Jermaine and I have had several discussions recently regarding his plans for the future and he feels strongly that graduating and entering the professional world at the conclusion of the summer is in the best interest of his son and his family. We thank Jermaine for his contributions to our program and wish him the best of luck.

As Chambers alluded, Jermaine has a young son, and surely the opportunity to pursue a professional career and provide for his family has played a significant part in his decision. Our good friend Ben Jones reiterated as much during a conference call with Chambers, Marshall, and the media.

As for where this leaves Penn State, a team that was expecting to feature arguably the top backcourt in the Big 10 with Marshall and D.J. Newbill joining All Big 10 point guard Tim Frazier, is suddenly left with a gaping hole, and 16+ points a night to fill.  This likely will mean incoming freshman Geno Thorpe, along with classmates Graham Woodward and Peyton Banks, will take on a larger role than anticipated.  For a team with a lot of internal optimism and tournament dreams, this is obviously a huge blow. The return of Frazier will help alleviate some concerns, but what appeared to dynamic backcourt is now short one.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

One thing that always irked me in previous years was how the football program was really off on its own, content to fund the rest of the department.  I look at some of the most successful athletic programs across the country, and there’s a real connection between the de facto head of those departments, the head football coach, and the men and women that run the other programs on those campuses.

I grew up in Columbus (you may make your own jokes here.  I’ll wait….ok then), and there is a story that sticks with me that proves my point, I think.  The men’s hockey program had a number of prospects in town for a recruiting visit, over a football weekend.  After touring the practice rink, the players came outside, and saw a crowd of thousands lining the streets as the OSU band headed into the stadium, with raucous crowds.  One of the recruits would later say that’s when he made his mind up where he was going to school.  Seeing that much energy surrounding a football game, and the passion of Buckeye fans told him everything he needed to know.  I look at Ohio State now, and see a football coach and basketball coach that find ways to work together for the betterment of the other.  Florida had a similar atmosphere when Meyer was in Gainesville as well. I think Penn State has the beginnings of that with O’Brien and Pat Chambers’ very obvious friendship.

Now, Penn State has always used football weekends to bring in recruits for the other programs, and football recruits are often seen at home basketball games if there is one taking place on their recruiting visit.  But it also feels more genuine now.  I know this whole “One Team” marketing campaign draws more than a few laughs, but I also see these coaches working together to use the best aspects of their programs, and their individual talents, to help their colleagues.  And in the end, that is going to pay huge dividends for ALL of the Nittany Lions teams.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

• Starting out with hoops, Penn State got some expected, but still good news from the NCAA (yes, that exists).  Tim Frazier was granted his medical waiver for a 5th year following his Achilles injury suffered early on last season.  The Lions also got a visit from Jaylen Bond, the former Texas Longhorn forward, who has been grated his release from UT, and is looking to transfer. Jaylen is a Philly product, and would be a great addition to the PSU frontcourt, albeit not until the 2014-15 season.  You can read more about both of those here.
• On the gridiron, the Big 10 formally approved both new East-West divisions (hooray for common sense!) starting in 2014, as well as the addition of a 9th conference game starting in 2016.  I never got the whole “try to set divisions up based on competitive balance”, and still have no idea whether PSU is a legend or leader.  Plus we get to play Michigan every year, and try to get this thing back from Sparty.
• Bill O’Brien and assorted other coaches are again on the road this spring for the Coaches Caravan, and a hot topic during one of the gatherings earlier this week was the long talked about Ireland game.  Now, nothing is official, but with future B1G schedules settled at 9 games, one of the final road blocks has been removed.  I rather enjoy baseless speculation, so I took a stab at 5 teams I’d love to see Penn State take on across the pond.  Well, actually 4, and a Temple joke.
• In actual football news, it became official that PSU will host Michigan on Homecoming Saturday (October 12th) in a prime time kickoff, slated for 5:00.  Two weeks later, the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes will meet under the lights in Ohio Stadium at 8:00.  With another night game (10/12 sunset is shortly after 6:30) in Beaver Stadium on tap, I went back through the old memory bank, and recounted the top 5 Beaver Stadium crowds I have been a part of.
• Finally, on the recruiting front, Coatesville, PA’s Daquan Worley is nearing a decision, and that decision will appear to be a verbal commitment to PSU, according to multiple reports.  Daquan would be a welcome addition to a class that has been heavy on offensive skill, and further solidify one of O’Brien’s recruiting goals of locking down the best players in the Commonwealth.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

The first, while expected, should still be a relief to Penn Staters, as Tim Frazier was officially granted his medical hardship waiver (medical redshirt to the rest of us).  After rupturing his Achilles early on in the season’s fourth game, the waiver was mostly just a formality, but as any Nittany Lion fan can attest, the NCAA is not exactly in the business of formality.  With Frazier’s return, Chambers could very well have one of the top backcourts in the Big 10, with Jermaine Marshall and D.J. Newbill ready to slide back to more natural roles.  With graduations and early departures, the duo of Marshall and Newbill will be the top returning scorers in the conference.

