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

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

From the opening tip, both teams played intense basketball. The Wolverines, B1G conference’s youngest team, rode high flying Glenn Robinson III and big three point shots from Tim Hardaway, Jr and Trey Burke to an early 17-10 lead. Brandon Taylor was huge for the Nittany Lions early, though most of his efforts didn’t show in his final line (7 pts, 1 rebound). Taylor had a put back to close the margin to three, and then hit a three pointer to tie the game with 3:30 left in the first half.

Penn State used a combination of 3/4 and full court pressure to keep the game close until D.J. Newbill (17 points, 5 assists) hit two free throws to give the Lions a 34-32 lead. From that point on, it looked like Penn State was going to waste another good start and end up with a loss on Senior Night. After ending the first half with two turnovers, they allowed Michigan to open the second half on an 8-0 run. With 10:18 left in the game, Penn State trailed by 15.

Jermaine Marshall (25 points, 6-10 3pt FGs) took over from there, scoring 9 of the next 15 points. Marshall and Newbill are 2nd in the Big Ten in scoring backcourts (30.8 PPG), behind only Burke and Hardaway (34 PPG). When it mattered most, Marshall and Newbill put the Lions on their back. Marshall hit a three pointer to get them within seven, and the Newbill’s three got Penn State within five. Marshall capped a 23-8 run to tie the game at 74-74 with less than five minutes left. Trey Burke then had a costly turnover with 4:23 left; the country’s leader in turnover to assist ratio (4:1) ended up with six giveaways.

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

Marshall then benefited from a generous blocking call, hitting two free throws to give Penn State the lead. With the Bryce Jordan Center rocking at its loudest since GoGo Gadget, Penn State relied on free throws and an acrobatic layup by Marshall to close it out. Senior Sasa Borovnjak was responsible for three of the team’s last four made FTs and had nine points and five boards on the night. Penn State, who shot only 242 free throws in B1G play compared to 418 by its opponents, made 20-27 free throws (Michigan was 13-20).

Michigan, who has lost their last four road games in the B1G schedule, will try to rebound against top ten ranked Michigan State. Penn State travels to Minnesota, who just upset #1 Indiana, on March 2nd. They will travel to Minneapolis as underdogs once again but nobody will doubt their ability to pull off the upset after Wednesday night’s game. The Nittany Lions, a team who has been credited all season for playing hard while win after win escaped them, have finally gotten their first W of 2013.

Follow VBR Staff Writer Ryne Crabb on Twitter

While Penn State continues trying to avoid being the 2008 Detroit Lions of the B1G conference, it is important to look for silver linings: The Nittany Lions have played tough since a disappointing effort at Nebraska, losing their last two games but only by a combined ten points. Eight of the past ten meetings between these two teams have been decided by five points or less and Penn State has won at Assembly Hall three times in their last five visits.

THE LAST TIME OUT

The Nittany Lions played perhaps their best 40 minutes of basketball last weekend against one of the best teams in the country but eventually fell to the Michigan Wolverines 79-71. Trey Burke (or former Penn State transfer Trey Burke, as ESPN loves to remind everyone) led his team with 29 points and continues to dominate B1G play. Sasa Borovnjak set a career high with 17 points and is averaging 15.5 points over his last two games and has shot 60 percent from the field over the past ten games.

If nothing else, Penn State showed it is not afraid to play on the road, a positive since four of their last six games are away from the Bryce Jordan Center. The Lions led early and went into halftime tied 32-32 against the #5 ranked Wolverines. The 71 points was Penn State’s highest in a B1G road game since 2010 at Northwestern.

ABOUT THE ILLINI

Illinois is led by a pair of senior guards, Brandon Paul and D.J. Richardson. Richardson, the team’s leading scorer in B1G play at 14.7 per game, has averaged 17.3 over the past eight games. Paul, leading the team with 16.4 PPG for the year, is one point away from 1,500 for his career. Illinois has also played to the level of its competition, defeating top ten teams Indiana, Ohio State, and Gonzaga this season but losing to Purdue and at home against Northwestern.

THE MATCHUP

The Illini come in to their matchup with Penn State on a four game winning streak. As previously mentioned, they have been wildly inconsistent this year. They rely on their guards, which plays into Penn State’s strengths since D.J. Newbill and Jermaine Marshall have carried the team so far this season. Consider me the president of the Borovnjak fan club, but he could be the key to the game. The Serbian will be at a height and consonant disadvantage against Illinois big man Nnannna Egwu but is a much more skilled player overall.

