They're no Citadel

Penn fans can finally exhale now that the Quakers grabbed win number one against The Citadel. And while they looked good against the Bulldogs, the Quakers could be grasping for air in tomorrow's contest against No. 23 Virginia.

Penn hasn't fared well against stopping star players, and when point guard Sean Singletary returns home to Philadelphia, he might not have trouble maintaining his 22.5 points per game average.

He's no LeBron, but the guard leads the Cavs in assists (6.75 per game), steals (two per game), free throws (30-for-33) and is second in rebounds (five per game). And of course he hasn't scored less than 19 points in a single game, leading his Virginia team to a 4-0 record.

The Quakers have had decent on-the-ball defense, but the help defense and the coordination between the five guys on the court has not been good. Harrison Gaines and Aron Cohen have to keep Singletary out of the lane. If and when he gets into the paint he is a good finisher, and might not even need to do so.

Virginia's entire starting lineup shoots 51 percent from three-point range, 36 for 71 in four games this season, so kickouts for treys should happen often. In all, Penn has two less attempts from three than its ACC opponents, but has 18 less makes.

There are six players on Virginia who have attempted more than five threes this season and seven on Penn. And yet the Cavaliers have the top five shooters by percentage, and six of the top seven, with only forward Jack Eggleston (4 for 10) breaking through the top half for Penn.

These stats are scary for a Penn team that puts magnets in its own hoop when the opponent launches from long range. Who has ever heard of a team allowing 44.6 percent from two-point range, and yet 51.3 percent from three? If the Quakers play zone at all this game, Virginia fans will be wishing the Abners rule worked the other way. Look for Singletary to score a lot, but spend a lot of his time dropping dimes.

The offense may have looked pretty good against The Citadel, but the defense was just as bad as before. Where the Bulldogs missed bank shots and layups from point-blank range, Virginia jumpers will be wet.