I recall thinking last week that it was a perfectly legitimate idea to devote extra coverage to University of Pennsylvania men's basketball coach Glen Miller's return to Brown. Considering the success he had on College Hill and the strange circumstances surrounding his departure for Penn, it made for a compelling sports soap opera. What kind of emotions would Brown play with? How would the fans react the first time the P.A. announcer called out Miller's name?
The answer to all such prognostications was the same: It didn't matter. By the end of the first half, Penn had a 15-point advantage and never let it slip under double digits after that, taking any drama and suspense out of the game. There were no opportunities for the Brown boo birds to get going and no opportunities for those Brown players that Miller recruited to exact any measure of revenge.
Regardless of the drama surrounding the game, Penn was the better team from the opening tip-off. They shot the ball better, rebounded better and played better defense than the Bears.
A part of me wanted to hear a cacophony of epithets rain down from the rafters of a nearly full Pizzitola Center on Friday. A part of me wanted to see the Bears stick it to their former coach. I'm sure that's what many people in attendance on Friday wanted to see. Unfortunately, none of that came close to transpiring. The Quakers were a better team and that rendered any potential drama moot.
Jaaber-walking to the NBA?I discussed this at great length with Sports Editor Justin Goldman '07 on Friday night, but don't be shocked if Quaker point guard Ibrahim Jaaber gets a look from an NBA team or two. He reminds me a lot of Jason Forte '05 in terms of what he brings to his team, but with two big differences - he doesn't need to dominate the ball to assert himself, and he's a fantastic defender. I was convinced he was having a quiet game, until I saw his final stats: 12 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals. It was the quietest near-triple double I've ever witnessed. For those basketball pundits who claim Ivy players can't cut it at the next level, Jaaber put up 21 points, four rebounds, eight assists and three steals earlier this season ... against the University of North Carolina.
In case you forgot about him...I am convinced that Penn senior forward Mark Zoller is in his seventh season with the Quakers. I recall taunting him for his ridiculous afro during my freshman year, and earlier this season I told someone that Zoller must have graduated at least two years ago. As it turns out he's still around and he's still a thorn in the side of Brown and everyone else in the Ivy League. His 16-point first half put Friday's game away early, and he's averaging more than 18 points per game for the year.
Uni-Watch - with apologies to Paul LukasBrown decided to wear its road jerseys in Saturday's triumph over Princeton. I've been told that they go with the road browns at home once or twice each season, but the uniform switch seemed to work to the tune of a 15-point victory. Seeing as athletes are a superstitious lot, don't be surprised if you see the browns in the Pizzitola Center again this season.
Craig Robinson-FreudThe most glowing positive I took away from this weekend's action was how hard Head Coach Craig Robinson has his team play. They may be undermanned, but that doesn't keep the Bears from going after the ball like a fat man after a Christmas ham. Captain Mark McAndrew '08 compares Robinson to a psychologist who "tries to get in your head and get the best out of you." Seeing the Bears play in person for the first time this season, it looks as though Robinson is doing just that. If Bruno can continue to play the same glove-tight defense that was on display in the second half of the Princeton game, it could cause Brown's Ivy rivals some major problems the rest of the way.