It may seem a copout to say a game between two teams that have occasionally been offensively challenged to say the least this season will come down to defense, such is the case Thursday night. Illinois is 14-2 when it reaches 70 points and PSU is giving up just under 68 for the season. The Illini have tightened up their defense lately, only giving up an average of 56.3 points during their four game winning streak. Illinois is also 14-1 on the season when shooting a better percentage than their opponent. The answer isn’t a quick start either, which has been a staple of Penn State in B1G games lately, as Illinois has four wins on the season overcoming a double digit deficit.

Tyler Griffey may be the wild card in this game; the senior forward is averaging 12.3 points and 5.8 rebounds over the past four games and at 6’9” may cause matchup problems for the Lions inside. Griffey has also made two buzzer-beating, game-winning shots for Illinois at home, so keep an eye on him should this one come down the wire. I predict that it will, but the Lions come away with a victory, 66-65.

Follow VBR Staff Writer Ryne Crabb on Twitter

Jan 16, 2013; Lincoln, NE, USA; Purdue Boilermakers head coach Matt Painter signals his team during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in the first half. Purdue won 65-56. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

If you want to play on Charles Dickens’ novel “A Tale of Two Cities,” this game really was the best the times, and the worst of times. Penn State came out in the first half playing with a sense of urgency and a commitment to finding a third scorer early. Of the first 20 shots by the Lions, only two were by Newbill and Jermaine Marshall. Brandon Taylor was crashing the boards early and often grabbing two early offensive rebounds and totaling five boards by the midway point of the half. Taylor, the 2nd worst shooter in B1G Conference play, even hit a three to give Penn State at 15-10 lead with 8:33 left in the first half.

After two more Penn state buckets, both assisted on by Newbill, D.J. took and made his first shot attempt with 5:46 left in the half. His jumper gave the Nittany Lions a nine point lead (their largest in B1G play this year) at 21-12. Although Purdue would finish the half on a 12-4 run, Penn State still held a one point lead 25-24 fueled by a balanced attack that saw six Lions register at least two points.

Sasa Borovnjak led the team with six points on 3-6 shooting and held A.J. Hammons to just 1-4 shooting. However, he picked up two unfortunate and unnecessary fouls late in the half that would hamper his contributions the rest of the game. With 3:07 left, Hammons was going in for a dunk when Sasa tried to block his shot from behind, and just over a minute later was called for a reach in foul trying to deny an entry pass into the post, his third foul of the game. Without his presence in the post, Purdue started the second half pounding the ball into the paint with dribble drives and post-ups by Hammons and Hale.

Then, it was the worst of times: Purdue started the second half as hot as they finished it, opening with a 7-1 run to take a 31-26 lead with 16:34 left in the game. Penn State would rally and a Newbill layup actually tied the game 33-33, but the Nittany Lions offense sputtered after that, scoring only one field goal the next 5:25 of the game. Penn State would make one more run (eight of the 10 points scored by Newbill), but Nick Colella missed a wide-open three with a chance to cut the lead to three.

The two teams combined to shoot 2-30 from three point range and 18 turnovers. Jermaine Marshall had an uncharacteristically terrible game shooting 2-14, including 0-5 from behind the three point line. The Nittany Lions had three players (Colella, Borovnjak, and Jon Graham) foul out of the game and only shot 30.6% for the game. In what was billed as one of maybe two potential wins on their schedule left, Penn State couldn’t keep up the #attitude they started with in the first half.

Brandon Taylor stopped rebounding (his five rebounds in the first ten of minutes of the game would also reflect his total for the game) and kept shooting (what I hope were) ill-advised three point shots (1-6). There is no reason he should have the green light to keep launching anymore this season. Overall as a team, Penn State is settling for three point shots instead of forcing the ball into the paint. Let’s hope they can bounce back from another disappointing loss before their next game and possible last chance at a win, Saturday night at Nebraska.

THE LAST TIME OUT

Penn State found a new way to lose last Thursday night against Iowa: turnovers. The Nittany Lions had 11 turnovers in the first half and blew an early 10-3 lead against a beatable opponent on the road. They ended up with 17 for the game, after just turning the ball over four times against Ohio State. Coach Chambers ran a zone defense for most of the game, and although it held Iowa to 39% shooting from the field it also allowed a lot of easy baskets inside the paint.
On the other end, Iowa suffocated Penn State with hardnosed man-to-man defense. Iinstead of calling for picks or running screens to get a man open, the Lions settled for contested three point shots time and time again. D.J. Newbill (20 points, 1-4 3 pt FG) and Jermaine Marshall (15, 1-8) led the team in scoring and missed shots. Penn State continues to struggle to find its third scorer that Chambers has been begging for; someone needs to step up for the Lions, Tim Frazier isn’t walking through that door anytime soon.

