GAME NOTES: The Penn Quakers finally open their Ivy League slate tonight as they welcome the Harvard Crimson to the famed Palestra in Philadelphia. Penn has had a rough go of it early on, winning a total of just five games against rather suspect opponents. Since defeating NJIT back on January 5th at home, Penn has fallen in three straight games, all of them against Philadelphia-based programs. Back on January 23rd, the team was bounced by Temple on the road by a final of 80-64. Meanwhile Harvard, currently winless on the road in nine opportunities, had a brief two-game win streak snapped in its most recent outing back on January 11th in a 73-56 decision versus Dartmouth. The Crimson is in the midst of a five-game road trip that doesn't see the squad returning to Lavietes Pavilion for another two weeks when it challenges Cornell. With respect to the all-time series between these two schools on the hardwood, Penn is ahead by a commanding 125-57 count over the Crimson. The Quakers swept the season series last year with a 67-53 victory at The Palestra and then posted a more decisive 83-67 win in Cambridge less than two weeks later.

Harvard made a mere nine field goals in both the first and second halves versus Dartmouth the last time out, resulting in the squad converting just 34.6 percent from the field overall. Even worse, the Crimson knocked down just 3- of-16 from three-point range and also made a mere 17-of-26 at the free-throw line as well. Jeremy Lin and reserve Evan Harris both tallied 16 points, the latter converting 10-of-13 at the stripe and the former making only 6-of-21 attempts from the field. Lin is one of four players scoring in double figures for Crimson at the moment, hitting for 13.2 ppg, and is also first in both assists (62) and steals (34). However, Lin is shooting a feeble 24.7 percent from three-point range and is failing to take advantage at the free-throw line where he has converted just 31-of-49 chances (.633). Drew Housman accounts for 11.9 ppg and Pat Magnarelli contributes 10.8 ppg and a team-best 6.3 rpg while shooting an impressive 58.0 percent from the floor.

The Temple defense dominated the Quakers in the first half of their game last week, limiting the visitors to just eight total field goals in the frame. Penn bounced back with 50 percent shooting from the floor in the second half, but by that point it was far too late. Tyler Bernardini accounted for 16 points and four assists for Penn, while Jack Eggleston and Andreas Schreiber posted 15 and 12 points, respectively, with both clearing six rebounds as well in the double- digit setback. Bernardini is responsible for a team-high 12.9 ppg this season to lead the Quakers, while Brian Grandieri puts in another 12.5 ppg and is also first on the team with close to five and a half rebounds per contest. Bernardini has made a modest 27-of-69 behind the three-point line, but that means he's the only one on the roster who has converted more than nine three- pointers this season for a team hitting a meager 28.1 percent from downtown.

Far from a dominating force, Harvard still cannot be taken lightly by a Quakers team that seems to be in rebuilding mode. If this game were not at The Palestra it would be rather easy to pick against Penn, but because of the location the home team has to be given the edge.