The McCaffrey era of Penn men’s basketball is one to keep an eye on.
6 minutes ago
Senior point guard Dylan Williams defends against freshman combo guard Jay Jones during a public scrimmage in the Palestra on Oct. 4.
Credit: Nathaniel Sirlin
Penn basketball is sporting new players, new threads, and timeless talent in the 2025-26 season.
On Saturday, Penn men’s and women’s basketball took the floor of the Palestra for their annual Red and Blue Scrimmage. The men’s squad showcased their new, fast-paced playing style under coach Fran McCaffery while familiar faces highlighted their consistent, strong game on the women’s side.
It was the women’s team that started the scrimmage, with mostly veteran players setting the tone for each of the three 20-minute periods. The duo of junior guard Mataya Gayle and sophomore forward Katie Collins showed off with a win by their side, sharing the ball on offense and capitalizing on many second chances. The Quakers need someone to step up this season in the wake of 2025 Wharton graduate Stina Almqvist’s departure, and it seems like the two most recent Ivy League Rookies of the Year — Gayle and Collins — are up for the task.
They are who coach Mike McLaughlin expects to take on leadership roles this season.
“I just think this kid has something special about her. I think she’s ready,” McLaughlin said regarding Collins specifically. “I think she wants a leadership role, and I think she’s more than capable of doing it.”
The Quakers also have a rare element to their team: two sisters on the roster. Junior guard Ese Ogbevire and her sister, freshman guard Ruke Ogbevire, took on the Red and Blue scrimmage with a hint of sibling rivalry as each played on separate teams. The former returns to the court after missing the entirety of last season due to injury. The sisters’ similar hardworking nature greatly contributed to the competition, and hopefully the two will continue to grow together throughout the season.
Regarding the upcoming season as a whole, Gayle’s message was clear.
“I just really see us taking this to the next level,” Gayle said, “We’ve had a lot of team conversations, … and I think we’re all on the same page about the level we want to reach this year, which is obviously winning an Ivy League Championship.”
The men has a completely new look under new coach Fran McCaffery, who has implemented a quick, flowing offense. There has been a lot of change for the men’s basketball squad, with a new supporting coaching staff, five freshmen, and two transfers coming in over the summer. However, one of the transfers did not suit up for the scrimmage, and a big question mark loomed over the extent of junior forward TJ Power’s injury.
“He’s day to day, … it just happened. [The] scan is being evaluated, hopefully won’t be too long,” coach McCaffery said.
Though the scrimmage was all about what’s new, an old face was in attendance. Former Penn men’s basketball player and current Davidson guard Sam Brown was notably in the crowd. Brown was the leading scorer in the Ancient Eight during conference play. He is set to return to Philadelphia in a matchup against Saint Joseph’s and his former coach at Penn and now head of St Joe’s program, Steve Donahue, in January.
While a lot of new players will be getting their moments this upcoming season, it was senior forward Ethan Roberts who rose above on Saturday, racking up 20 points to lead his side to a win. He showed the fans he is ready to give his all during his last season with the Red and Blue. Roberts will have played under four coaches during his four years at Penn, but he calls McCaffery his “favorite coach ever.”
“It’s been easy to transition to this [coach], and he’s been so direct about what he wants. And every time we listen to him, something good happens,” Roberts said.
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The Quakers also debuted their new jerseys during the scrimmage, which were unveiled just this past week. The uniforms are the same as those which McCaffery wore during his time at Penn in the late 1970s and early 1980s. There is excitement and a sense of expectation around the team with all the changes made, one that McCaffrey is aware of and taking into his first season coaching the Red and Blue.
“People want to see uptempo, that’s how we played when we played here,” McCaffery said about his goals. “People want to see this place full, and … contending, that’s what our intention is.”
Both teams’ first matchups of the season are set for Nov. 7 in the Palestra. The women’s team faces King’s College in the afternoon, with the men’s squad following in the evening against Rowan.
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