The peak of this narrative occurred on March 15, 2026, during the Ivy League championship game against Yale. Power scored a career-high 44 points , including a buzzer-beating three-pointer to force overtime, securing Penn's first tournament bid since 2018.
Power credited his success to McCaffery's belief in him, often referring to his coach as a "guiding light". The "Man, I Love Fran" (MILF) meme emerged from the Penn fanbase to celebrate this transformative player-coach relationship.
After struggling for playing time at "blue blood" programs Duke and Virginia, TJ Power transferred to Penn, where he found a "home" and rediscovered his game under Coach McCaffery.
Power led the Ivy League in minutes played (35.0 per game) and three-point accuracy (42.7%) during the 2025-26 season, averaging 16.8 points and 7.9 rebounds. Career Path and Academic Standing
