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Penn takes on Drexel and loses 66-64. Penn #42 - Brennan Votel Drexel #33 - Evan Credit: Mustafa Al-ammar , Mustafa Al-ammar

With tomorrow's home opener against Monmouth looming, Penn men's basketball coach Glen Miller is keeping it close to the vest.

Will the starting lineup feature seniors Brennan Votel and Kevin Egee, who are coming off strong performances?

No comment.

What's the status of the injured Justin Reilly, Aron Cohen, Tommy McMahon, Andreas Schreiber, Mike Howlett and Darren Smith?

No comment.

What has the team been working on in practice?

No comment.

No matter. When Monmouth (0-3) visits the Palestra tomorrow night, the Quakers will get the chance to wipe the slate clean and get back on track by earning their first win in their home opener.

The Red and Blue are coming off a pair of disappointing losses - a deceptively close 15-point defeat at No. 1 North Carolina and a two-point heartbreaker at city rival Drexel.

That said, they're less excited about getting home to the Palestra crowd than they are about proving they're better than their 0-2 record indicates.

"We're just looking forward to getting out there," Miller said at yesterday morning's practice.

When they do, it'll be against a familiar foe: Penn has faced off against the Hawks in each of the last two seasons, both Red and Blue wins. Moreover, Monmouth plays a matchup zone, a defense that Miller employs and one with which he is intimately acquainted.

However, the third-year Quakers coach said that "this is a different year - it's a different game with different players."

That it is. Three of the top four scorers from last season's contest - Justin Reilly and Brian Grandieri of Penn, and Monmouth's Jhamar Youngblood - won't be on the court.

The turnover has hurt the Hawks more than the Quakers. The latter retains Ivy League Rookie of the Year Tyler Bernardini, and has thus far gotten solid contributions from sophomore Jack Eggleston, freshman Zack Rosen and seniors Brennan Votel and Kevin Egee.

Meanwhile, Monmouth was picked to finish ninth in the Northeast Conference, one of the weakest in Division I. And the Hawks have lived up (or down) to that billing thus far, losing to all three of the undistinguished teams they've faced thus far.

Most of the blame falls on their defense, which has surrendered 79 points per game and has allowed opponents to shoot 50 percent from the field. And despite allowing suc a high shooting percentage, Monmouth has also been outrebounded, 67-55.

If the Quakers hope to win, they will have to find a way to stop the trio of forward Travis Taylor and guards R.J. Rutledge and Alex Nunner, who complement each other well with their inside and outside skills.

Rutledge can pose matchup problems with his long, wiry, 6-foot-5 frame and sixth-man status.

But the Quakers have a sixth man of their own: the crowd. And when it comes to play, Penn usually wins.

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