Calder Silcox | Non-conference schedule features goliaths UCLA, Pitt, Duke

Monday’s official announcement of the 2011-12 men’s basketball schedule confirms what we have known for some time: Penn will play a doozy of a non-conference slate. Pitt, UCLA and Duke all headline a schedule that also includes perennial opponents Villanova and Temple from the Big 5.

Coach Jerome Allen believes this will make his team better for what really counts — the 14-game Ivy tournament come January.

“We have put together what I believe is one of the top non-conference schedules in the country,” he said in a statement. “This will prepare us well for the Ivy League, which is probably as strong, top to bottom, as it has been in a long time.”

Fans are certainly celebrating a packed schedule that is chock-full of goodies. And for recruiting purposes, the promise of playing teams like Duke and UCLA is a huge sell.

But what do these big-name games actually mean? The caliber of opponents this season can’t hurt Penn’s confidence level. Zack Rosen, Rob Belcore, Tyler Bernardini — even sophomore Miles Cartwright — have all played top-tier opponents. They know the drill.

“We don’t get caught up in rankings or where we’re playing or who we’re playing,” Allen said after a loss at No. 11 Kentucky last year. “We just play basketball.”

This season won’t be remembered as that time they played Duke. That happened two years ago. And it won’t be remembered for Pitt or UCLA, either — unless Penn steals a win.

The point of these games isn’t to experience the Cameron Crazies or see the Pauley Pavilion (Penn won’t even play there; it’s under renovation). The point is to improve and, more importantly, to win.

At one point during the press conference in Kentucky last year, Allen simply snapped. There were one-too-many questions from SEC beat writers who got caught up in the story of David competing with Goliath.

“I’m just going to say that once the ball goes up in the air, whether you’re on the playground or you’re in Rupp Arena or whether you’re in the Palestra, you got to play the game,” Allen said. “It’s great for you guys to write about the history and all that, but as long as I have the opportunity to coach these young men, no matter what arena we go into, we are going to expect to win.”

These games are incredible opportunities for Penn because the Quakers have nothing to lose.

But at the same time, they aren’t there for the experience. The Penn brand may not be exactly what it once was — 1979 was a long time ago. But since the day he was officially hired as head coach, reclaiming that brand has been Allen’s goal. And putting Penn’s name on the same line as the Dukes, Pitts and UCLAs is a start.

CALDER SILCOX is a senior science, technology and society major from Washington, D.C., and is Senior Sports Editor of The Daily Pennsylvanian. His email address is silcox@theDP.com.

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