Roundtable: Which will be the most successful winter sport?

Women’s hoops, men’s hoops, wrestling, women’s squash and several other winter sports are heading in very different directions right now, but where will they end up at the end of their seasons? Our editors weigh in on which winter sport will have the most memorable 2013-14 campaign.

Senior Sports Editor-elect Steven Tydings: While Penn men’s basketball has struggled on its way to a 2-6 record early in the season, the Quakers are still poised to have a successful 2013-14 season.

The squad has shown improvement from its early season problems, especially in the frontcourt and in finding a fifth starter to go with Darien Nelson-Henry, Fran Dougherty, Miles Cartwright and Tony Hicks.

In the frontcourt, the Red and Blue lost the rebounding margin in each of their first four games, as opposing teams picked up offensive rebound after offensive rebound.

But over their last four games, the Quakers have turned it around in the post, taking the rebounding advantage in their most recent matchups, including 16 offensive boards coming against Wagner on Dec. 7.

But more important than Penn’s rebounding success is the emergence of freshman Tony Bagtas, who makes the Quakers a force to be reckoned with come Ivy play. The point guard has dished out 17 assists in his first two starts, making enough of an impact to be trusted with the ball in the waning moments against Wagner.

With a lowly Marist squad starting off Penn’s winter break schedule, expect the three-game losing streak currently plaguing the Quakers to end and give way to a successful second half of the season.

Sports Editor Ian Wenik: In terms of top-to-bottom depth, I don’t see a team in better position to succeed than wrestling.

Though the wins haven’t shown up in terms of dual meet records (including a 21-16 loss to No. 21 Bloomsburg and a 21-12 loss to No. 23 Lehigh), there are individuals all over the weightclasses that have been experiencing success. Junior Lorenzo Thomas — ranked No. 9 in the country at 184 pounds — has been simply dominant. He’s 10-2 on the season, and has picked up an astounding five victories via falls. He should be a dark-horse contender not only for the EIWA championship, but also for a national title.

Below him, Thomas is getting plenty of help. How about some recognition for sophomore Ray Bethea, who’s 10-3 at 157 pounds? Or senior Andrew Lenzi at 149 pounds and junior Jeff Canfora at 141 pounds? Combined, they’re 15-8. And you can’t forget Caleb Richardson, the 21-year old freshman, who is 3-0 in dual meets so far.

With the ultra-prestigious Southern Scuffle coming up, I think that a few names from that list I’ve just rattled off are going to put on a good showing and get on a roll. And that bodes well for the EIWA season.

Sports Editor John Phillips: Penn women’s basketball has gotten hot of late, winning its last three contests after holding its own against No. 5 Notre Dame. The Quakers’ schedule is set up so they don’t lose their momentum going into break. The Red and Blue take on Army on Dec. 11 and Drexel 10 days later, allowing the players to stay fresh over their nonconference schedule.

Even though Miami on Jan. 1 will serve a challenge in the same way that the Fighting Irish did early in the season, overall, Penn will grow stronger over the course of winter break and should pick up a fair amount of wins before Princeton on Jan. 11.

Coach Mike McLaughlin needs to have replaced “will hope to have” with “needs to have” his team ready to take on the Tigers that day if the Quakers are to have a shot at winning the Ivy League.

Senior Sports Editor Mike Tony: Let’s not forget about women’s squash. The Quakers are the No. 3 team in the country right now and we’ll see whether they deserve to be higher when they travel to No. 1 Harvard and No. 2 Trinity for consecutive matches next month. It’ll be another high seeding in the Howe Cup come February with veterans like Chloe Blacker, senior — who went 18-2 overall a season ago — and Courtney Jones, senior still in the fold. Throw in legitimate ladder-leader Yan Xin Tan. sophomore and upstart sophomores Haidi Lala and Camille Lanier at Nos. 2 and 4 respectively, and you’ve got another roster with the potential to give Harvard or Trinity some trouble in a few spots. Penn women’s squash hasn’t lost more than two Ivy games in any season since 2005-06, so why bet against this program for best winter sport this season too?