2023-24 was a poor season for Penn men’s basketball, and coach Steve Donahue will be the first person to admit it. Calling the team’s 11-18 record and 3-11 clip in the Ivy League “disappointing," Donahue shared his thoughts on the upcoming season, most importantly the naming of two new captains: senior guard George Smith and senior forward/center Nick Spinoso.
With Smith and Spinoso leading the new team, Donahue is confident that the Quakers will quickly rebound and reach their past heights of success. He cited Smith and Spinoso’s experience through team successes and failures as a unique experience preparing them well for captaincy.
“They understand what it takes to win, and yet they know what it looks like when they don’t win,” Donahue said.
Donahue chooses captains differently every year, but he always starts with a leadership council composed of players from each year to gauge the team’s connection. The team then votes on its captains at the beginning of October.
“Nick and George were far and away the two highest [voted],” Donahue said.
Despite their new distinctions, Smith and Spinoso maintained that their role on the team would not change and instead emphasized the importance of continuing the family mentality that Donahue fosters. Donahue is renowned for this particular strategy — one that has contributed to multiple past championships.
“I think a huge part of our team last year that we struggled with is bringing everybody along,” Smith recalled. “My job is to … make sure the guys that aren’t on the rotation are involved, or they’re learning.”
The senior guard plans to treat his new position with respect, calling it a “privilege.” One of only three players to play in all 29 games last season, Smith doesn’t get caught up in the numbers and instead focuses on the individual plays, something Donahue appreciates.
“George is that solid, fundamental person that you can trust in any situation,” Donahue said.
He also praised Smith’s strong work ethic, something people don’t always notice.
“George is one that people disrespect how hard he plays, the grind that he has,” Donahue said. Smith has experienced many adjustments as a player, having played and started at different positions in the rotation, yet Donahue notes that his attitude at practice has never changed and his discipline has never dropped.
Spinoso has come a long way to his captaincy. After what Donahue described as an “up and down” freshman season, Spinoso stepped up to earn the Big 5 Most Improved Player award in 2023. Last season, he was the only Quaker to start all 29 games and led the team with 30 blocks.
“[Basketball has] given me every opportunity that I’ve pretty much had in life,” Spinoso said. “It’s got me to where I am today. I love it [and] I want to keep playing for as long as I can.”
Similar to his co-captain, Spinoso considers his new position an honor and an opportunity to prove how he’s grown throughout his basketball careers.
“We got a great group of guys. I know me and George have taken a lot from the captains before us, and it’s just a great opportunity to lead a great group,” Spinoso said.
Spinoso is known for his particularly energetic playing style and ability to move the ball around the court. Donahue commented that his energy is effusive and quickly spreads among his teammates while also praising his ability to admit to his mistakes.
“What I like about [Spinoso] is that when he’s wrong, he’s willing to admit it and take criticism like we all should when we do something wrong,” Donahue shared.
While they both regard their new leadership positions with the same attentiveness, Smith and Spinoso will take on different responsibilities as captains. Spinoso cited his need to look beyond himself and ensure the preparedness and confidence of his teammates, while Smith spoke of his desire to be a louder leader.
“I need to be a little bit more vocal, which I know my team’s let me know,” Smith said.
The one thing Smith, Spinoso, and Donahue agree on is the need to win. Donahue commented that his goal this season is the same as always: to maximize the team’s potential, regardless of the level of success it reaches. Smith plans to bring a winner’s mindset to the table to unite his team.
“I think the winning piece has to come with a sense of urgency, intensity and toughness,” Smith said. “I know we have the talent and skill and the guys that all the buy into the one goal and win, but I think those intangibles are really important that I’ll try to bring for sure.”
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