ABOUT THE BOILERMAKERS

Purdue is led in scoring by junior guard Terone Johnson at 12.7 points per game, but he has struggled in their past two losses scoring only four and five points in losses to Indiana and Northwestern respectively. Freshman center A.J. Hammons is second on the team in scoring at 11 points per game and leads the team with 6.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game as well. He leads all starters with 51.3% field goal percentage and has scored 49 points over the past two games for Purdue. When these two teams met a few weeks ago Hammons led the Boilermakers with 12 points and added 10 rebounds and 5 blocks.

Senior D.J. Byrd and freshman Ronnie Johnson also have major roles with the team, averaging 10.2 and 9.3 points in 30 minutes of playing time per game. Byrd shoots 37% from three point range and Johnson leads the team in assists. Johnson also led Purdue in scoring with 13 points in their last game versus Penn State. Purdue relies heavily on its starting five, only two players coming off the bench average more than 15 minutes per game.

THE MATCHUP

Two of Purdue’s next three games are against ranked opponents, and given that Penn State has played so poorly lately Nick Colella’s PSU-Erie team would give them a run for their money, this could be a trap game for the Boilermakers. That is, sadly, what this season has boiled down to for the Nittany Lions men’s basketball team. 44% of the people who voted on our latest poll feel Coach Chambers can lead the team to two or more victories before the regular season ends, if that is to be, this is a must win.

Penn State does have a legitimate chance to pick up a “W” here, but some disturbing trends need to end immediately. First, Brandon Taylor has clearly developed an overwhelming fear of shooting inside the arc. In the past three games Taylor has attempted exactly four field goal attempts the old fashioned way compared to 17 three point shots, of which only four were successful. Taylor is a 6’7” forward who has the fewest free throw attempts (14) of any player (averaging at least eight minutes per game) on the team. Only a Ross Travis jump shot induces more cringes during a game than watching Taylor launch another unsuccessful 30 footer.

Taylor isn’t the only one who needs to forget that chicks dig the long ball. Penn State has fallen in love with the three point shot despite only hitting 27.7% of their attempts. D.J. Newbill is 1-16 in B1G play from behind the three point line and only Nick Colella is shooting better than 30%. The Lions have had the most success on offense when their two guards are driving into the lane creating their own shot or opening up a wide open look for their teammates. Standing outside the line and launching up a shot whenever you touch the ball isn’t what they had in mind when they set up the peach baskets in Springfield.

Watching Penn State basketball can be frustrating because they don’t possess the talent required to compete with the heavyweights in Division 1 hoops, but it is downright unwatchable when they don’t at least match the other team’s effort. I just haven’t seen much #attitude from the team lately. The Lions have been outrebounded (offensively and total) in four of the last five games.

Picking Penn State to lose isn’t original, and lately even picking Penn State to cover hasn’t been a smart bet. However, I’m going to go out on a limb here and pick a Nittany Lion victory. Their big men are going to need to set up if they hope to contain Hammons, and they need to protect the ball. I’m calling a big game from Sasa Borovnjak (who is shooting better than 50% for the season, by the way) on both ends of the court and a Nittany Lion victory, 65-59.

Follow VBR Staff Writer Ryne Crabb on Twitter

Jan 31, 2013; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes forward Aaron White (30) shoots against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Carver Hawkeye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

Things started out well enough for the Lions, racing out to a 10-3 lead behind three point shots from Brandon Taylor and Jermaine Marshall.  But coming out of the first media timeout of the Hawkeyes found their rhythm, and Penn State’s offense caught up with them.  Iowa would score 14 straight points, aided by missed shots, offensive rebounds, and yes, turnovers.  All told, the Lions committed 11 of them in the first half, as the Hawkeyes would go to the halftime break with a 34-26 lead.  If you were to look across the rest of the stat sheet, the Lions were not awful.  The shooting percentage was where it has been all year (35%), but the defense was strong, holding Iowa to just 39% from the field, and 20% from three.  Those 11 turnovers were the difference in an otherwise even half.

The second half started out about how the bulk of the first half went.  D.J. Newbill turned the ball over, and the Hawkeyes went down the floor and hit a three to open up an 11 point lead.  Then a funny thing happened.  Instead of folding, the Lions rattled off 8 straight to pull within 3 points just 3 minutes into the half.  PSU would hang around for the next few minutes, until a 9-0 run would open up a lead that PSU would never seriously threaten.

