Columbia obliterated Penn basketball, 83-56, at Levien Gymnasium, using 10 first-half three-pointers and a dominant offensive performance to run Penn out of the gym.

It's Tony Hicks' world and the rest of us are just paying rent. Despite falling behind by 12 to begin the game and never leading until under a minute remained, Penn basketball rode the junior guard's 20 second half points and game-winning jumper with four seconds remaining to its sixth consecutive win over Cornell, 71-69. The Red and Blue looked overwhelmed from the onset.

That was ugly... I mean really ugly. There were no redeeming qualities for Penn basketball’s blowout loss at home against Harvard.

It means that with the game on the line and Alex Mitola in possession of the ball, it wasn’t Dartmouth celebrating a win: It was Penn and that’s something to hang your hat on, at least for one day.

Before Saturday night, I did not know what a Big 5 win looked, sounded, tasted, smelled or felt like. Nor did the majority of people with whom I associate.

A trip to Ithaca is never pleasant this time of year due to its lack of cellphone service and subarctic conditions.

For a moment, it looked as if Penn basketball had turned a corner when it gave then-No. 5 Villanova a serious scare at home on Saturday. Apparently not. Playing to a mostly-empty Palestra crowd, the Quakers came out sleepwalking against Monmouth and paid dearly.

With Penn basketball approaching the midway point in its season, fans and opposing coaches alike seem to think they know what Penn is made of. But the advanced stats tell the whole story.

There will always be those who are staunch defenders of anti-tournament model for the Ancient Eight, but that’s exactly what it is: ancient.

With Ivy League play looming, the Quakers (4-9, 0-1 Ivy) look to continue their success against MAAC teams - they are 2-1 this season with wins over Marist and Niagara - with Wednesday's game against Monmouth (9-9).

With a trip to Sunshine State for anything but a vacation in the rear view for Penn swimming, will the training be worth it?

It isn’t every night that Penn basketball gets to play in front of a sold-out crowd, but Saturday’s game against No. 5 Villanova isn’t an ordinary night.

In the first meeting between the two teams since 1995, the Quakers defeated Richmond for the first time in school history, 49-47, off the strength on a late three from freshman Anna Ross.

The clock is ticking on Jerome Allen. Penn basketball is 3-8 this season, a subpar record in its own right.

PRINCETON - Everything was set up for Penn basketball to set the tone for the remainder of Ivy League play, to capture a win over its biggest rival in an arena that had been a house of horrors for over half a decade. But suddenly, the opportunity was gone.

Last season, Penn women’s basketball went on the road and ended Princeton’s season, upsetting the Tigers to win the Ivy League title. In their return trip to Jadwin Gym, the Quakers wouldn’t be so fortunate.

The Big Five is always a tough challenge for Penn Basketball and Tuesday was no exception, as La Salle built an early lead and held on for a 84-67 win over the Quakers.