Dave Zeitlin: Bittersweet victory for team leader

I saw Andrew Toole play for the first time on a warm Saturday afternoon in the middle of October. It was Penn's first practice of the season, and all the whispers were about this junior transfer from Elon University. I didn't know too much about him, and to be honest, I was skeptical about how much of an impact the kid could make.

I mean, has anyone ever even heard of Elon?

(It's in North Carolina, by the way.)

But from the first time I saw Andrew Toole, I knew he was a special basketball player.

It wasn't because he nailed virtually every jumper he attempted in a shooting drill. It wasn't because of his deadly three-point shot, his stunning ability to penetrate or his uncanny knack for finding open teammates.

I liked him because he seemed like a smart player, someone who understood the game, someone who would always keep his composure down the stretch.

I think it's fair to say Villanova now agrees with that sentiment.

Toole's numbers weren't all that sexy last night. He missed seven out of his nine three-point attempts, committed four fouls and had a couple of key turnovers.

But everyone who was at the Palestra last night knows who won the game for the Quakers.

When the game was on the line, Toole was at his best. He converted a critical one-and-one to tie the contest at the end of regulation before making the two game-winning free throws in an overtime period in which he flat-out dominated.

And when all the smoke had cleared and the Palestra frenzy had ceased, the stat sheets showed that Toole led the Quakers with 21 huge points.

Toole's late-game dramatics left a sweet taste in the mouths of the Red and Blue faithful, but for for the player himself, it was more of a bittersweet taste.

You see, the 6-foot-3 point guard played his last game for at least five weeks. Toole will undergo surgery on a right-foot stress fracture tomorrow, which will sideline him until the Ivy League portion of the schedule rolls around after New Year's.

"I guess if I'm happy to go out for five weeks, this is a good way to take a little break, I guess," said Toole, a bit confused over how to react in the post-game press conference. "I don't think anyone is ever excited about surgery, but this will probably make it a little easier."

I know what you're wondering, and I'm wondering the same thing. The man just scored 21 points in 35 grueling minutes. If he's not as his best now, I'd hate to see what healthy looks like.

For Toole, deciding to go ahead with the surgery was a tough decision, but one that he stands by.

See, if he gets that nagging stress fracture fixed now, he'll be ready to go for the Ivy League campaign, one in which the Quakers will look to fix after last year's ugly 9-5 conference record.

"One of the reasons I came here was to play in the NCAA Tournament, and I think we have a good chance to do that" Toole said. "So it would really just kill me if I got that close to it, and then my foot breaks and I have to sit out."

The on-court leadership that Toole brings to the table will surely guide the Quakers to another trip to the Big Dance. He made that so evident last night.

Looking past his clutch free throws and seven overtime points, Penn's point guard was the epitome of a true leader -- diving for loose balls, hauling in his own missed shots, driving baseline into traffic and then kicking it out to an open teammate at the three-point arc.

One play that sticks out in my mind the most, though, wasn't a swish or an assist or a picture-perfect drive. In fact, it was more of a slap in the face than anything else.

It was the first play of last night's game: Toole drives baseline, where he is pleasantly greeted by a 215-pound hulk of a man in Richard Wright, who promptly dispatches the ball into the seats. There is no reaction from Toole, who quickly calls an inbounds play and finds an open Tim Begley, who drains the open three.

There was no grimace or wince of embarrassment, no swagger or trace of cockiness. Just pure composure.

Let's pray for a speedy recovery.

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