With depth seemingly addressed at guard, attention has turned to forward, where the Lions will look to answer plenty of questions both on the floor, and on the recruiting trail.  One of those pieces could come by way of Texas forward Jaylen Bond, who announced last month he would be transferring from the Longhorns.  The rising junior would of course sit out the 2013-14 season per NCAA rules, but would have 2 years remaining after that.  Jaylen hails from the Philly area, and meshes well with Chambers’ stated goal of establishing a PSU presence in the hoops hotbed.  Philly natives D.J. Newbill, and John Johnson have both transferred to Happy Valley, and Chambers has recruited in both Brandon Taylor, and Julian Moore from the the area.  Eric at BSD told me last night that Temple may be the leader, but once you get someone on campus, anything can happen. Bond was slowed by injuries this season, averaging just 3 points and 3 rebounds in limited minutes.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

• Ft. Washington, Maryland DB prospect Alameen Murphy made the trip to Happy Valley last weekend.  Murphy does not yet have an offer, as it appears the coaching staff is comfortable with where they stand with other players currently holding a PSU offer.  However, Alameen is a very intriguing prospect, given his lack of playing experience at defensive back, and his rapid improvement.  He may not be as “game ready” as some others, but he does seem like a high upside player.
• Sticking with recruiting, the coaching staff extended two additional offers this week.  In a move that may surprise some folks, IMG Academy quarterback Michael O’Connor received an offer from O’Brien, after he visited campus last month.  With 3 scholarship QBs on the roster, all of whom have at least 3 years of eligibility left, it seemed unlikely PSU would pursue a quarterback in this class.  So much for that.  Michael is a highly regarded pocket passer, and again proving the power of O’Brien’s NFL experience with high school recruits.  On the other side of the ball Warren, Michigan linebacker Jared Wangler visited campus recently, and picked up an offer of his own.  PSU is the first BCS conference program to offer, joining a number of MAC schools.
• One thing that has become clear with a number of PSU’s recent recruiting moves is the emphasis being placed on versatility.  With the 15/65 scholarship limits, O’Brien and the rest of the staff are going to need to be as creative as possible, and finding guys who can play 2 or 3 positions at a high level could prove to be key.
• On the field, nothing has really changed at QB, and that’s OK.  With essentially two rookie quarterbacks vying for the starting job right now (with apologies to Bench’s brief appearance vs. Virginia, and Ferguson’s JUCO year), it was obvious before spring drills kicked off that O’Brien and Charlie Fisher were in no hurry to name a starter, as they were last year with 2 more experienced players in McGloin and Bolden.  I also think there’s a distinct possibility that O’Brien is hoping that arrival of the super recruit Christian Hackenberg lights a little hotter fire under the two older kids.
• Switching to the hardwood, PSU confirmed the departure of Akosa Maduegbanum and Patrick Ackerman, which was first rumored last week.  PSU needed to clear one spot with the transfer of John Johnson from Pitt, and Tim Frazier’s redshirt, but the transfer of two players gives Chambers an additional scholarship to add to the 2013-14 team, or the class that can begin signing next fall.  Along those lines, PSU had a 6’10″ JUCO forward on campus today.  De’Andre Leatherwood averaged 7.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game at Prince George’s Community College.  No word on if any offer has been extended.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

Penn State Basketball SID Brian Siegrist has confirmed that Patrick Ackerman and Akosa Maduegbanum will be transferring from Penn State

Penn State Basketball Announces Roster Changes. Ackerman & Maduegbunam to transfer: soa.li/0wn6gKi

— Brian Siegrist (@PSUSTRETCH) April 10, 2013

Going into this off season, Patrick Chambers knew he was going to be one over the scholarship limit of 13 set by the NCAA.  When Tim Frazier went down in game 4 versus Akron, it became a certainty the senior would be grated a medical redshirt, and have a 5th year to play his fourth season.  Shortly after, John Johnson transferred into the program.  Those additions, along with the 4 man recruiting class appeared to put PSU at 15 scholarship players for the 2013-14 season.

Redshirt Junior Sasa Borovnjak and Chambers had agreed prior to the season that he would be moving on, after graduating this spring, not playing his final year of eligibility, but the Lions still needed one more spot to open up.  According to CBS Sports’ Jeff Goodman, forward Pat Ackerman, currently a sophmore, and freshman guard Akosa Maduegbanum will both be leaving the program, actually opening up 1 scholarship for next season.

Ackerman was a member of the Class of 2012, which was the final class assembled by former coach Ed DeChellis.  He has played sparingly in his two seasons in Happy Valley, appearing in just 12 games his freshman year (2.2 minutes/game), and 13 this past season (4.4 minutes/game).  In that time, he scored a total of 8 points and grabbed just 8 rebounds.  If this report is true, Ackerman becomes the 3rd member of that 4 person class to leave the program, joining guards Trey Lewis and Matt Glover, who left after last season.  As I detailed earlier this year, the timing of DeChellis’ departure left Chambers with no opportunity to change the makeup of this group, and the differences in style and personality between Ed and Pat has no doubt played a huge part in those transfers.

Maduegbanum, however, was a Chambers recruit, singing late last summer and joining the program for the 2012-13 season.  He appeared in just 14 games, scoring a total of 6 points in those appearances.  Walk on Kevin Montminy had passed him on the depth chart, and with Frazier’s return, Johnson becoming eligible at the end of December, and 3 freshman guards entering the program this fall, it seemed obvious that that limited playing time would get even smaller.  Akosa had been offered a scholarship by Chambers while he was at Boston University as well.

Penn State has yet to confirm these, but if Goodman’s report pans out, it will be interesting to see if Chambers pursues a late option for next season, or pockets the scholarship for next year’s recruiting class.  My hunch is that unless a great fit, either a JUCO forward, or senior transfer that would have immediate eligibility becomes available, that 13th scholarship becomes a part of the recruiting class that can begin signing this fall.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twiter for the latest on Penn State

It’s also safe to say that I did not end up at Penn State because of the basketball program.  However, I was in the car, on the way home from Dayton (and tournament games there), when the Nittany Lions upset North Carolina for a berth in the Sweet 16 way back in 2001.  But, I did fully embrace the program during my 4 years as a student, and have continued to follow things closely in my nearly 8 years as an alumnus.  As we sit here, with Wichita State, Michigan, Louisville, and Syracuse ready to play on college basketball’s biggest stage, it seems like a perfect opportunity to share some thoughts on where Patrick Chambers and the Nittany Lions are going, as Eric did a couple of weeks ago.

