M. Hoops vies for City Series title tonight

It's been 28 years since the Penn men's basketball team has won an outright Big 5 Championship.

Tonight, the Quakers have a chance to end that streak.

Penn's fate in the City Series will be decided this evening, when the Quakers (13-4, 3-0 Big 5) take on the last of their Big 5 opponents, La Salle (8-11, 1-0 Big 5).

Hot off a nail-biting win over St. Joseph's on Saturday, the Quakers are more than ready to get back into the action.

The Red and Blue, who have won seven of their last eight games, won't be facing a roll-over opponent when they tip-off at Tom Gola Arena tonight.

Despite their less-than-stellar record, the Explorers have posted big wins this season over Seton Hall, Drexel and fellow Big 5 rival Villanova.

"They're playing as hard as any team that we play all year long," Penn coach Fran Dunphy said. "From the films that I've seen recently, they really get after you. They're well coached and they're a disciplined team."

And if any one competitor stands in the way of Penn's chance at the Big 5 title, it is La Salle's senior forward Rasual Butler.

Butler, a Philadelphia native, is averaging 21.3 points per game along with an average of 9.3 rebounds.

The Quakers' post-defense will be hard-pressed to contain such a formidable opponent.

"We're just going to try to contain [Butler]," Penn junior forward Koko Archibong said. "He's a great player. He can score in a lot of different ways so we're just going to try and make him make shots that are difficult to make."

Slowing down Butler and fellow glass-eater junior forward Reggie Okasa (7.9 rebounds a game) on the glass will be a particularly tough challenge for the Quakers.

Penn has been outrebounded in five of its last eight contests.

"Okasa is a very good rebounder," Dunphy said. "He has more offensive rebounds than defensive rebounds. All of these thing seem to indicate to me that we are in for a difficult battle tomorrow night."

Aside from helping to shut down the Explorers strong inside game, Penn's guards will have to reverse their recent struggles from behind the arc.

The main staple of the Red and Blue's offense has failed them lately, as the Quakers shot just 18.8 percent from three-point land on Saturday.

Sophomore Jeff Schiffner, who is averaging 10.5 points per game on 43.5 percent shooting from behind the arc, attempted just four three-pointers against St. Joe's and finished with only five points.

Tonight is Penn's final non-conference matchup of the season. The Quakers could think of nothing better to bolster their spirits for the bulk of the Ivy Season than a Big 5 title.

"It would be a great honor for us to win the Big 5," Archibong said. "We're pushing ahead and trying to make that happen."

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