Newbill lead PSU with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, but also lead the team with 5 turnovers.  All told, the Lions committed 17 of them on the night.  Jermaine Marshall contributed 15 to the cause.  Pat Chambers continued search for a reliable 3rd scorer goes on, with no other player adding more than 8 (Brandon Taylor).  Ross Travis’ continued descent into jump shooter continues to be worrisome, and makes you wonder just how healthy his knee truly is .  Iowa did not shoot the ball particularly well (40%, 24% from three), but those turnovers, as well as 39 trips to the free throw line made up for their offensive struggles. Aaron White was dominant, however, scoring a career high 27.

Penn State gets a much needed weekend off, before returning home to face Purdue in the Jordan Center on Tuesday at 7:00.  The Boilermakers at home present one of PSU’s better shots to get their first Big 10 wins the remainder of the season.

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

B1G leading scorer DeShaun Thomas came out hot, making the first two field goals for Ohio State on wide open shots coming off screens. When Penn State adjusted with a 2-3 zone defense, Sam Thompson stepped up and hit some big shots for the Buckeyes. Fortunately for the Lions, they also came out shooting well, starting out 4 for 6, and it was 11-9 Ohio State going into the first timeout with 15:01 left in the first half.

After a D.J. Newbill lay-up tied the game, Penn St missed 13 field goals in a row, a 1-16 stretch that should have put the game out of the reach for the Nittany Lions. However, Ohio State went cold at the same time, with the teams exchanging 11 missed shots in a row. With 7:56 left in the first half, Deshaun Thomas fouled Sasa Borovnjak in transition for his 2nd foul and was forced to the bench. Sasa made 1 of 2 free throws to cut the lead to 19-12, but that was the closest they would be the rest of the afternoon.

Ohio State’s man-to-man defense was suffocating the Nittany Lions offense, forcing long and often contested three point shots. Say what you want about Brandon Taylor, but he certainly didn’t shy away from the challenge. The freshman went 0-5 from 3-point range in the first half, including 0-3 within 80 seconds, and 0-2 on shots from his hometown in Tabernacle, NJ. He ended the game 1-8.

As James Naismith was rolling in his grave, Nick Colella amazingly had a chance to get Penn St within 9 points with 1:28, but missed two of three. The score at the half was 29-18 Ohio State, but the Lions poor shooting prevented them from capitalizing on a huge opportunity to get even closer. With Deshaun Thomas on the bench, Penn State was outscored 9-7. It was the 6th time they have failed to score 20 in a half, while OSU showed their depth, as 8 of 9 players scored in the first 20 minutes.

After an emotional halftime feature about Newbill’s mother passing from cancer this past September, the BJC crowd was ready to lead their team to an upset. D.J. came out a different player, forcing his way into the lane and making plays. He scored or assisted on the first 12 Nittany Lion points, keeping Penn St close through the first ten minutes of the half.

Unfortunately, it was too little too late for Penn State. After four straight possessions that Newbill was able to get into the lane and try to make a play, Marshall air-balled a rushed three point field goal. Missed free throws (12-33 for the game) and awful three point shooting (4-17, including many that weren’t even close) kept Penn State from ever really being a threat.

Coach Chambers used various defenses throughout the game to keep Ohio State off balance offensively. Utilizing a 2-3 zone, 1-3-1 trap, and man-to-man, Penn State was still down 17 with 5:58 left in the game. Finally, Chambers called for the full-court press that led to a 7-1 Penn State run, but D.J. Newbill was blocked on a lay-up attempt to get the lead down to single digits.

Penn State did well keeping Deshaun Thomas off his game, but unlike the Nittany Lions, who have nobody other than Marshall and Newbill who can create offense, Ohio State’s other players picked up their game. Sophomore Sam Thompson had 16, two points off his season high, and didn’t miss until there was 2:52 left in the game (and Ohio State got the offensive rebound anyway). Lenzelle Smith, Jr had a great overall game with 11 points (7-8 FT shooting) and 8 rebounds.

With 2:11 left in the game, Marshall blocked a Aaron Craft (sneaky good game with 7 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, but only 1 steal) lay-up and Penn State called a timeout with the ball, down 10. I was shocked to hear the cheers coming from the Bryce Jordan Center crowd. Penn State basketball still gets too excited about just being in a game, instead of excited about winning a game. We have become the Temple football to Ohio State basketball’s team, this was their 18th straight win over Penn State hoops.

Before the game, the blueprint to beat the Buckeyes was simple; the Lions would have to contain Thomas, limit their own mistakes, and be efficient on offense. Thomas was held to 11 points (4-13 shooting), half his season average and his lowest output of the year. Penn State turned the ball over only four times, had almost twice as many blocks, and more assists than OSU. In the end, it was all for naught and as a last second three point shot by Kevin Montminy missed badly, the Nittany Lions even failed to cover the 13.5 point spread.