Feb 29, 2012; West Lafayette, IN, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard Tim Frazier dunks against the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena. Purdue defeats Penn State 80-56. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

In the immediate future, it’s hard not to get at least a little excited when you look at the back court Chambers has assembled for the 2013-14 season.  D.J. Newbill and Jermaine Marshall shouldered a huge load this past season, both in minutes, and scoring pressure, and both showed they can be consistent scorers in the Big 10.  With Newbill in particular, the experience running the point against some of the country’s top teams is going to be huge both next year, and beyond.  Next year, both will slide back to more natural positions, and roles, with the return of Tim Frazier. John Johnson, a transfer from Pitt, will also become eligible at the end of the fall semester, adding more experience.  He is also a talented player, getting offers from Pitt, PSU, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and St. John’s out of high school.

While his loss to injury this past season obviously hurt in the short term, it could very well be a blessing in disguise, both in this next season, but also down the road.  Rather than sliding into the point guard spot as a true freshman, incoming recruit Geno Thorpe can be eased into action, and learn from one of the best point guards in the country.  Along with Thorpe, high scoring Minnesota guard Graham Woodward, Peyton Banks join the fold, and should provide much needed depth.

At forward, the picture is more murky, and probably the biggest reason I’m not going all in on next year’s team.  Sasa Borovnjak played well down the stretch for PSU, but all indications are he intends to go forward with his plan to forgo his final year of eligibility.  Behind him, is a lot of question marks.  Freshman Brandon Taylor played well in spurts this year, but was forced to more of an outside role.  In my mind, it’s crucial he becomes more of a forward, with the ability to play outside, instead of the other way around.  Jon Graham shows flashes on both ends, but has yet to put it all together with any type of consistency.  With Sasa’s departure, Graham would appear to be in line for more playing time.  Ross Travis is the most intriguing of the bunch.  He is another player that was asked to do a lot this year, and while he struggled with his offense, his tenacity on the boards and the defensive end were huge.  I expect him to take another step forward going into his junior season, and hopefully refine his game more on the offensive end.  He’s very underrated when he attacks the basket, instead of settling for #RossTravisJumpShots.  Another freshman, 6’10″ Julian Moore, will likely factor in, but save for your average high school All American, it’s tough to expect a lot from freshman forwards at the Big 10 level.

Feb 27, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions forward Ross Travis (43) looks to pass during the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at the Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State defeated Michigan 84-78. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

What does all of that mean for next year’s expectations?  In short, I think this team, should they play to their potential, gets into the tournament (the real one, not the NIT).  While it’s great to have a dominant big man, the majority of the college game is guard oriented, and PSU sets up well in that regard.  It won’t get a lot of headlines, but a starting back court of Frazier, Newbill, and Marshall, will be one of the better ones in the Big 10.  Perhaps even more crucial though, is there are guys behind them.  Chambers will rely on those 3, but Johnson provides experienced depth, and I’m excited to see what Thorpe, Woodward, and Banks can bring.  On the inside, Travis, Graham, Taylor, and the freshman Moore, will need to take the next step, but they also won’t be asked to do too much with the talent at gaurd.

Going foward, PSU has 1 commitment for the class that will begin signing this fall, Williamsport, PA guard Isaiah Washington.  With the reported departures of Patrick Ackerman and Akosa Maduegbunam, Chambers could have 1 more scholarship to offer to that class, depending of if it is used prior to the 2013-14 season or not.  So barring huge changes or a rash of departures, PSU will be going forward with most of the names you are familiar with.  There are still holes to fill at forward, and given time, I am hopeful Chambers can do that.  He has shown a willingness to target big names, and while Brandon Austin’s decommitment hurt, it did provide some hope that Chambers’ Philly connections will only help over time.

I wrote back in February about how PSU found itself in this boat, and also that I almost give Chambers a free pass these first two seasons, given the hand he was dealt.  The way the team played down the stretch, never giving up, despite the 0-14 B1G mark going into the Michigan game, tells me a lot about Chambers.  This team could have thrown in the towel numerous times over the season, but never did.  It was that same “never say die” attitude we saw in Chambers’ first season.  He has such a passion for coaching, and for making it work here.  Penn State basketball will never be Indiana, or Kentucky, or Ohio State or…you get the picture.  However, for the first time since I can remember, it really does feel like the right man is directing the ship to point it in the right direction.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

