Conference preview: Ivy

It's true the Fran Dunphy Era has ended at Pennsylvania.

The Quakers' status as Ivy League elitists has not.

For the first time in 18 seasons, Dunphy will not be on the Penn sideline. He has taken his moustache and impressive resume, which includes 10 Ivy League titles, down the road to fellow Big 5 member Temple as John Chaney's successor.

But despite Dunphy's departure, the Quakers remain the team to beat in the Ivy League.

New coach Glen Miller, who spent the previous seven years coaching Brown, will have a solid group. Last season's Ivy League Player of the Year, Ibrahim Jaaber, first-team All-Ivy selection Mark Zoller and senior center Steve Danley headline the returning players.

As usual, Princeton should be a contender, even with several freshmen expected to get significant playing time. Point guard Marcus Schroeder and forward Zach Finley likely will be asked to contribute in their first year.

Former Northwestern assistant Craig Robinson, a former two-time Ivy Player of the Year at Princeton, has replaced Miller. Returning Bears include junior Keenan Jeppesen, who averaged 16.1 points per league game in 2005-06.

Four starters return to a deep Yale team that must overcome the departure of All-Ivy center Dominick Martin. Coach James Jones could use as many as 10 players in his rotation.

Dartmouth coach Terry Dunn lost only two players to graduation, but will need a point guard to emerge. Redshirt Marlon Sanders and freshman Brandon Ware will battle for the point job.

Cornell could have its most talented team in more than a decade. Guard Adam Gore, last year's Ivy League Rookie of the Year, returns. He led the conference in 3-pointers made last season.

Columbia coach Joe Jones returns all five starters and has no seniors. The Lions appear to have perimeter scoring ability – 6-8 junior John Baumann averaged 13.7 points last season -- but need to improve their inside presence.

Harvard will have 7-foot center Brian Cusworth, but only for the first semester as his eligibility will expire.

Team to beat

Penn: Jaaber, a 6-2 senior, is one of the best guards the league has seen in recent years. He averaged 18.2 points and shot 52.5 percent last season. Zoller, a 6-7 senior, and Danley, a 6-8 senior, will be joined by two of the Ivy's top recruits -- 6-8 forwards Justin Reilly and Andreas Schreiber -- to form what should be a formidable frontline. Miller should be leading an NCAA Tournament team in his first season at the school.

Watch out for

Brown: Robinson inherits a starting five led by Jeppesen, a 6-7 junior. His frontline mates include 6-7 sophomore Scott Friske and 6-9 junior Mark MacDonald. Senior point guard Marcus Becker and 6-1 junior Damon Huffman form an experienced backcourt. A five-man freshman class is lead by 6-5 wing man J.J. Anderson.

Player of the Year

Jaaber, Penn: The returning Player of the Year averaged 18.2 points overall last season -- the best by a Quakers player since 1989-90. He set school and league records for steals (96) for the second year in a row!