See you again in Iowa City on Thursday, January 31st as Penn State tries to avoid going 0-for-January.

The first half would best be described as sloppy, as neither team shot particularly well.  Jermaine Marshall was the Lions’ lone bright spot, putting in 9 points on 4 of 8 shooting, including a couple tough, athletic plays to get to the basket and beat IU’s shot blockers.  The rest of the PSU offense was 4 for 19 from the floor in the opening 20 minutes.  The Indiana defense deserves plenty of credit for those numbers, as PSU struggled to get into any sort of rhythm on offense.  The Hoosiers applied plenty of pressure on the ball, and did not allow the Lions to get much going to the basket.  Indiana was better, but not by much, at just 37% from the floor, but they did connect on 5 three pointers, and grabbed 8 offensive rebounds.

The second stanza began exactly how the first did, only with the Hoosiers scoring 8 unanswered this time before Chambers took a timeout just 65 seconds in.  All told, the Hoosiers would hit 6 of 9 threes in the second half, and made their way to the line 23 more times as PSU never came closer than the 14 points they trailed by at the break.  D.J. Newbill did score 14 of his PSU leading 18 in the second half, while grabbing 7 boards.  Indiana’s Victor Oladipo lead all scorers with 19.  Player of the year candidate Cody Zeller was held to 0 field goals, scoring only 2 free throws.  It’s a testament to the depth Tom Crean has assembled that a potential lottery pick was held without a field goal, and the game was never in doubt.

As for PSU, this looks like a tired team, both physically and mentally.  Newbill’s nearly 36 minutes per game, all while running the point, seem to be taking a toll on his burst, and leading scorer Jermaine Marshall does not have the consistent burst we saw earlier this year.  It is tough to imagine the now 0-7 Big 10 start not weighing on players and coaches alike mentally too.

Things do not get easier as Penn State plays host to #14 Ohio State on Saturday at noon in the Jordan Center.  The game will air on BTN, and is PSU’s annual Coaches vs. Cancer showcase.

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

THE LAST TIME OUT

Penn State visited Purdue’s Mackey Arena on Sunday afternoon, falling 60-42.  The Lions intensity was better than their 70-54 home loss against Northwestern, although that would not have been a huge accomplishment.  The Lions offensive struggles continued, as they continued to find open looks, including several within 5 feet, that simply would not find the basket.  Head Coach Patrick Chambers indicated he was pleased with the quality of the looks his offense was creating, but they need to find a way to finish those chances.  Purdue was hardly impressive, but was able to do enough on the offensive end, and dodge enough bullets on the other side of the floor to win comfortably

ABOUT THE SPARTANS

Jan. 13, 2013; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Keith Appling (11) drives to basket against Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Benny Parker (3) during 2nd half at Jack Breslin Students Events Center. MSU won 66-56. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

You could take the green and white jerseys off of this squad, and still be able to tell it’s a Tom Izzo team.  Tough on defense, lethal attacking the glass, and a physical, methodical, efficient offense.  Izzo runs everything through his junior point guard Keith Appling.  Appling averages over 13 points 4.6 assists, and just 2 turnovers per game.  Freshman shooting guard Gary Harris is right behind Appling with 12.9 per game.  Sparty has their typical high rebounding bigs in Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne, who both average over 7 boards per game.  All told, MSU ranks 31st nationally with over 39 rebounds per game.

THE MATCHUP

Not that PSU’s earlier games have prevented less of a challenge, but MSU is exactly the type of team that has me cringing when Tim Frazier went down.  They will pressure the ball as well as anyone PSU faces this season, and that is going to mean D.J. Newbill has to be at his best.  Quality shots are going to be tough to come by, and Penn State will need to start hitting the bunnies they have not the last 2 games.  Michigan State has played down to their opponents much of the season, but they still are the best coached team in the Big 10. Oh, and they have some talent too.  PSU will hang around, but in the end, it won’t be that close.  Sparty by 14.

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

Mar 8, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard Tim Frazier (23) takes a shot in the lane against the Indiana Hoosiers during the second half of the first round of 2012 Big Ten Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeated Penn State 75-58. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The first and most obvious effect of the loss of Frazier is D.J. Newbill’s role.  Newbill was primed to take some of the scoring burden off of Frazier, and form one of the more potent backcourt tandems in the Big 10.  When Frazier went down, Newbill was forced into taking on the bulk of the point guard duties, a spot he had never played, and certainly not against the level of competition PSU was to face in the conference.  While Newbill’s transition to the point has been admirable, it is clear it’s very much the proverbial round peg/square hole problem.  Not only is he not the type of ball handler you need, especially against the aggressive Big 10 defenses on the schedule, it has taken it’s toll on the sophomore transfer.  The strong, aggressive shooting guard looks worn down and has struggled to get to the basket consistently.