• Sunday night, around 10:30, several members of “The Supa Six” began a series of cryptic tweets hinting that something may be up.  Twitter began to shake nervously (yes, that can happen), and then the bombs were dropped.  As you see, the punchline was delivered shortly after, but I have to admit, it seemed pretty obvious it was a somewhat clever April Fools joke by a few guys that seem to be among the most relaxed and fun loving guys on the squad.
• On the field, it was a relatively quiet week.  As spring practice reached the (sort of) halfway point, we took a look at where things appear to stand with the team.  The short version?  No one is leading the QB battle, Deion Barnes is better, and that’s scary for everyone, the young DTs look good, and we may want to worry about LB depth.
• New safeties coach Anthony Midget met with the media for the first time since being hired in February.  He shared some thoughts on Malik Golden moving to defense, working with some experienced safeties, the versatility of Adrian Amos, and the passion of Bill O’Brien.
• Back off the field, Zayd Issah, who was charged with passing counterfeit money last week, had his scholarship pulled.  O’Brien, who made the trip to Harrisburg to meet with Issah and his parents last weekend told him that he can earn that scholarship back, but will need to do so at a prep school.
• On the basketball side of things, CBS reported the transfers of Pat Ackerman, and Akosa Maduegbanum out of the program.  Patrick Chambers needed to find one scholly with the transfer of John Johnosn and Tim Frazier’s medical redshirt, but the departure of 2 players gives him the option of possibly finding a player for next season, or pocketing the ‘ship for next year’s recruiting class.
• Finally, a number of bloggers from around your favorite Penn State sites are working to put together a unique, Penn State focused preview magazine “We Are! 2013″.  Our own Tim Tolley will be providing recruiting content, and we need your help to get it off the ground.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

As frustrating as this past season was for Chambers’ young team, it will pay off for them next season. When you go through the meat grinder that is the Big Ten without your do-everything point guard, the rest of the team is forced to elevate their game and take on more responsible. Even though that didn’t result in many wins, it will only help the players who return next season (which is nearly everyone).

Obviously the two players who had to shoulder the majority of the load once Tim Frazier went down for the season were D.J. Newbill and Jermaine Marshall. At times the duo struggled. But when both were hitting shots and playing well, Penn State was a lot tougher to beat (see Feb. 27 vs. Michigan).

Newbill was also charged with most of the point guard duties, with primary ball handler being his main responsibility. And he’s a shooting guard, not a point guard. So now that Newbill has nearly a whole season of playing point guard under his belt, he has a better overall understanding of the game. And even though Marshall didn’t play the point as much as Newbill, you could say the same about him to a lesser degree. With Frazier back next season, Newbill and Marshall will both play off the ball a lot more and be back at their natural two-guard spots.

Another reason to get excited about Penn State hoops next year is the incoming freshmen class. The four incoming freshmen are Geno Thorpe (guard from Pittsburgh), Graham Woodward (guard from Edina, MN), Payton Banks (small forward from Orange, CA) and Julian Moore (power forward from Ft. Washington, PA).

I’ve seen Thorpe play in person twice and he has impressed me a lot. He is a great on-ball defender, can get to rim and make tough layups. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen the other three play in person. I know that Woodward and Banks scored a lot in high school. And even though Moore didn’t fill the stat sheet as much, he was instrumental in helping his team win a state championship. In my opinion, Thorpe might be the most prepared one of the group to contribute right away. But due to Penn State’s need for more production from its bigs, Moore might be the most important down the road.

Another factor to consider for next season is the addition of Pitt transfer John Johnson. Johnson will add more depth and scoring to an already solid backcourt of Frazier, Newbill and Marshall. Chambers seems very optimistic about Johnson and even said this during the press conference:

“What a luxury to have someone off the bench giving you 20.” In 39 games as a freshman at Pitt during the 2011-2012 season, Johnson averaged 4.2 points per game and 1.2 assists per game while playing about 14 minutes per game. I’m not sure what gives Chambers reason to think that Johnson can score like that in a conference like the Big Ten, but hopefully he’s right.

Penn State isn’t going to shock the world and finish in the top three of the Big Ten, but I believe that they have a legitimate shot to win 7-10 conference games next season. Obviously a lot depends on who from the other Big Ten teams decides to enter the draft early (Trey Burke, Victor Oladipo, Deshaun Thomas, etc.).

I’m usually not so optimistic when it comes to sports, but I firmly believe that Pat Chambers will have great success in his third year in Happy Valley. The experience that his team gained from this past season while playing in the best conference in the country without their best player is vital to next season’s hopes. The Nittany Lions are well equipped to make a run at an NCAA Tournament bid in 2013-2014 and I believe that they will do it.

Follow VBR Staff Writer Eric Sion on Twitter

The Last Time Out

Penn State rode junior guard Maggie Lucas (19 points, 4 assists, 4 steals) and a strong second half (47 points) to defeat the Cal Poly Mustangs 85-55. Senior Nikki Green (11 pts, 8 rebounds) helped to slow down Cal Poly star Molly Schlember. After scoring the teams first 10 points in less than eight minutes of play, Schlember was held to 14 over the remaining 32 minutes. The Lady Lions benfitted from a balanced scoring attack to support Lucas; Mia Nickson (13 points), Alex Bentley (18), and the aforementioned Green all contributed double digits.

About the LSU Lady Tigers

In the first round, LSU faced a tough Green Bay team and escaped with a 75-71 victory. Although their strength is in the post position, the Lady Tigers hit a season best 9-14 three point attemps. They are 14-3 at home this season, and made its case for the NCAA tournament board by beating three top-15 teams: Georgia, Kentucky, and Texas. They are lead by junior forward Theresa Plaisance, the SEC’s leading scorer at 17.3 points per game. She also leads the team in blocks and rebounds, and has 31 consecutive double-doubles. Plaisance is supported by guard Adrianna Webb (14.2 ppg), forward Biance Lutley (10.2 ppg), and Danielle Ballard (12.3 ppg). Ballard was voted to the SEC All-Freshman team, and was award SEC Freshman of the Week five times on her way to lead the SEC in steals.

Coach Nikki Caldwell, a national champion with Tennessee in her playing days, has lead LSU to their second consecutive tournament appearance after missing the Big Dance the year prior to her arrival. She has her team believing in their “Eight is Enough” motto; since they were forced to go with an eight person roster, the Lady Tigers at 6-1.

