6 minutes ago<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\tSenior point guard Dylan Williams defends against freshman combo guard Jay Jones during a public scrimmage in the Palestra on Oct. 4. Penn basketball is sporting new players, new threads, and timeless talent in the 2025-26 season.\n<\/p>\n On Saturday, Penn men\u2019s and women\u2019s basketball took the floor of the Palestra for their annual Red and Blue Scrimmage. The men\u2019s squad showcased their new, fast-paced playing style under coach Fran McCaffery while familiar faces highlighted their consistent, strong game on the women\u2019s side.\n\t\t<\/p>\n It was the women\u2019s 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 \u2014 Gayle and Collins \u2014 are up for the task.\n<\/p>\n They are who coach Mike McLaughlin expects to take on leadership roles this season.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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.\u201d\n<\/p>\n 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.\n\t<\/p>\n Regarding the upcoming season as a whole, Gayle\u2019s message was clear.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \u201cI just really see us taking this to the next level,” Gayle said, “We’ve had a lot of team conversations, \u2026 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.\u201d\n<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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<\/a>\u2019s injury.\n<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s day to day, \u2026 it just happened. [The] scan is being evaluated, hopefully won\u2019t be too long,\u201d\u00a0coach McCaffery said.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n 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<\/a> 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<\/a>, Steve Donahue, in January. \u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n 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 \u201cfavorite coach ever.”\n<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been easy to transition to this [coach], and he\u2019s been so direct about what he wants. And every time we listen to him, something good happens,\u201d Roberts said.\u00a0\n\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\tSign up for our newsletter<\/p>\n Get our newsletter, DP Daybreak, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.<\/p>\n 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.\n<\/p>\n \u201cPeople want to see uptempo, that\u2019s how we played when we played here,\u201d McCaffery said about his goals. \u201cPeople want to see this place full, and \u2026 contending, that\u2019s what our intention is.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Both teams\u2019 first matchups of the season are set for Nov. 7 in the Palestra. The women\u2019s team faces King\u2019s College in the afternoon, with the men\u2019s squad following in the evening against Rowan.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation<\/a> to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"10-04-25-mbb-scrimmage-nathaniel-sirlin\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ce64fb9a-918a-4a62-b35f-9bc0ee820b6e.sized-1000x1000.jpg\")
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCredit: Nathaniel Sirlin<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n