Penn is off to its first 2-0 start since the 2018-19 season after a wire-to-wire win over Bucknell at the Palestra by a score of 80-61.
The Quakers had a few nervous moments in the second half after a stagnant stretch on offense allowed the Bison (0-2) to cut what had been a 20-point halftime lead to just nine as the clock neared the under-eight media timeout.
Instead of relying on one player to stop Bucknell’s run, Penn persevered by committee. Junior guard George Smith restored Penn’s double-digit lead by making a nice interior find to sophomore forward Johnnie Walter (more on him later) for an easy layup late in the shot clock.
Sophomore guard Cam Thrower added seven critical points down the stretch as well, including a difficult stepback two-point jumper and a deep three-pointer with 4:45 that pushed Penn’s lead to 21 and effectively iced the game.
Bucknell may not have been the most difficult opponent — the Bison entered Wednesday ranked 349th in KenPom — but the win left Penn fans with plenty of happy Quakeaways:
Johnnie Walter made a case for a consistent role.
Walter, who came to 33rd Street by way of Cal State Northridge, is the first Division I player to join Penn in the modern transfer portal era. In just 15 minutes of action, he had this writer wondering why the Matadors’ new coaching staff didn’t try to keep him around.
It seemed as if Walter was always in the right place at the right time offensively, positioning himself in the lane for easy layups. He finished with eight points on seven shots; all four of his made baskets were assisted.
Walter also showed some positive signs on the defensive end of the floor. He didn’t commit a single foul and looked engaged and aware.
The only thing Penn fans didn’t see from Walter on Wednesday is outside shooting. If he can play as a true stretch four, Walter could prove to be a very valuable addition.
Tyler Perkins might wind up becoming the season’s main attraction.
Perkins was Penn’s best player on the floor on Wednesday night. He finished plus-29 in the box score in 34 minutes of action and tallied a 24-point, 14-rebound double-double.
Not bad for a freshman’s first game against a Division I opponent.
What makes Perkins so fascinating to watch early on is that he hasn’t been a guy whom Penn can just give the ball to, clear out, and let cook. He’s putting himself in position to succeed by moving efficiently away from the ball for easy assisted baskets or offensive rebounds.
Sure, there will be rough nights for Perkins eventually, as there are for all freshmen.
But for now, he’s operating on the highest gear Penn fans have seen from a freshman since, well …Jordan Dingle.
Friday will be an exercise in expectation-setting.
There has been much to like from Penn so far in the earliest days of the season, but it is also obvious that the Quakers are far from a finished product.
Junior forward Nick Spinoso and senior guard Clark Slajchert — Penn’s best returnees — look like they’re still getting on track. Spinoso had some foul issues and wasn’t quite involved in the game as a distributor as he usually is, while Slajchert committed four turnovers and shot 5-for-13 from the field.
There’s no reason to panic about either of those two players, who have proven track records of success. But Penn will need them both to play at a high level if the Quakers want to make some noise in nonconference play and be taken seriously as an Ivy League contender.
Friday’s Big 5 contest against Saint Joseph’s, which is ranked 101st in KenPom, will be an important test. The Quakers really haven’t gone on the road and won a game they weren’t supposed to win against a very good team since their upset of then-KenPom No. 28 Providence in 2019.
A credible showing or a win against the Hawks would be a strong sign that this season could go better for Penn than many expect.