Seen and heard at 'Palestra North'

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The last two years I have been to Columbia to watch Penn, I've heard it referred to as 'Palestra junior' because of all the Quakers fans in the house. After seeing the crowd Saturday at Harvard, I propose christening Lavietes Pavilion 'Palestra North,' because it's just like a Penn home game. Mark Zoller thought so: "There certainly were a lot more Penn Quakers fans than Harvard Crimson fans."

It really was a sight to see 60 percent of the crowd singing the Red and Blue after a road game. Penn at least had a band, although they had to compete with canned music for the second straight night. That's more than Harvard could say.

You may have seen Eric Osmundson take a hard foul late in the second half. He went to the bench and was icing his right shoulder for the last few minutes of the game. He told me after the game that it was sore but he would be fine -- he was more concerned about his ankle after tripping over a cheerleader earlier in the game.

If Osmundson is not 100 percent Tuesday night, there is no reason to panic. Brian Grandieri spent more time handling the ball this weekend and should have no trouble if he's called on for more minutes. Plus, this team has enough experience that it can run its offense effectively without Osmundson in the game. Plenty of Dartmouth players were quick to praise the Quakers for how well they played together and created shots for themselves.

I would nominate Friedrich Ebede's dunk at the end of the Harvard game for 'Dunk of the Year.' Good marks for style and bonus points for great elevation.

You know you are on an Ivy League road trip when: the clock operator fails to start the shot clock for the second time in as many nights. At Harvard I swear it cost Penn a good look because the game was halted for more than a minute which took the offense out of its rhythm, and that possession ended in a poor shot. What can you do.