On Nov. 24, Penn men’s basketball faces a familiar backyard opponent: the Saint Joseph’s Hawks.
As St. Joe’s (2-1) makes their familiar trek to the Palestra this Monday, a dynamic offense and a swarming defense will not be the only elements returning to the arena. A highly anticipated reunion is in store between Penn (2-1) and their previous head coach, Steve Donahue.
In September, it was announced that Donahue would be taking over Hawk Hill for six-year head coach Billy Lange, who left the program for a front office position with the New York Knicks.
Monday will mark Penn’s first of two matchups in Big 5 Pod play. The Quakers’ record against St. Joe’s on Monday and Drexel on Nov. 21 will determine their seeding in the annual Big 5 Classic, held at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on Dec. 6. After notching a win against Division III Rowan and a loss against American, the Quakers most recently fell short to Providence by a score of 106-81.
The Big East matchup, though, was not a total loss. A breakout performance from Penn senior guard/forward Michael Zanoni is a sign of encouragement. Zanoni dropped 30 points, a career high, completed 10 of 20 from the floor, and shoot 62.5% from three-point range.
“I give all the credit to my coaches and my teammates,” Zanoni said. “My teammates did a good job of recognizing I was hot early, and coach did a good job of calling actions, so [I] didn't have to do much, but had good support behind me.”
Senior guard/forward Ethan Roberts and junior forward TJ Power also joined Zanoni in double digits, earning 15 points apiece. Despite a stellar scoring effort and a tightly played first half resulting in a mere 12-point deficit by a score of 48-36 at the half, it was simply not enough for the Red and Blue. Through a series of runs, the Friars pulled ahead in the second half to properly bury Penn.
“We have a lot of new guys and transfers ... We’re just starting to gel, and over time, we’re gonna get better and better playing with each other,” Zanoni said.
In their most recent matchup, the Hawks topped the Quakers 86-69 at the Palestra almost exactly one year ago. This time around, the Quakers have been working tirelessly to best the Hawks within the same walls. It would be Penn’s first win over the Hawk Hill program in five seasons.
The Hawks fell 94-59 to their most recent opponent, Virginia Tech. A balanced scoresheet for the Hawks included four players accumulating eight points or higher on the night, but it simply was not enough to outlast the Hokies, who handed them their first loss of the season.
The Hawks possess a balanced offensive unit, led primarily by sophomore guard Deuce Jones II, who currently averages 15 points per game. St. Joe’s guard Derek Simpson leads the Hawks’ backcourt defense, garnering four steals on the season so far. He is also averaging six rebounds per game so far.
Since Penn dismissed him in March, Donahue will make his first official reappearance in the Palestra, but this time, from the opposing bench — an unfathomable idea just a year ago.
“During my time here, [Donahue has] experienced quite great success,” senior guard Cam Thrower said. “He helped me get into this school. I owe him a great amount of gratitude for that.”
RELATED:
Ivy community reacts to Penn men’s basketball alumni-driven NIL, internship initiative
Michael Zanoni’s 30 points not enough as Penn men’s basketball suffers 106-81 loss to Providence
Donahue led the Quakers for nine seasons from 2015 to 2024, and accumulated a 131-130 overall record, and an even 63-63 in league performances along the way. In his debut season manning the Hawks, he has already picked up one Big 5 win against Drexel.
However, Penn has its sights set on a victory, and they are not letting Donahue’s return distract them.
“[It] is just focusing on the game and focusing on what it takes to win, and not making it bigger than what it is gonna be the biggest thing,” Thrower said. “I believe in our preparation, I believe the coaches have a great plan in store for us and for us, it’s just about executing.”