Social Spotlight

Official Account (@LSUwbkb)

Sports Information Director (@LSUBillMartin)

Head Coach Nikki Caldwell (@NikkiCaldwell)

Theresa Plaisance (@tplai55)

The Matchup

Penn State coach Coquese Washington played against coach Caldwell three times during their collegiate career, and now its the second conseuctive season they are faced against each other. Last year, Penn State won 90-80 behind 30 points from Maggie Lucas. Nikki Greene, who set the school record for consecutive starts, needs to play another big game to help limit Plaisance’s scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots. Foul trouble for either team could be a huge factor: LSU’s “Eight is Enough” roster doesn’t provide much depth, but Penn State only has six players with more than 181 minutes logged this season.

The home crowd will be a factor as coach Caldwell has increased home attendance by over 1,500 students in her second season with the Lady Tigers. Penn State is going to rely on Lucas and Bentley to provide the offensive firepower. This game has upset written all over it, but I think the Lady Lions will hold on and advance to the Sweet 16.

Follow VBR Staff Writer Ryne Crabb on Twitter

The Last Time Out

We last saw the Lady Lions all the way back on March 9th, in the B1G tournament. PSU, which won the regular season conference title, lost 54-46 to Michigan State in the semi-finals. The Lady Lions led early in the second half, and pulled back within one point after a 15-3 Spartan run, but ultimately couldn’t overcome their 22% shooting. It was a season low in points and shooting percentage for Penn State against the B1G’s top defensive team. Hopefully coach Coquese Washington had the girls practicing their jump shots over the past 15 days.

About the Cal Poly Mustangs

Cal Poly got invited to their first big dance by winning the Big West conference tournament. The past two seasons the Mustangs won the regular season title but failed to win an automatic bid, losing both years and competing instead in the WNIT. This year, as the #2 seed, they defeated top seeded Pacific in the conference finals.

Senior Kayla Griffin, the Big West Hustle Player of the Year, was injured in the game against Pacific and is out for the remainder of the season. She was averaging 7.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists for the season, starting all 31 games for Cal Poly.

Sophomore guard Ariana Elegado is second on the team in scoring at 12.3 points per game. Her scoring average was good for third in the Big West conference. Junior center Molly Schembler, 5’10″, leads the team in both scoring (13.0) and reboudning (7.2) on the year. She was the Big West Player of the Year, Big West Tournament MVP, and Big West Player of the Week twice. She has scored over 20 points seven times and has six double doubles on the season.

The Mustangs have won eight of their last nine games and will be playing hard for Griffin after her devasting knee injury. However, Cal Poly has not beaten any teams that qualified for the NCAA tournament.

The Match Up

The only common opponent between the two schools is Cal State Northridge, who went 0-1 against Penn State and 1-1 vs Cal Poly. With B1G Player of the Year, and National Player of the Year candidate Maggie Lucas leading the team with 20.5 points, Penn State shouldn’t really be tested. It helps that Penn State played in Baton Rogue last year as well, so they are famaliar with their surroundings (only 1 PSU player hasn’t played in the tournament before this season).

Seniors Alex Bentley and Nikki Greene need to step up in support of Lucas, especially Greene who will most liekly be paired up against Schembler. Assuming the Lady Lions left their shooting slump at the Sears Center, expect them to get out to an early lead and improve to 6-0 all-time against the Big West conference.

THE LAST TIME OUT

PSU dropped a heartbreaker on Sunday to Wisconsin, 63-60, on a Traevon Jackson 25 foot desperation shot at the buzzer.  It was a back and forth second half, with the lead changing multiple times, and each side getting big shots, and defensive stops, when they needed it.  With just over 5 seconds left, D.J. Newbill took advantage of a second chance, draining a 15 foot jumper to tie the game at 60.  Just a few moments earlier, a similar shot fell short, before the rebound kicked to Nick Colella, who fed Newbill for the tying bucket.  Colella nearly stole the ensuing inbound play, which instead resulted in a held ball, favoring the Badgers, and Jackson’s heroics.  Jermaine Marshall lead all scorers with 23 points, while Newbill added 22, and 5 assists.  The Lions held on to the ball, turning it over just 6 times, after committing 15 in Madison in the first meeting of the year.

Feb 27, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach John Beilein reacts during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State defeated Michigan 84-78. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

ABOUT THE WOLVERINES

Michigan comes off their own heartbreak, missing a tip in at the horn vs. Big 10 champion Indiana on Sunday afternoon.  A win would have given the Wolverines a share of their 2nd straight conference title, instead, they find themselves playing on Thursday in Chicago.  Newly minted Big 10 Player of the Year [redacted] lead Michigan, again, with 20 points, but could not convert a driving layup at the end, prior to Jordan Morgan’s failed tip in.  After an impressive start to the year, that saw Michigan rise to the top spot in the national rankings, they are just 5-5 in their last 10.  It’s hard to identify one specific area, but they have not been able to make plays down the stretch in close games with much consistency, on either end of the floor.  That will need to change if they want to put together a run in March.

