Three Up, Three Down | Penn basketball vs. Niagara

?Three Up-

Chance to get back on track

Tuesday will be a good opportunity for Penn to break a rough two-game losing skid and gain its first victory of the year at the Palestra. After facing two formidable Big Ten teams – Penn State and Iowa – the Quakers face a 1-4 Niagara team that has struggled so far. The Purple Eagles score a lot (85 points per game) but also give up a lot on the defensive end (89.4 points per contest). The Quakers have to be looking for a strong offensive performance on Tuesday, especially in transition.

DNH

In what has been a shaky start for Penn, sophomore Darien Nelson-Henry has been a versatile player the Quakers can rely on. He’s been a crucial part of both Penn’s scoring and rebounding efforts thus far, leading the Red and Blue in both categories. DNH also ranks top five in the Ivy League in points per game, shooting percentage, rebounding and blocking. If he is able to stay out of foul trouble, a double-double from Nelson-Henry is in play on Tuesday. The sophomore will also be key in initiating the Quakers’ fast break against a high scoring opponent. History with the Quakers

The Quakers have had a fair share of success against the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, going 21-13 all-time against MAAC opponents. The Red and Blue have already seen success against a MAAC program this year, as they took down Monmouth, 79-73, on Nov. 12. Looking ahead, the Quakers will face two more MAAC teams in December, Marist and Rider. If Penn continues to perform against MAAC squads, it should be able to get on the right side of .500 relatively soon.

Three Down-

Antoine Mason, scoring machine

The Quakers will be facing the nation’s leading scorer, Antoine Mason, on Tuesday. The junior guard has been an offensive force this year, averaging 31.2 points per game on 50 percent shooting. Mason is especially effective driving and getting to the line, which could pose a problem for Penn’s defense, which has struggled with foul trouble. He’s averaging a healthy 12 free throw attempts per game. Slowing Mason down will be one of Penn’s keys to victory on Tuesday.

Shooting beyond the arc

Rebounding and turnovers have been some of the top concerns for the Quakers thus far, but the Red and Blue are also shooting a miserable 25 percent from beyond the arc, putting them last in the Ivy League in that category. The number is deflated by Penn’s poor 3-for-23 three-point performance against Iowa, but it is regardless apparent the Quakers need to become more efficient behind the arc. The three-point shot can be a great equalizer, and better deep shooting will come in handy especially when trying to trim large deficits – a situation the Quakers have been in often this season.

Falling behind

This season, the Quakers have developed a habit of falling behind by large margins early in games. The Red and Blue trailed 47-24 at the half against Penn State and were down by 21 at the same point of their most recent contest against Iowa. Tuesday’s game presents a chance to turn a trend that has hampered Penn’s success around. Going up against an explosive Niagara offense, the Quakers cannot afford to wait around before heating up.

SEE ALSO

Penn men’s basketball looking to turn it around against Niagara

Steele | Penn basketball needs to adapt quickly

Hawkeyes destroy Penn basketball in Iowa, 86-55

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