The stage doesn’t get bigger than this.
After winning the Ivy League tournament this past weekend, Penn men’s basketball will compete in the NCAA tournament for the first time in eight years. For Thursday’s first-round matchup, No. 14 Penn faces No. 3 Illinois on neutral ground at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C.
The Quakers are looking to notch their first March Madness win since 1996 and make a tournament run that resembles the program’s former glory, which includes a 1979 Final Four appearance and four Elite Eight finishes in the 1970s. Regardless of the outcome of this next game, the team has plenty to celebrate in its first season with coach and 1982 Wharton graduate Fran McCaffery at the helm.
Whether it’s your first time following Penn men’s basketball or your fourth season, this matchup is a must watch. The Daily Pennsylvanian’s sports department has Penn students covered, from facts about the tournament to which players to watch out for.
What is March Madness? When is Penn playing?
The NCAA tournament, also known under the nicknames March Madness and The Big Dance, is the annual NCAA Division I basketball tournament that runs from March through early April. There are men’s and women’s versions of the 68-team, seven-round tournament that is well known for its intensity and “win-or-go-home” format — once a team loses, it is out of the tournament and no longer competing for the national championship. The 68 participating teams are assigned to four regions, and as teams advance, the field narrows down to the Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four, and finally, the national championship.
The tournament is famous for its massive bracket that everyone fills out: casual fans, hardcore hoops nerds, celebrities, and even former President Barack Obama.
On Sunday, the March Madness bracket was revealed, and Penn men’s basketball is in the South region. The Quakers play Illinois in Greenville, S.C on Thursday night at 9:25 p.m. The game is a reunion for McCaffery, with familiar foe Brad Underwood coaching Illinois, and numerous other connections to the lineup in Greenville.
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How did Penn get here?
The Quakers fought the odds and a lot of adversity to get to this point. The beginning of this season was a fresh start after finishing the past two seasons seventh in the Ancient Eight. Numerous roster additions as well as a new, highly-experienced head coach in McCaffery — who previously spent 15 years at Iowa and is an unprecedented high-level hire for Penn — were ready to strive for glory. The doubts were loud, though. The Ivy League preseason poll predicted the Quakers would finish seventh once again, and the team took that to heart. In non-conference play, the Quakers shined, making it to the Big 5 championship game. When the new year rang in, they were off to a rough 2-4 conference start, but they turned it around in their last eight regular season games, going 7-1.
The winning streak continued in the Ivy League tournament, where the team put on a show in two overtime thrillers to claim the championship title and punch its ticket to March Madness. Nobody made more of an impact on the title game than junior forward TJ Power, who dropped 44 points on over 50% shooting from the field and the three-point line.
Which players should I look out for?
On the Quakers’ side, Power will be the one to keep an eye on. He has been the team’s most consistent scorer all season, and after the show he put on at the Ivy tournament, who knows what heroics he’ll pull off on a bigger stage. However, he was feeling “under the weather” during practice on Wednesday and his status for Thursday’s game is unclear at the time of writing.
Sophomore guard AJ Levine is another difference maker. In the conference tournament semifinal, Levine made the game-winning play to help the Quakers advance to the title game. Also look out for senior forward Michael Zanoni, whose sharp shooting from midrange and beyond are an always deadly weapon in the Quakers’ arensal.
A notable jersey you wont see on the court is that of the team’s leading scorer, senior guard/forward Ethan Roberts, who is out due to a concussion that also kept him out of Ivy Madness.
On Illinois’ side, young talent has shone, especially Big Ten Freshman of the Year and guard Keaton Wagler. The guard had a 46-point showing in his team’s upset of then-No. 4 Purdue back in January. The Fighting Illini have multiple offensive pieces that consistently score in the double digits, such as forward David Mirkovic, guard Kylan Boswell, forward David Mirkovic, guard Andrej Stojakovic, and center Tomislav Ivisic.
How can I watch the Quakers?
For most, it’ll be tough to make the trip to South Carolina. For anyone brave enough, it’s about a ten-hour drive, or a two-hour flight to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport. It takes slightly more time to travel via the two major airports nearby: Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
For everyone staying in Philadelphia, Penn Athletics is hosting two official watch parties for the game, one at Houston Hall open to anyone and one at Smokey Joe’s for those over 21. At Houston Hall, students can enjoy free food, drinks, and prizes starting from 9 p.m. At Smokey Joe’s, students can watch the game while enjoying drink specials from 9 p.m. to midnight and a Penn sports trivia event during halftime.
If you want to watch the Quakers in the comfort of your own home, the game will be televised on TNT and streamed on the March Madness Live website. For those in on-campus housing, your room and board includes access to cable, which can be accessed by logging in with your PennKey on the Xfinity On Campus website. Tipoff is set for 9:25 p.m.
If you need new gear to show your Penn pride during the game, the Penn Bookstore is offering a 25% discount on Penn basketball t-shirts and currently has a special Penn basketball display inside the store.
