individuals that may be left off the final roster.”

The sophomore class had initially included Carson Sullivan, Brian Fitzpatrick and Malcolm Washington. However, Fitzpatrick and Sullivan transferred and Washington decided to step down from the team at the conclusion of last season.

“I can’t say I was completely shocked because [Allen] has been threatening to cut people since he took over the job last year,” Eggleston said. “And with him bringing in seven freshmen, it’s always in the back of your mind, but I don’t think anyone thought that it would happen like this.”

Eggleston, who walked on last season and played very limited minutes, was discouraged by the news.

“After spending the whole summer here working out with the guys and not missing one workout or practice since I’ve been here, it’s obviously disappointing,” he said.

While older brother Jack Eggleston empathized with his brother, he indicated that the roster trimming may have sent a message to the team that will ultimately have a positive effect.

“Down the road, people are going to know that when Jerome threatens people’s spots, that’s a legitimate threat, so hopefully it can elevate the level of play on the team,” he said.

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