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Alabama vs. Penn: 3 key storylines for 2019-20 matchup

By Donovan Darlington

KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 19: John Petty #23 of the Alabama Crimson Tide defended by Jordan Bone #0 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half of their game at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 19, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 19: John Petty #23 of the Alabama Crimson Tide defended by Jordan Bone #0 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half of their game at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 19, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 11: AJ Brodeur #25 of the Pennsylvania Quakers celebrates after the game against the Villanova Wildcats at The Palestra on December 11, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Quakers defeated the Wildcats 78-75. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 11: AJ Brodeur #25 of the Pennsylvania Quakers celebrates after the game against the Villanova Wildcats at The Palestra on December 11, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Quakers defeated the Wildcats 78-75. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Penn has great senior leadership

Compared to Alabama, Penn seems to be the more experienced team all around. Penn is senior-heavy and every position has a great Senior that can step up and give good minutes. What’s crazy is that this group of Penn guys has made up much of the depth the past 3 seasons. A lot of them were on the team that lost to Kansas in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament. They were also there when the Quakers took out Villanova last season.

Senior forward AJ Brodeur led Penn in scoring a season ago, averaging 17.6 ppg while also contributing 8.3 rpg. The Alabama forwards will struggle with a hungry and talented senior like Brodeur. He may even have the advantage against them.

Senior guard Devon Goodman was second on the team in scoring last year. Goodman averaged 13.9 ppg and established himself as one of the better guards in the Ivy League. Goodman is quick and is a very experienced leader who will be needed to step up and help get this team to where they need to be.

Against a team in Bama that will not have many Seniors to call upon to lead them to victory when things get tough, having experienced Seniors could be the difference that allows Bama to make this game very interesting.

These two guys are the heart and soul of this Penn team. Their mindset will have a huge effect on how the rest of the guys on their team approach this game Tuesday night. They will be ready for the opportunity to send a message when playing a younger Alabama squad that is said to be more talented.

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