Spring Break
Finally, I got to see Drexel beat Penn before graduation
Shawn Gauby
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: Sports
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As a fifth-year senior and avid fan of Drexel Basketball, all I got to experience was four years of blowouts, four years of the "Stop coming to our parties" banner and four years of hearing "What is a Drexel?" Worst of all, it has just been four years of losing against the University of Pennsylvania.
The Dragons may have been 73-47 in the last four seasons, but that glaring 0-4 mark against the Penn was an eyesore. Knowing that stat made it hard for me to talk to anyone I know at Penn who is a basketball fan. It did not matter how well Drexel played over the course of the season. Penn fans still held that right to say that they are better simply because they beat the Dragons.
For us seniors, this had to be our year. The Quakers lost their two best players, Ibrahim Jaaber and Mark Zoller. Jaaber shredded the Dragon defense for 22 points on 9-13 shooting last season. Zoller added 16 points and 10 boards. Penn's starting five this season combined to score a mere 20 points per game in the 2006-07 campaign, and their inexperience gave the Dragons a huge advantage in crunch time.
"It was incredible," Penn freshman forward Jack Eggleston said. "I've never been in an atmosphere like that before."
The Dragons suffered similar losses due to graduation, but the up-and-coming players can certainly compete. Four of the five starters were key in last season's NIT squad.
Traditionally against Penn, the Dragons have started slow, painfully slow.
Last season, the Dragons gave the Quakers a double-digit head start before scoring at all. It did not take long for the Dragons to reverse their fortune and make it feel like this could be the year. Tramayne Hawthorne hit a mid-range jumper eight seconds into the game, and he connected on a 3-pointer a minute later to put the Dragons on top 5-0.
Just to get out to a quick start like that helped to put me and many of the students in a positive frame of mind. The feeling was further aided by the young Penn squad heaving airballs and turning the ball over 11 times in the first half.
The Dragons may have been 73-47 in the last four seasons, but that glaring 0-4 mark against the Penn was an eyesore. Knowing that stat made it hard for me to talk to anyone I know at Penn who is a basketball fan. It did not matter how well Drexel played over the course of the season. Penn fans still held that right to say that they are better simply because they beat the Dragons.
For us seniors, this had to be our year. The Quakers lost their two best players, Ibrahim Jaaber and Mark Zoller. Jaaber shredded the Dragon defense for 22 points on 9-13 shooting last season. Zoller added 16 points and 10 boards. Penn's starting five this season combined to score a mere 20 points per game in the 2006-07 campaign, and their inexperience gave the Dragons a huge advantage in crunch time.
"It was incredible," Penn freshman forward Jack Eggleston said. "I've never been in an atmosphere like that before."
The Dragons suffered similar losses due to graduation, but the up-and-coming players can certainly compete. Four of the five starters were key in last season's NIT squad.
Traditionally against Penn, the Dragons have started slow, painfully slow.
Last season, the Dragons gave the Quakers a double-digit head start before scoring at all. It did not take long for the Dragons to reverse their fortune and make it feel like this could be the year. Tramayne Hawthorne hit a mid-range jumper eight seconds into the game, and he connected on a 3-pointer a minute later to put the Dragons on top 5-0.
Just to get out to a quick start like that helped to put me and many of the students in a positive frame of mind. The feeling was further aided by the young Penn squad heaving airballs and turning the ball over 11 times in the first half.
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