City of Basketball Love

Jeff Griffith (@Jeff_Griffith21)
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Considering the fact that Drexel and Penn are just a mile apart, there was bound to be some extra emotion when the two met Wednesday afternoon at the Palestra.

The addition of two head coaches linked not only by that one mile, but also by a long history, only adds to that aspect of the game. For Zach Spiker and Steve Donahue go back quite a way in their coaching journeys, only to end up so close together.

After the game, that emotion – as well as the respect both coaches have for one another – was made abundantly clear.

“(This game) is actually the hardest in a lot of ways,” Donahue said after his team took home a 73-65 win. "The other ones were my mentors: [Temple’s] Fran Dunphy and [Lafayette’s] Fran O’Hanlon. Zach…”

He trailed off at that point, gathering himself, undoubtedly flooded with memories of their days at Cornell and the relationship they built while working together at the Ithaca, New York, campus from 2004-09.

“I shouldn’t get emotional about this,” he continued. “He just means a lot to me...he helped me greatly at Cornell and he’s going to do a great job there. And I’m proud of him and it’s extremely difficult to play against him.”

Although they've only played 26 times, there's a feeling around the city that this rivarly should continue to be a marquee game, and now for the second straight season, the teams have met to take their shot at claiming 33rd street supremacy.

For Spiker, he didn’t hold back when trying to explain how it felt to go up against a man who kick-started his career, but also made it clear the importance of the game, and the importance of his connection to Donahue in his growth as a man and basketball coach.

“I think we both have great respect for basketball in Philadelphia and understand the responsibility we have as coaches and make every effort to play this game, but it sucks,” he said. “You try to do what’s right for the game and what’s right for the city, but talking about a guy who gave me an opportunity, probably undeserving as an assistant coach at Cornell. He’s a great man, he’s a great coach, and I feel very fortunate that our family was able to hitch our wagons to him at Cornell and benefit and learn.”

Together at Cornell, the two of them helped put together a run that included three consecutive Ivy League titles and one trip to the NCAA Sweet 16. In 2007-08, the Big Red went a perfect 14-0 in conference, and the team never finished below third in their league during the years Donahue and Spiker coached together.

Now, it’s the fact that such success has translated to the two programs they now head coach that has been the biggest payoff.

I hate playing this game," Donahue said. "I love the fact the building was full, and his team’s playing well, and we’re playing well. In some ways, it’s a no-lose situation for me. I’m proud of him, and it’s extremely difficult to play against him.”