THE MATCH UP

In both games, PSU shot very well from the outside, making up for a defense that gave up 79 and 78 points in those games.  Given Michigan’s multiple offensive weapons, it would seem likely they will continue to find ways to score against an improved, but still vulnerable, Penn State defense.  The Lions must keep Newbill and Marshall on the floor (something that did not happen in the road loss to Michigan), and they both need to provide their usual scoring.  Another player or 2 will need to step up from there for PSU to pull a second upset this season.  In the victory at PSU, it was Ross Travis (15 points, 12 rebounds, and extraordinary defense) and Nick Colella, who had 9 big points.  Look for Travis to be key again if PSU is to move on, as well as Sasa Borovnjak.  Sasa had 17 points in Ann Arbor.  On defense, PSU needs to find a way to slow down Michigan just enough, as they did in the final 10 minutes in the BJC.  On that night, a 1-2-2 press slowed down the Wolverines just enough, and helped to force 15 turnovers, including 6 by….that guy.

I expect another hard fought game, but while PSU has their season to play for, it’s now or never for Michigan.  They’re in the tournament, of course, but they need to get some momentum going if they want to make a run.  I expect Tim Hardaway and Jordan Morgan, Michigan’s two key upperclassmen, to lead the way, in a close Michigan win.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

Head on over to SI.com’s Bracket Challenge

Once you have completed the sign-up process, click on “Groups”

Our group name is Victory Bell Rings and the password is chambers

It’s as easy as that.  Once the tournament field is announced on Sunday evening, you’ll be able to sign back in to make your picks, and then follow along as the games play out.

GOOD LUCK!

The Badgers got off to a fast start, scoring the first 8 points of the game, and taking a 14-5 lead just over 5 minutes into the game.  Penn State would tighten things down on the defensive side, holding the Badgers to just 10 points the rest of the way, while fighting back to take a 25-24 lead into halftime.  Newbill and junior Jermaine Marshall each had 10 points for PSU.  After the hot start, the Lions held Wisconsin to just 37% from the floor in the half.

The second half saw the lead change multiple times, as Newbill and Marshall again keyed the PSU offense.  Marshall would pick up his 4th foul with just under 7 minutes to play, forcing him to the bench, and Newbill to carry the offensive weight.  Two Mike Bruesewitz free throws put the Badgers up 60-56 with 33 seconds remaining, but Newbill would quickly drive the length of the floor for an easy layup to cut it to two.  Following a timeout, PSU set up a full court press, forcing the Wisconsin in bound pass to be thrown away, giving the ball back to PSU.  With Marshall on the bench to avoid picking up his 5th foul on defense, PSU was forced to call their final timeout to get him back into the game, despite replays showing the in bound pass was actually tipped by a Wisconsin player.  That would have run the clock, and allowed Marshall to reenter without using the timeout. On the ensuing possession, Newbill’s initial jumper was short, but the rebound found it’s way to Colella, setting up the would be heroics and frantic final seconds. If PSU had not used that timeout, Colella could have potentially used it prior to the jump ball, giving PSU the final shot

Marshall lead all scorers with 23 points, while Newbill added 22, along with 5 assists.  After turning the ball over 15 times in Madison earlier this year, PSU committed only 6 today.  Wisconsin had 4 players in double figures, lead by Traevon Jackson’s 15.

Penn State will play in the Big 10 Tournament 1st round on Thursday afternoon, facing the 5th seed.

Mar 7, 2013; Evanston, IL, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Patrick Chambers reacts against the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the Northwestern Wildcats 66-59. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

THE LAST TIME OUT

Two very long and dubious streaks came to an end for Penn State Thursday night in Evanston.  The 66-59 win over Northwestern ended a 17 game Big 10 road losing streak, and a 19 game overall losing streak away from Happy Valley.  It was not pretty for much of the night, but the Lions were able to do just enough on both ends of the floor to get out of Welsh-Ryan Arena with a W.  PSU scored the first 12 points of the game, and the first 7 of the second half, but squandered away those leads on both occasions.  D.J. Newbill and Jermaine Marshall were again the headliners on offense, scoring 18 points each, but also combining for 10 of PSU’s 16 turnovers.  Sasa Borovnjak continued to hold down things in the post, posting his first career double-double with 15 points and 10 boards.  A strong shooting night (49% from the field, 7/17 from three) helped PSU overcome those 16 turnovers, as well as a strong defensive effort.  The Wildcats shot just 35%, and turned the ball over 15 times.

ABOUT THE BADGERS

At the time I was posting our recap of the PSU win, the Badgers were facing Michigan State, with the victor staying alive for a share of the Big 10 regular season title. Instead of coming to the Jordan Center with a shot to share the championship with Indiana, Michigan and Indiana, Wisconsin was run out of the Breslin Center in a 58-43 loss, that really was not that close.  That loss sewed up the 5th spot for the Badgers, and the rematch with PSU on Thursday.  It was also the Badgers second straight loss after Purdue went into the Kohl Center and held the Badgers to just 20 second half points in a 69-56 win.  While the offense has sputtered down the stretch for Bo Ryan, he is still getting the aggressive defense his teams rely on.

THE MATCHUP

When these teams met in Madison, PSU was able to play solid defense and shoot the ball in a 60-51 loss that felt much closer than the final score.  What did the Lions in was 15 turnovers, including 5 from Newbill, who was playing the point for the first time in the Big 10, and 4 more by Marshall.  PSU will need to continue their improved play on the offensive end (let’s just say that Minnesota never happened), but hang onto the ball.  The Badgers typically take care of the ball (only 4 turnovers vs. PSU in January), and rebound well, and Penn State cannot count on extra possessions.  If PSU gets the type of performance from Borovnjak and Ross Travis they have had in the last few weeks, and takes care of the ball, I expect this one to stay close to the end, with the Lions making it 3 of 4 to end the season.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

Mar 7, 2013; Evanston, IL, USA; Northwestern Wildcats forward Mike Turner (10), guard Dave Sobolewski (3) and Penn State Nittany Lions forward Sasa Borovnjak (21) go for a loose ball during the first half at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Winning on the road in the Big 10 has long been a challenge.  Penn State has given new meaning to that, however, having gone over 2 years without a win away from the Jordan Center.  That all ended tonight, as PSU snapped a 17 game Big 10 road losing streak (19 overall), with a hard fought, albeit ugly, 66-59 win over Northwestern.

