M. Hoops | Cats got your tongue?

After a disappointing loss this week to Lafayette, the men's basketball team won't have to wait for a chance to atone thanks to a quick turnaround.

Unfortunately for the Quakers (2-5), atonement will not be easy to come by as they travel to the Main Line to take on Villanova in this season's Big 5 opener tomorrow night.

The Wildcats (4-1), however, are coming off a deflating defeat of their own, having dropped a one-point decision to North Carolina State in Orlando, Fla. That same Wolfpack team was run off the court, 81-58, by No. 10 Michigan State on Wednesday night.

But when it comes down to these local grudge matches in the Big 5, the rest of a season's goings-on tend to tune themselves out. Senior captain Brian Grandieri, a four-year star at Malvern Prep outside of Philadelphia, knows all about that.

"In the Big 5, at least me personally and I think a lot of other guys too, try and get their game up to the next level," he said. "Coming from this area, I always get up for these big games. So I'm pretty excited to get the opportunity to get some Big 5 play."

But if the Quakers are to capture the upset win and get off to a positive start in the Big 5, they'll need to develop some consistency. Thus far they have managed to play good stretches of both offense and defense, but rarely simultaneously and for an extended period of time.

Anything less than a reversal of that trend will likely mean defeat - a would-be sixth loss on the young season.

"At times, I think we show up," Grandieri said. "But we just need to put together a confident game, offensively and defensively."

The senior mentioned that he thought Penn had recently been playing better on the defensive end, despite giving up 81 points to free-firing Lafayette. But offensively, the Red and Blue have struggled imposing their game plan and executing.

"Offensively, we need to work a little bit to get into our sets quicker and more smoothly," Grandieri added. "I think that's been hurting us a little bit."

One source of encouragement as the Quakers look for consistent contributors has been swingman Michael Kach. The senior, now getting extended minutes on a regular basis for the first time in his career, has gotten hot when called on.

Against The Citadel, Kach poured in a career-high 19 points. Then against Lafayette this week, he put together a complete game with 17 points, six boards and five assists.

"I think he's just getting really comfortable," Grandieri said of his teammate. "I think it's showing that we need him to score, and I think he's taken on that role pretty well."

But last season in the Palestra, Kach logged a forgettable game against Villanova - he played just five minutes, missing his only shot and picking up three fouls.

That 99-89 losing affair was an end-to-end track meet, as the Quakers hung with the Wildcats for much of the night before running out of gas late in the second half and succumbing to the Wildcats' superior athleticism and flawless free-throw shooting.

Once again, Villanova has shown a propensity to run this year, with flashy sophomore guard Scottie Reynolds - one of the nation's best - running the show.

"We just have to play them hard," Grandieri said. "There's a lot of teams that have good guards that we play. But I think if we just play hard and communicate, we'll be alright."

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