The University of Pennsylvania Quakers

Look for the senior trio of Adam Chubb (Harrisburg, Pa.), Charlie Copp (Tulpehocken, Pa.) and Jeff Schiffner (Chester, N.J.) to lead the charge of retaining Penn's stranglehold on the Ivy League title in 2003-04. Head Coach Fran Dunphy is counting on this senior class to become a cohesive unit and demonstrate that they deserve this chance to lead his 15th Penn team through another successful season.

Schiffner, an unanimous All-Ivy performer last season, is a three-point bomber who finished first in the nation a year ago in threepoint field-goal percentage and is working on moving up Penn's career ladder for three-pointers, where he currently stands seventh. He finished his junior season averaging 11.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 45 percent from the floor and 49.3 percent from behind the three-point line. A talent on both ends of the court, Schiffner is usually assigned to defend the opposition's biggest scoring threat before being asked to run Penn's potent offense that averaged 69.9 points a game last season.

"Jeff plays a major role for us out on the court everyday," Dunphy said. "He is a true leader and I look forward to seeing him step up even more during his last season with us."

Chubb looks to earn a starting role as a true center, a first for Penn since Geoff Owens graduated in 2001, and his leadership and maturity should help a new crop of incoming players adjust quickly on the court. Chubb averaged 4.0 points and 2.1 rebounds and shot over 50 percent from the field as a junior while spelling four-year starters Ugonna Onyekwe and Koko Archibong in the frontcourt.

"Adam has the talent and enthusiasm to be a great role model this year," Dunphy added. "He has good skills and with the extra confidence gained by being on the court every game, he should become a more consistent player."

Copp provides leadership to the Quakers' guards in this his final season. The capable backcourt player looks to become a significant part of the system once again after seeing action as a freshman and learning under the tutelage of two-time All-Ivy honoree and recent graduate Andrew Toole for the last two seasons.

"This season presents a tremendous opportunity for Charlie to step up and become a significant contributor on the floor," Dunphy said.

The talented duo of juniors Tim Begley (Freehold, N.J.) and Jan Fikiel (Ulm, Germany) also give Penn added experience when they return to The Palestra floor for their third year with the Quakers. Begley's season ended about seven minutes before everyone else's at the NCAA Tournament when he went down with a severe ankle sprain, but his contributions on the court throughout his sophomore year will earn him respect among his Ivy brethren once again. Begley finished the year averaging 6.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game and earned his first All-Ivy League nod receiving honorable mention.

"Tim's heart and dedication to the game and this program is an inspiration for all of us," Dunphy said. "He is one of the best all-around players we have and we look forward to seeing him mature even more."

Fikiel will have the opportunity to step into the lineup after sitting in the shadows of Onyekwe and Archibong. If he learned anything from his elders, look for Fikiel to break out on his own on the low block.

"Jan has a chance to make his own mark on the court for us this season," Dunphy commented. "He has the skills to become a solid collegiate post player and I think he'll be very effective once the Ivy League season rolls around."

Another group of returners will also have the chance to show their stuff when preseason opens in October. Guard Patrick Lang (Roswell, Ga.) and forwards Friedrich Ebede (Dovala, Cameroon) and Conor Tolan (Dublin, Ireland) all saw playing time during the championship season of 2002-03. The coaching staff hopes the trio translates their intensity and basketball know-how into the next campaign as each will push for more action on the court. Sophomore guard Patrick Haddan (Irvine, Calif.) and junior center Nameir Majette (Ahoskie, N.C.) will try to get back into the swing of things after sitting out last season.

"This group of returners gives us a lot of depth and each will have a chance to show their skills and push for time on the basketball court this season," Dunphy said.

Six newcomers will also vie for playing time this season. Two have collegiate experience and sat through the Penn system for the past year as Eric Heil (Bettendorf, Iowa) and Eric Osmundsen (Carlsbad, Calif.) transferred to the Quakers in 2002. An athletic player, Heil will look to compete with Fikiel for playing time down low, while Osmundson will have a lot to prove after sitting out last season with various injuries. If healthy, Osmundson possesses the tools to be an important part of the Penn system over the next three years.

"Both players have solid basketball skills and will be huge assets to our team in the future," Dunphy said. "I expect Heil to push for time right away. Osmundson had several injuries to overcome, but we look forward to seeing him healthy when we begin preseason practice."

Four new faces will don the Red and Blue as Penn welcomes Ibby Jaaber (Elizabeth, N.J.), Ryan Pettinella (Pittsford, N.Y.), Steve Danley (Germantown, Md.) and Mark Zoller (Blue Bell, Pa.) to The Palestra.

Jaaber averaged 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists per game as a senior at the Peddie School (N.J.). Zoller was named the Catholic League Player of the Year after averaging 21.4 points and 11.8 rebounds per game last season at St. Joe's Prep (Pa.). Pettinella, a member of the nationally-ranked McQuaid Jesuit basketball team (N.Y.), finished his senior season averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds per game. He was named third-team all-state and earned a spot on the all-state tournament team.

Danley was a two-year starter for DeMatha Catholic (D.C.) and played for legendary Head Coach Morgan Wootten. Danley was named All-DC Metro and second-team All-WCAC this past season and averaged 12.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.

"Jaaber is an all-around good athlete who can shoot the ball and is projected to be a valuable asset to the program in the years to come," Dunphy remarked. "Danley is a rebounder and shot blocker, and joined with Pettinella, can run the floor and will make a formidable post duo. Zoller is a smart basketball player who brings many intangibles to the Penn family. Look for him to push for playing time in the frontcourt immediately."

The Quakers open the 2003-04 Ivy League campaign on a 23-game Ivy win streak (not counting the playoff win over Yale in 2002) with high hopes of returning to the NCAA Tournament for the eighth time in Dunphy's career. Look for this group to quickly get out of the shadow of last year's seniors and make a bright name for itself when the season kicks off in November.