Penn women’s basketball has many wondering what’s changed this year. It all starts with a group of forwards who have anchored an offense much more focused on the inside game than in years past.

8:00 a.m. — The doors to the Palestra open. Soon afterward, buses from Temple and La Salle show up filled with students (some visibly drunk) ready to support their respective squads in the 12:00 game.

On Saturday, in front of a packed house at the Sheerr Pool, both the men’s and women’s teams soundly defeated Brown. But on Sunday, the women’s team fell to Harvard in a lopsided loss.

On Saturday, Penn men’s and women’s track and field meets became an afterthought as the teams and Penn community at large grieved in the aftermath of Madison Holleran’s death.

Last weekend, No. 8 Nebraska knocked Penn wrestling to the floor in front of a massive crowd in Lincoln. This weekend, the Quakers picked themselves up and walked away victorious two duels.

The No. 10 men’s and No. 3 women’s teams were pushed aside on Saturday by Trinity, 9-0 and 6-3, respectively, a squash powerhouse that boasts the No. 1 men’s and No. 2 women’s teams in the country.

On Saturday, Penn fell to Illinois State, 190.4 – 187.9, in their first non-exhibition meet in the renovated Hutchinson Gymnasium.

It was an anticlimactic ending to a day filled with so much excitement surrounding Penn basketball as it all went downhill from the opening tip for the Quakers.

After a triumphant win over Princeton last Saturday, the Quakers get blown out of their own building by Big 5 rival Saint Joseph’s by a score of 85-68.

The Explorers and Owls traded punches all afternoon, and a string of late free throws from seniors Tyreek Duren and Tyrone Garland was just barely enough to hold off one last Temple charge, as La Salle triumphed, 74-68.

Penn lost to a tough St. Joseph’s team on the road, losing for the third straight game. The Quakers lost by eight, 60-52, after Sydney Stipanovich and Kara Bonenberger both fouled out late.

And luckily for the Quakers, a favorable matchup presents itself for the Red and Blue with Binghamton coming to the Palestra on Friday evening before Penn travels to Bucknell on Sunday afternoon.

On Saturday, Illinois State comes to Penn, not only for the Quakers first home meet of the 2013-14 season, but also for the debut of new equipment.

When the Quakers make the short trip to St. Joseph’s on Friday, they will be seeking just their second win in the 38 meetings between the schools.

After nearly two months on the road, the Quakers are all set to return to their friendly confines in Philadelphia.

Penn prepares for the Lehigh Challenge a month removed from their participation there.

For the first time in the history of the Palestra, College GameDay, ESPN’s weekly college basketball preview show, will be hosted by the 88 year-old arena that remains synonymous with the glory of Big 5 basketball.