With Newbill moving to the point, junior Jermaine Marshall has transitioned to the 2, and PSU’s 2nd scoring option.  Going into the season, Marshall was penciled in as the 3rd guard, and 3rd option on offense.  As Marshall moved up in the lineup, freshman Brandon Taylor was pressed into heavier minutes that the staff would have liked, and is being relied on to provide much more than you would typically want a true freshman to do.  Taylor has shown flashes of offensive talent, but the adjustment to playing defense against Big 10 opponents has been a slow one. Taylor has struggled to stay out of foul trouble with any consistency, taking one of PSU’s precious few offensive threats off the floor.

Entering the Big 10, the Lions had well documented struggles down the stretch of games they appeared to have well in hand, only to be forced to hang on at the end.  Any coach will tell you the key to closing out a game is putting the ball in the hands of your point guard.  Penn State has not had that luxury since the 3rd game of the season.  Newbill is simply not the ball handler, especially against the pressure defenses you see in late minutes of a close ballgame, you would want, but he is the best Chambers has at this point.  As the season goes on, and Newbill’s heavy minutes continue to add up, it would stand to reason this can and will be a bigger issue should PSU find themselves in the position of needing to close out a close win.

Perhaps most importantly is the leadership aspect.  Frazier and Newbill entered the season as captains, with Nick Colella and Jermaine Marshall being named captains in December.  There is no question this is Frazier’s team though.  He is the most talented, and hardest working guy on this team.  I don’t care what any coach says, it is damn near impossible to lead a team when you are at the end of the bench, in a suit, with a walking boot.  Frazier’s efforts are admirable, but there is just no substitute for a guy going out on the floor and working with you.  Do you think that Tim Frazier lets that Northwestern game go down the way it did if he’s running the point?  I didn’t think so.

I had the pleasure of briefly meeting Michigan’s head coach John Beilein Monday evening during his coaches show in Ann Arbor.  I was introduced to him as a PSU fan and alumnus.  His first words were “it’s really too bad what happened with Tim Frazier.  They just aren’t the team they would have been with him.  He’s a huge loss.”  Is some of that coach speak? Of course.  But he could have just as easily said “they’re playing hard” or “Pat’s doing what he can.”  No, he focused on Frazier.  Beilein, and I’d wager all 10 other coaches in the Big 10, know just how much Frazier means to PSU basketball.  It’s too bad more than a few Nittany Lion fans don’t realize the same.

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THE LAST TIME OUT

Penn State got out to a big lead against Duquense and held on to knock off the Dukes for their 4th straight win.  PSU lead by as many as 22 in the second half, but saw that margin dwindle to as few as 5 in the closing minutes as fouls mounted up, and the shots stopped falling.  D. J. Newbill posted his first double-double as a Nittany Lion with 23 points and 12 boards as he continues to settle into his point guard role.  Sasa Borovnjak continued to emerge as an inside threat with 14 points and senior Nick Colella set career highs with 15 points on 5 three-pointers.

ABOUT THE BADGERS

Dec 22, 2012; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Sam Dekker looks to pass as Wisconsin Milwaukee Panthers guard Mitch Roelke (20) defends during the first half at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

Wisconsin enters their Big 10 schedule on a 3 game winning streak and a 9-4 overall record.  Two of those four losses came to consensus top 15 teams (at Florida, Creighton) with the other two coming at home to Virginia in the Big 10/ACC Challenge and on the road against in-state rival Marquette.  The Badgers best wins came against Cal and Oklahoma.  Bo Ryan has his team playing their typical dominant defense, and expect more of the same tonight, especially with the typical Kohl Center home cooking.  As they usually do, Wisconsin has spread out the scoring, with 5 players averaging at least 7 points per game, but none more than 13. 4 (Jared Berggren).

THE MATCHUP

Penn State’s backcourt of Newbill and Jermaine Marshall will be tested like they have never been this season with the aggressive Badgers defense.  Expect Wisconsin to force the Lions to prove their “stand in” point guards can handle the pressure.  The last time PSU faced a defense like this in LaSalle, things fell apart quickly in the second half.  On the defensive end, Penn State needs to find a way to defend the 3-point arc better than they have this year, with 4 Badgers shooting over 40% from three, lead by Sam Dekker at 44%.  The Lions offense has been better of late, but they have not been challenged like they will in Madison.  This one looks like another tough night for PSU hoops in the Kohl Center.

