Battle of 33rd Street heats up

According to an email from the Red and Blue Crew earlier this week, Drexel is planning on bringing 1,500 Dragons fans to the Palestra for this year's installment of the University City rivalry. From the email:

Drexel is planning to bring over 1,500 students to the Palestra.
There is absolutely no way we're going to let this trash take over our home court. We will be the bigger and better student section on Saturday. Forward this e-mail around campus and bring all your friends and hallmates to the game with you. Tickets are just $5! The annual Penn-Drexel game is always one of the most entertaining on the schedule, with a packed Palestra and the winning student body getting control of the 33rd Street Trophy for the rest of the year.

Details on free pregame and postgame festivities will be released later this week!

I have my doubts as to whether Drexel's fan group, the DAC Pack, will actually muster a crowd for the 1,500 tickets they've reserved. But if they can, and Penn students can turn out in force and match the DAC Pack, this should make for a really excellent night at the Palestra. And after the exciting upset of Davidson, Penn fans have all the more reason to come back.

While Penn may not be as relevant in the Philly hoops scene as they have been in the past, this so-called 'City Six' game is definitely a winnable game for the Quakers, who haven't won the battle of 33rd street since 2006. Penn appears much improved, while Drexel lost its leading scorer and rebounder, Jamie Harris, who was allegedly involved in an armed robbery over the summer and has been suspended indefinitely.