FAYETTEVILLE — For someone whose leading scorer was sick in the locker room and watched his starting center exit with an ankle injury less than three minutes into the game, Penn coach Steve Donahue was pleased with how his team competed against No. 13 Arkansas.
The Quakers played without guard Jordan Dingle during Sunday's 76-60 loss to the Razorbacks, and were without Nick Spinoso for the majority of the game. Dingle and Spinoso combined to average 25.6 points and 8.2 rebounds through the Quakers' first eight games.
“When you lose your leading scorer to a virus before you come out and then lose your center two minutes in, it’s tough,” Donahue said. “Our starting center was already hurt with a bone issue and then we have a mental health issue with another guy.
“So to play the way we did against a really good team, just let it get away from us at the beginning of the second half when we didn’t play well, but we got ourselves back in it and I am just pleased with our effort.
“Give Arkansas credit. They played hard and (JD) Notae competes at such a high level. I think that was one of the big differences today.”
Donahue, a former coach at Boston College and Cornell, was impressed with the Razorbacks (6-0), who have seven new faces this season.
“Having coached in the ACC, I know how difficult it is when you have a lot of new bodies to get everybody to play really hard, but I think that is their biggest attribute right now,” Donahue said. “They have some pieces that are really nice — (Au'Diese) Toney is a great offensive rebounder and cutter. The kid (Jaylin) Williams is an elite passer and willing to do a little bit of everything. And then you have guys that can really score like Notae and (Chris) Lykes and I think (Davonte) Davis will get it going.
“So there is a lot of things going for them and the overriding thing is they compete and a high level and it is going to win them a lot of games.”
Dingle averaged a team-leading 19.6 points over the first eight games for Penn (3-6). Donahue said Dingle became sick on the flight to Arkansas.
“He has been throwing up the whole time," Donahue said. "We did get him tested for covid and it’s not covid. Hopefully it’s just a stomach virus."
Clark Slajchert started in Dingle’s place and had a career-high 25 points for the Quakers, who did not play last season due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“He’s a covid freshman and didn’t play any basketball last season, so this was just his ninth college game,” Donahue said. “He has shown some of that in spurts, but when Jordan Dingle goes down, it was great for another kid like that to go get you that type of production in an environment like this. It really bodes well for his future, I think he has it in him and it was great to see.”
Donahue’s team has played nine games in 19 days, including a three games in the Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Invitational.
“We get the schedule and then we got a chance to play in an exemption event like the one in Myrtle Beach with ESPN and just the opportunity to do that, especially after you didn’t play for a year, you want to take advantage of that even with your older guys,” Donahue said. “I just think we really competed well during this stretch. We probably weren’t ready for the first two when we started off, but after that for the most part, I think we competed.
“I do feel strongly come January when we are in (Ivy League) conference play, it will be something that we will be glad we did….All these young guys got a chance to play and we are better for it.”
Next up for Penn is No. 7 Villanova on Wednesday as the Quakers begin their Philadelphia Big 5 games, which also include contests against Temple, Saint Joseph's and LaSalle before jumping into Ivy League action.
“We have a cupcake in Villanova next on Wednesday,” Donahue said while laughing. “We have our four Big 5 games in a row. We don’t leave our home base again until Jan. 29 as we have home games or local games.”