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The Lions got off to a fast start in the first half, and always felt in control, even when falling behind 15-14.  PSU responded with an 11-0 run, keyed by three consecutive 3-pointers (1 for D.J. Newbill, 2 for Nick Colella) to open up a 25-15 lead.  Those three pointers were part of a run where 5 straight Penn State field goals came from beyond the arc.  Brandon Taylor had the other 2 for the Lions.  PSU would lead 39-28 at the break, with Newbill leading Penn State with 11 points.  Colella had 9, all on three pointers, of course, and Sasa Borovnjak continued his strong play with 8.  PSU dominated the glass with 20 rebounds to just 10 for the Dukes.

PSU were flying out of the half, pulling away to lead by as many as 22, at 66-44 with 10 minutes to play, but trouble soon found the Lions.  Much like they did with Delaware State a couple weeks ago, the Lions were unable to hold the big lead, and allowed the Dukes to slowly chip away, aided in part by officiating that let very little go down the stretch, and ultimately cost the Lions Colella and Jermaine Marshall to foul outs.  Duqane Duquense pulled to within 5 on a Quevyn Winters 3-pointer with just under a minute left, but would get no closer.

Newbill would lead Penn State with 23 points, and also grabbed 12 of the Lions 46 rebounds for his first double-double at Penn State.  He had 6 as a freshman at Southern Miss before transferring.  Borovnjak continued his strong play since entering the starting lineup with 14 points, but did not score in the final 15 minutes of the game.  Senior Nick Colella had 15 points on 5 three-pointers, both of which are career high for the former walk-on.  Senior guard Sean Johnson lead the Dukes with 19 points before fouling out.  The teams combined for 65 free throws, many of which came in the 2nd half.

Penn State heads off to Madison and the Kohl Center for a date with the Badgers on Thursday night at 8:30 on BTN.

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The 11:00 AM tip might have effected things as both squads got off to a slow start shooting.  The Lions, however, would quickly heat up with two first half runs of 10-0 and another at 12-0.  The late half relapse that plagued PSU in their previous two games against Army and Delaware State, allowing both teams to come back never happened.  By the time it was all said and done, the Lions lead 39-14 at the break, shooting over 55% from the field.  Freshman Brandon Taylor lead the way with 10 points on 4/7 shooting.  Junior forward Sasa Borovnjak was again strong in the starting role with 6 points on 3/3 shooting.  All told, PSU had 7 players score in the first half, with 10 assists on 16 field goals, with only 4 turnovers. Jermaine Marshall asserted himself on the defensive end, collecting 4 steals, while the PSU held the Wildcats to 18% shooting from the field.

The game slowed down in the 2nd half, as the officials made themselves known, pushing both teams into the bonus before the clock showed 11 minutes remaining.  The slower pace did nothing to change the outcome of the game, however, as PSU continued to apply pressure on both ends of the floor.  Pat Chambers rotated his lineup freely, giving his starters a well earned break.  Only D.J. Newbill played more than 30 minutes on the day.

Marshall ended the day as PSU’s leading scorer, with 15 points, to go along with 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 total steals.  Borovnjak contributed 11, with Newbill and Taylor adding 10.  Freshman forward Donovon Jack was again effective off the bench with 6 points, with Jon Graham pitching in with 7, including 3/4 from the foul line.  The Nittany Lions defense held UNH to just 22.6% shooting, and forced 15 turnovers.

The Lions will be off for the Christmas holiday until next Saturday, when they wrap up the non-conference schedule with a home date against Duquense.

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THE LAST TIME OUT

Things were going so well for Penn State last Saturday against Delaware State.  The Lions raced out to a 21-3 lead, and appeared to have things in hand late in the second half, until a late DSU run forced overtime.  PSU would trail by 3 in the extra session, before scoring the final 4 points to escape.  Sophomore D.J. Newbill lead the way with 22 points, while Sasa Borovjnak started his second game of the year and added 14 points and 8 boards.  Freshman forward Donovan Jack was strong off the bench with 8 second half points.

ABOUT THE WILDCATS

UNH went overtime their last time out, falling 61-59 to Boston College last Sunday.  The Eagles of course came into the BJC and knocked off PSU 73-61 last month.  The Wildcats are lead by senior forward, and all-name team member Ferg Myrick, who averages nearly 16 points, and over 7 rebounds per game.  The Philly native missed time last year with a knee injury. The Wildcats are very much a team dominated by their front court, as the 2nd and 3rd leading scorers are 6’10″ center Chris Pelcher (12.4 ppg) and 6’6″ forward Patrick Konan (12.2 pgg).  Myrick stretches the floor, shooting nearly 38% from three. As a team, the Wildcats are just 31.3% from beyond the arc.

