Against a more experienced and talented Lafayette squad that was hot from the start, Penn made an impressive comeback effort that put its full potential on display despite ultimately falling short, 83-77.

Despite a furious second-half rally, the Quakers fell to 0-3 on the year, losing to Lafayette, 83-77, to finish a three-game season-opening homestand.

In the end though, Penn would prevail over the Big Red, 34-26, behind a career day for senior receiver Spencer Kulcsar in his final collegiate game.

Both teams had their share of turnovers, and neither could manage to establish a true lead. At the half, Penn ended up on top 21-18.

Penn basketball will look for its first win on Saturday, so we decided to look at three keys to victory for the Red and Blue against Lafayette.

Has Penn men’s squash turned the corner? Is the women’s squash team finally ready to take down Harvard and Trinity? One is left to ponder the future of both squads after their surprising performances at last weekend’s Ivy Scrimmages.

We are going over/under with Penn basketball as the Quakers take on Delaware State. Enjoy.

After 23 years, it's time for Al Bagnoli to say goodbye to Franklin Field.

No. 25 Harvard Crimson Last Season: 27-5, 13-1 Ivy Coach: Tommy Amaker, 8th season, 139-70, 67-31 Ivy Ivy League Media Poll predicted finish: 1st Last Ivy League Title: 2013-2014 Will win if: They can stay healthy and play up to expectations (or anywhere close). Wesley Saunders and Siyani Chambers give the Crimson one of the nation's best backcourts. Will lose if: The team’s lack of backcourt depth comes back to haunt it while the team’s frontcourt depth turns out to be more quantity than quality. Last year vs.

As one of the Quakers’ top players, sophomore forward Alec Neumann has been able to focus on his game, but as he becomes an upperclassman, he will try to add ‘leader’ to his impressive list of accomplishments at Penn.

This year, outside expectations are virtually nil for the Quakers. And they like it that way.

Understandably, the team wants to stress the process and not the results this year. That makes perfect sense with a young roster that was projected to finish seventh in the Ancient Eight in the Ivy preseason poll. But there will need to be results this year alongside the all-important process.

Starting in May of this year, there was a new presence around Penn basketball as Quakers alum Nat Graham joined Jerome Allen’s staff as a new assistant coach. And with Graham came a new buzz word: Tremendous.

With several important upperclassmen from last year parting ways with the program, the Red and Blue will count on the underclassmen to produce, and Howard will be looked upon to lead the way.

Mike Lintulahti isn’t one for the spotlight. For him, basketball has always been about the players first and foremost.  And now,  taking over as one of the assistant coaches for Penn men’s basketball, Lintulahti has the chance to shape the players in this program in ways that he never could before.

Luckily for Penn basketball, all the negativity surrounding the program is external. Inside the Palestra, the atmosphere pervading Jerome Allen’s players is one of positivity, optimism and belief. And it starts with two of the four seniors on the roster.

Having lost several key players – either due to graduation or other reason – from last year, the Red and Blue will look to a talented freshman class to help get the program back on track and moving in the right direction.