Box score observations

I have not been able to make it to any of Penn's games over break, and I hate to rely on box scores for telling information. To that end, I rarely read into any box score too closely. Statistics never tell the full story.

That said, I am particularly struck by how encouraging I believe tonight's box score against Lafayette is for Penn fans.

I could care less about points, rebounds, and field goal percentages; what jumps out at me is the distribution of minutes and Glen Miller's rotation. A total of six players recorded more than 20 minutes of action, with two others contributing at least 10 minutes -- and aside from a garbage minute from Conor Turley, that was it.

In order for Penn to be successful as a team and solve some of its problems, Miller needs to firm up its rotation and stick with a core group of players through thick or thin. It's certainly easier to stick with the same group of players when they're all playing as well as they did tonight, but in the long run, there is something to be said about the individual and collective confidence boost of having a solid rotation in place. Players grow more comfortable and are able to identify their individual roles on a team more easily, which helps to foster stronger team play and cohesiveness. It also creates a more concrete opportunity for a leader to emerge from the group.

In much of the discussion on this blog in response to my posts before winter break, leadership, teamwork, and character were raised as key issues for the Quakers to address over the holidays. Who knows whether or not the rotation Miller used tonight will become a permanent one, but if it is here to stay, I think it's a big step in the right direction.

Of the top six players, two were seniors in Kevin Egee and Brennan Votel. They command the respect of the underclassmen and have the experience to guide them, even if they're not the most talented guys on the team.

Then you have Tyler Bernardini and Jack Eggleston -- a potential superstar and a blue collar forward with good rebounding and scoring ability -- both of whom started last year as freshmen and know Ivy League basketball.

Zack Rosen had a breakout game scoring tonight and remains the first pure point guard Penn has had in years. In several games this season, he has demonstrated a basketball IQ and a maturity level beyond that of a freshman, and as I've said before and will say again, he is going to be a great floor general for years to come.

Finally, Rob Belcore fits into the rotation nicely -- as his mother told me last year when he was still in high school, he can shoot the three "like none other." In all seriousness, he provides another perimeter threat for the Quakers and can also fight for rebounds.

I could see Belcore and Egee switching off between starting and coming off the bench depending on matchups, but for conference play, this main group of six to eight guys can compete with any other rotation in the league. I'm not guaranteeing that Penn is about to run the table or even finish above .500 in its conference, but with this rotation squarely in place, the Quakers should be able to win.

Obviously, they won't all shoot as well as they shot tonight. With a young team, there will be plenty of rough patches ahead. But unless things start to get really ugly over a stretch of at least a few games, I would like to see Miller stick with the crew from tonight -- the time for experimenting is over. And maybe, with a greater understanding of expecations, roles, and responsibilities, this team will be able to overcome the issues that plagued it before the break and emerge as an Ivy League contender.