The Lions got off to another hot start, scoring the first 12 points of the game, before the Wildcats finally got on the board with a Kale Abrahamson three more than 5 minutes into the game.  PSU would actually shoot the ball rather well throughout the opening half, and the game for that matter, but turnovers kept them from pulling away.  All told, PSU would turn the ball over 10 times, but that solid shooting (47% from the floor, 5/10 from three) along with 10 Northwestern turnovers had the visitors up 34-30 at halftime.

The second 20 started much like the first, with PSU scoring the first 7 points of the half, opening up an 11 point lead.  That lead would actually grow to 12 shortly after a Bill Carmody timeout, but the Wildcats would take advantage of an inconsistent 2-3 zone from Penn State, eventually taking the lead 54-53 with just over 6 minutes left in the game.  But the Lions would do just enough on both ends, and eventually the free throw line, to pull away for Pat Chambers’ first win away from home.

D.J. Newbill and Jermaine Marshall would finish with 18 points each, and 10 combined turnovers.  Sasa Borovnjak continued his fine form of late, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds for his first career double-double.  For the game, the Lions shot 49%, including 7 of 17 from behind the arc.  Northwestern senior Alex Marotullio lead all scorers with 22 points, going 6 of 9 from three, but his team was not able to overcome 15 turnovers, and 34.7% shooting.

Penn State returns to the Jordan Center Sunday afternoon against Wisconsin in the regular season finale.  The Lions have the 12th seed in the Big 10 Tournament wrapped up, but the Badgers could potentially be playing for a share of the Big 10 title, pending the outcome of their game against Michigan State.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

THE LAST TIME OUT

Can’t I just write about that win against Michigan?  You guys do remember we beat Michigan, right?  That was fun.  Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis was, well, it was the opposite of fun.  It was senior day for the Gophers, and they made it known quickly it would not be 2 straight upsets for PSU.  Minnesota scored the first 16 points of the game, and held PSU without a bucket until there was less than 9 minutes on the clock.  There was a brief moment late in the first half where it felt like the Lions might get themselves back into it, but instead the home team would run of 10 of the final 12 points of the first half, ending all doubt.  Penn State looked like a team exhausted in every sense of the word, shooting just 27% from the floor, and never looking like the team that knocked off the 4th ranked team in the country just 3 days earlier.

ABOUT THE WILDCATS

Nov 27, 2012; Evanston, IL, USA; Northwestern Wildcats head coach Bill Carmody reacts against the Maryland Terrapins during the first half at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but the Wildcats will remain the only “major conference” Division 1 school to never make the NCAA Tournament, and that will remain the case this year.  Northwestern has been decimated by injuries and suspensions this season, as they limp towards the B1G finish line with just 4 wins, and now 6 straight losses, and 8 losses in their last 9 games.  However, one of those conference wins came in the Jordan Center back in January, as the Wildcats dominated PSU in a 70-54 win that really wasn’t that close.  They were already without forwards Drew Crawford (shoulder) and JerShon Cobb (academics) in that meeting, and have since lost starting guard Jared Swopshire to a knee injury.  Swopshire had 17 in that meeting, and Dave Sobolewski had 18, leading 4 Wildcats that scored in double figures.  The story for the Lions that night was a familiar one at that point in the season.  They could not make a shot on the offensive end, and could not stop anyone on the other side of the floor.  Keep an eye on Reggie Hearn, who is the leading scorer among the non-injured Wildcats at 13.5 points per game.

THE MATCHUP

It has been nearly two months since the Wildcats came into Happy Valley and handed PSU one of their worst losses of the season.  Saturday’s disaster against Minnesota aside, Penn State is a much more confident team on both ends of the floor, while the Wildcats are quite literally limping towards the finish line.  PSU still needs to put together a complete game on the road, however, and as we’ve seen all season, getting wins away from home in the Big 10 is a tall task.  With that said, I expect PSU to come out fired up after 4 days between games, and assert themselves, especially on defense.  As long as the hot better shooting continues, I think PSU gets not only their 2nd Big 10 win of the season, but gives Coach Chambers road win #1.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

Penn State would not get on the scoreboard until there was less than 9 minutes left in the first half, when D.J. Newbill and Jermaine Marshall finally converted on back to back possessions, cutting the lead to 16-4.  Sasa Borovnjak and Brandon Taylor would follow with baskets of their own, and it felt like PSU might have a shot to get back into things, trailing 21-8 at the under 4 timeout.  Borovnjak and Marshall would both miss quality looks out of the break, and the Gophers responded with a 10-2 run. opening up a gap the Lion would never threaten.  Rodney Williams would cap the first half with as impressive a dunk as you will see:

The second half would be much of the same, especially after the initial 4 minutes that saw the Lions score 10 quick points.  As the clock wound down, Penn State looked like a team out of gas in every aspect of the word.  Acting point guard D.J. Newbill played 39 of the 40 minutes, and gave everything he had to get to 15 points, despite 2 of 16 shooting.  Marshall was the only other Lions in double figures with 10.  The Gophers depth was on display with 9 players getting at least 13 minutes, and 5 in double figures.  Leading the way was senior Trevor Mbawkwe, who had 13 points and 13 rebounds on senior day.

