<em>College Basketball Preview: </em> Penn Quakers

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The only City 6 basketball team not to tip off its season on Friday night is the University of Pennsylvania. The Quakers don't get started until Saturday, against Davidson.

Penn went 6-22 last season, a campaign that featured a midseason coaching change from Glenn Miller to former Quaker standout Jerome Allen.

Allen (right) quickly had the "interim" tag removed from his title as Penn showed significant improvement under his leadership.

The coach says he likes the makeup of his roster this season.

"I think we've got a balanced mix of some older, veteran guys and some young guys, and I think the combination could propel us to be a solid team this season," he said.

Hear the entire interview with Jerome Allen in this CBS Philly SportsPod...

When you talk about the veterans on the Quakers roster, the conversation starts with junior point guard Zack Rosen (top photo).  He was a unanimous All-Ivy selection a season ago as he led the Quakers in scoring with 17.7 points per game.

And he has a fan in Coach Allen.

"He is truly a pleasure to coach," says Allen.  "He is one of the hardest working guys on the team and he is always giving of himself.  And he has this hunger for knowledge -- he wants to get better.  He wants to be coached."

Another key returning player is senior forward Jack Eggleston, who was second in scoring on the team a year ago (behind Rosen), at 13 points per game. He also led the team in rebounding -- 6.4 rebounds per game.

Allen says there are also several freshman who could have roles this season:

"(Guard) Miles Cartwright and (swingman) Marin Kukoc and (guard) Dau Jok.   (Forward) Fran Dougherty has shown signs.  I think they are all, as freshman, right along in the process where they should be, and they are going to have opportunities to help."

The Quakers will open the season Saturday night, at the Palestra, against Davidson.

Reported by Matt Leon, KYW Newsradio 1060.

Photos provided