Penn opens season with Illinois rematch

Penn State Quakers basketball fans will see a rematch of their first-round NCAA Tournament loss against the No. 3 Illinois Fighting Illini on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. on FS1. The two teams met earlier this year, with Penn falling in the first round. Illinois went on to reach the Final Four.

Senior forward Augustus Gerhart will start at the forward position. The 6-foot-9 player from Lancaster County started every game in his junior season last year. He averaged a career-high 19.8 minutes, 5.5 points, and 4.7 rebounds during that campaign. Coach Fran McCaffery, who took over the program last season, expanded Gerhart's role beyond traditional screen-setting duties.

McCaffery told Gerhart to drive the ball and make plays rather than act as a screening dummy. The coach emphasized that big men must sprint down the floor after every possession to post in the paint. Teammate TJ Power said Gerhart now gallops down the court with unmatched fitness. Power described Gerhart's motor as ridiculous and noted that the forward never seems to get tired.

Gerhart said he is starting to think more holistically about the game. He analyzes how his teammates move and where they need screens. The forward, who goes by Auggie, said he wants to fight for rebounds and be physical. He noted that the team plays better when he is aggressive in the paint.

Power scored 44 points in the Ivy League championship game last season. He suffered a stomach infection during the first round game against Illinois this year. Gerhart said the team has a higher standard now that it has tasted March Madness. He compared the experience to eating a phenomenal meal at a restaurant and not wanting bad food for the rest of life.

Gerhart joined the team in sixth grade after initially resisting playing basketball because he was tall. He averaged seven minutes as a freshman, with his main job being to pass the ball to the team's leading scorer. He has since won an Ivy League title and developed a more dynamic style of play under McCaffery.

The Quakers will look to replicate the physicality that defined their last season. Gerhart said confidence is a muscle that gets stronger with use. McCaffery aims to build that confidence in his players by empowering them to take on expanded roles on the court.