7. Penn Quakers (10-2)
After winning the Ivy League last season, Penn returned the team’s top two scorers in Ryan Betley and AJ Brodeur. Unfortunately, Betley made it just a few minutes in the very first game of the season, going down for the season with a ruptured patella tendon.
Yet somehow the Quakers have managed to not miss a beat, with multiple players stepping up in a big way. Junior guard Devon Goodman increased his scoring average by double-digits to 14.7 ppg, while freshman big man Michael Wang has been tremendous, producing 12 ppg and four rebounds a game. Brodeur himself has established himself as an Ivy Player of the Year, leading the team in rebounding and passing while scoring 13.8 ppg.
Penn has already accomplished a lot in the non-conference. They have wins over George Mason, Miami and the reigning national champions Villanova. The team is on a six-game winning streak and faces a Toledo team who also is ranked on this list. And there is still Temple and Saint Joe’s remaining on the schedule along with the rest of the Ivy League. With the only losses so far coming to Kansas State and Oregon State, an at-large bid is viable for them.
If healthy, Harvard may have the best odds of winning the Ivy. But even without Betley this year, the Quakers have positioned themselves for a back-to-back trip to the NCAA Tournament.