Penn's TJ Power Misses Practice Due to Illness Ahead of NCAA Tournament Game

Teammate Ethan Roberts also ruled out for the year with a concussion as Penn prepares to face Illinois.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 2:13am

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Penn guard TJ Power, who had a standout performance in the Ivy League championship game, missed practice on Wednesday due to an illness as the Quakers prepare to face Illinois in the NCAA Tournament. Additionally, Penn will be without senior guard/forward Ethan Roberts, who led the team in scoring this season, as he was not cleared to play after suffering a concussion.

Why it matters

Power's absence and Roberts' injury are significant blows for Penn as they look to pull off an upset against the heavily favored Illinois team. Power's 44-point, 14-rebound performance was crucial in Penn's Ivy League title win, and his status for the tournament game is uncertain. Roberts' leadership and scoring production will also be missed, making Penn's task of competing with Illinois even more challenging.

The details

Penn coach Fran McCaffery said Power was not feeling well enough to practice on Wednesday, and his status for Thursday's game is unknown. Roberts, a senior from Arlington Heights, Illinois, said he tried to practice but was not cleared by a doctor due to the high risk of further damaging his brain after suffering a concussion. Roberts, who led Penn with 16.9 points per game, is 'devastated' to miss the tournament game but plans to be on the bench to support his teammates.

  • Power had a standout 44-point, 14-rebound performance in Penn's Ivy League championship game win over the weekend.
  • Power missed practice on Wednesday as Penn prepared for their NCAA Tournament game against Illinois on Thursday.

The players

TJ Power

A Penn guard who had a dominant performance in the Ivy League championship game, but is dealing with an illness and his status for the NCAA Tournament game is uncertain.

Ethan Roberts

A senior guard/forward from Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois who led Penn with 16.9 points per game this season, but has been ruled out of the NCAA Tournament due to a concussion.

Fran McCaffery

The head coach of the Penn Quakers basketball team.

Brad Underwood

The head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini basketball team.

AJ Levine

A Penn guard who called teammate TJ Power's performance in the Ivy League championship game 'one of the best performances I've ever seen in my life.'

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What they’re saying

“I would think they're doing everything they can to get him onto the court.”

— Brad Underwood, Illinois Head Coach

“If I had a broken ankle or something, I'd be out there playing tomorrow. But it's my brain, and per the doctor, I have a high risk of making it way worse and doing worse stuff to my brain.”

— Ethan Roberts, Penn Senior Guard/Forward

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.