After 4 impressive performances  in a row on the offensive end, PSU struggled all day, shooting just 27% from the floor.  Conversely, the Gophers shot 50%, while out rebounding the Lions 41-20.

PSU is back in action on on Thursday night in Evanston versus Northwestern.  After a roller coaster week that clearly had drained the squad of energy, 4 days between games will be a welcome respite.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

THE LAST TIME OUT

Feb 27, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions forward Ross Travis (43) looks to pass during the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at the Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State defeated Michigan 84-78. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Everything finally clicked for Penn State against #4 Michigan, including the breaks.  A club that has fought hard all year, despite the 14 game losing streak that is now a distant memory, showed that same resiliency on Wednesday, and was rewarded.  It was a closely contested first half, but the Wolverines lead by 3 at the break, aided in part by a disastrous final 30 seconds.  Coming out of the break, the Wolverines opened it up to an 11 point game with a quick 8-0 run.  PSU would respond, but never seemed to get the stop they needed.  With 10 minutes left, the deficit had grown to 15 points, and loss #15 seemed a given.  Then a funny thing happened, the Lions woke up on both ends.  The long and short of it was a game closing 31-12 run, fueled by great defense, and better shooting.  Jermaine Marshall finished with 25 points, including 6 of 10 from three, while D.J. Newbill had 17.  The unsung hero of the night, however, would be sophomore Ross Travis, who had 15 points, 12 rebounds, and played inspired defense, especially in the 2nd half on Trey Burke.  All told, the Lions defense forced 15 Michigan turnovers (6 by Burke), and held the 40% three point shooting Wolverines to just 5 of 20 from behind the arc.

ABOUT THE GOPHERS

Minnesota entered the season with high expectations, and appeared the be meeting them, rising as high as #8 in the country with a 15-1 record going into a visit to Assembly Hall against the Hoosiers.  The Gophers fell 88-81 that night, in what would be the first of 4 straight losses, and start a run that now stands at just 4 wins in their last 13 games, including Tuesday’s shocker over then #1 Indiana.  They have defended their home court, however, sitting at 6-2 in the league.  This is your typical deep, and athletic, Tubby Smith team.  10 players average 9 minutes or more, and 5 average at least 9 points.  Leading the way is sophomore guard Andre Hollins (13.6 ppg), The Gophers are not a great shooting club, at just 44% from the field, and 32% from three, but they are one of the best clubs in the nation on the boards, grabbing 39 per game.  They are lead by the talented Trevor Mbawke’s 8.6/game.

THE MATCHUP

It’s no secret PSU’s weakness on defense is on the inside, and the Gophers have Mbawke along with Rodney Williams on the inside.  Sasa Borovnjak, Ross Travis, Brandon Taylor and Jon Graham will need to be on their game.  The interesting part will be which team is better ready to handle their recent success.  The Gophers would seem to have the edge being at home, plus having a lot more to play for.  All the momentum (and tournament standing) gained from their win against Indiana would likely go out the window, and some, with a loss on their own court to 1-14 Penn State.  The Lions will play hard, they always do, but as has been the case most of the year, the other side will just have too much talent.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

THE LAST TIME OUT

It was a different story, with the same results for Penn State last Thursday evening in snowy Champaign.  The Lions played aggressive defense, made more shots than they had, but still came up 5 points short in a hard fought game against the Illini, falling 64-59.  This time it was turnovers (15 of them, 7 by acting point guard D.J. Newbill), 56% free throw shooting, and 36 trips to the free throw line for the home team.  All told, Illinois would outscore PSU 23-9 from the charity stripe, in what would be the difference in the game.  The good news for the Lions was a third straight impressive performance by the graduating Borovnjak (17 points, 6 rebounds), coupled with Jermaine Marshall’s 20 and Newbill’s 13.  That marked the third straight game with 3 players in double figures, something not done in the previous 11 contests.

ABOUT THE WOLVERINES

February 17, 2013; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward Glenn Robinson III (1) dunks the ball against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the first half at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Didn’t we just do this like…10 days ago?  When we last saw John Beilein’s crew, they were smarting from a 2 game losing streak, including a waxing at the hands of arch rival Michigan State.  It looked like it would be an easy win going in for Michigan against PSU, but the Lions lead for much of the first half, until [redacted] hit a ridiculous floater to tie it at the break.  All told, that guy had 29 points to lead his team to a hard fought home win against Penn State.  In that game, Glenn Robinson III scored 21 and grabbed 10 rebounds, while fellow freshman Nik Stauskas had 18.  Those 2 performances made up for a 3/11, 8 point performance from second leading scorer Tim Hardaway Jr.  Michigan played on Sunday, pulling away from Illinois in the second half for a 71-58 win.  This is a game Michigan must have, especially after Indiana’s upset loss to Minnesota last night.  They find themselves just 1 game back of the Hoosiers in the loss column, and end the regular season with them at Crisler Center.

THE MATCHUP

Penn State probably caught Michigan a little off guard a week and a half ago.  That’s hardly surprising, given where each team found itself.  Don’t count on that happening again, however.  Penn State will need to continue their improved shooting, while finding a way to hang onto the ball.  On the defensive end, they did a decent job of challenging Michigan’s prolific outside shooters, especially early on, and will need to match that, as Michigan shoots 40% from three.  I expect the Lions to play an inspired game, on both ends, but they just don’t have the talent to match up with a team as talented as Michigan.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State