Turkey Day 2007

Phil Martelli, one of many sages of Philadelphia hoops, was a bit off on his projection that Rutgers and Boston University would be in the Palestra's Thanksgiving-weekend tournament this year.

Loyola (Md.), Virginia, Howard and Drexel were known to be in, and the Philadelphia Daily News confirmed today that the other teams involved in the "Philly Classic" (not impressed by the name) are Navy, Robert Morris and Seton Hall, plus the Quakers of course.

Looks like Penn is guaranteed games against Loyola, UVa., Howard, and either Seton Hall or Navy.

The DN points out some of the local connections that will pop up in this tournament: Billy Lange, Gil Jackson, Mike Rice, and Sean Singletary. Here are a few others:

1) Jeron Smith: A senior at Howard, Smith in 2004 wanted to transfer from UCLA to Penn, thinking he would have better luck making a roster under Fran Dunphy than Ben Howland. It didn't work out, but it looks like the contacts he made came in handy when ex-Quakers assistant Gil Jackson took over the Bison. Smith has started 18 games in two years at Howard and barely cracked 50% from the free-throw line, meaning he's given person to watch No. 2 a run for his money in that category.

2) Ryan Pettinella: It took three transfers, but Pettinella has found a niche in Charlottesville. All kidding about free throws aside, Penn could have used him the past two seasons to complement Stephen Danley down low. Luckily for the local media, Pettinella stuck around D-I basketball just long enough to get a matchup with his former team.

3) Dave Leitao: Virginia's coach, Lietao was an assistant with Glen Miller under UConn's Jim Calhoun from 1986-93, when Miller left to coach Connecticut College.

4) Steve Seymour: Seymour worked at Drexel for over a decade, two as head coach, and now is an assistant to Leitao.

Edit, 8:15 p.m.: Ibrahim Jaaber didn't play in Las Vegas tonight. His Pistons summer league team beat Washington, 84-70. I hope he isn't injured.