THE MATCHUP

Penn State’s front court will be tested on the defensive end, as New Hampshire will feed the post heavily with Myrick, Pelcher, and Konan.  On the other end, PSU will rely heavily on their backcourt, as they have all season, to score.  However, sophomore forward Ross Travis has shown a willingness to attack the basket and find his own shot.  Brandon Taylor, when he stays out of foul trouble, has been an offensive threat as well.  That needs to continue, and PSU’s forwards must stay out of foul trouble.  If they do that, expect PSU to be in a position to win down the stretch.

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As was the case with Army last weekend, Penn State was flying out of the gate, taking a 21-3 lead just 8 minutes in.  The Hornets would fight back to draw within six points at two different points of the half, and would trail by only 8 at the break, 37-29.  The Lions were lead by 12 D.J. Newbill points in the first half.

December 10, 2011; Pittsburgh,PA, USA: Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Patrick Chambers reacts on the sidelines against the Duquesne Dukes during the first half at the CONSOL Energy Center. Duquesne won 66-59. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE

Things appeared to be well in hand for PSU in the second half, leading by as many as 16 with 12 minutes left, and never by fewer than 10, until less than 3 minutes remained in the game.  A combination of poor shots, poor rebounding, and poor free throw shooting allowed Delaware State to pull back to 67-64 with 36 seconds left.  A back court turnover by D.J. Newbill lead to a quick dunk for the Hornets to pull within 1.  Two Newbill free throws put the Lions up 69-66 with 20 seconds to play, but a Tyshawn Bell three with 12 seconds remaining tied things up.  Nick Colella was unable to convert a driving layup as time expired, sending the game to overtime.

Neither team found a rhythm in the extra session, but an Albert Thomas layup at the 3 minute mark put the Hornets up 71-70 for their first lead of the game.  Tahj Tate would add two more to push the lead to 3 with 2:30 to play, before Penn State finally found their offense.  A Newbill layup and Borovnjak free throw pulled the Lions even, before another Tyshawn Bell three put the Hornets back up.  Jermaine Marshall quickly countered with a 3 of his own, and a Newbill layup gave Penn State the lead. Two Brandon Taylor free throws iced it with 14 seconds left.

On the day, Newbill lead the way for Penn State with 22 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds. Sasa Borovjnak drew his 2nd start of the season, adding 14 point, 8 rebounds, including 8 of 10 from the charity stripe.  Freshman Donovan Jack added 8 off the bench in his 12 minutes of action.  Junior guard Casey walker lead Delaware State with 24 points, shooting 5 of 13 from the 3-point line, and keying the Hornets 1st half comeback to keep them in the game early.

Penn State will be off all week for finals, before returning to the Jordan Center next Sunday versus New Hampshire.

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Feb. 19, 2012; Madison, WI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard Nick Colella and forward Travis Ross (43) fight for the rebound as their team plays the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center. Wisconsin defeated Penn State 65-55. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

It’s not much of a stretch to say Penn State played their best half of the season in the opening 20 minutes.  The Lions scored the first 7 points of the game and shot over 56% from the field in the first half.  The strong shooting wasn’t the only story, as an aggressive defense forcing turnovers and holding the Black Knights to just 37.5% from the field, en route to a 40-28 halftime lead.

But since this is Penn State basketball, of course nothing came easy.  Suddenly the shots weren’t falling, the turnovers returned, and the Army shots started falling.  By the time Patrick Chambers used his third timeout of the half, the lead was down to 2.  Army would hang around, but would never get that close before the final horn sounded.

Sophomore guard D.J. Newbill lead the Lions with 19 points, but 3 other PSU starters scored in double figures.  Sophomore forward Ross Travis added 14 points and 10 boards for his second career double double.  Jermaine Marshall had 16, 11 of which came in the first half.  Freshman Brandon Taylor put in 14 as well.

Penn State is off until next Saturday, when they face Delaware State.

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Feb. 19, 2012; Madison, WI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Patrick Chambers encourages his team as they play the Wisconsin Badgers during the first half at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

Since Pat Chambers arrived on campus at Penn State in May of 2011, he has made no secret what the lifeblood of his Nittany Lions hoops program will be: Philadelphia.  That isn’t just finding the best players in the high school basketball hotbed, but adopting the attitude of the city, tough and hardworking.  A certain “Philly Swagger” (that’s to Chad and BSD). Penn State takes their Philly swagger to the home of college hoops in the city tonight, taking on one of the “Big 5″, LaSalle, in The Palestra.

The game will be PSU’s first true road trip of the season, after playing their first seven games in either the Jordan Center or in Puerto Rico.  The Lions enter the game 4-3, having yet to win back-to-back regular season games, and trying to find their offense.  The early season has been defined by an inability to put together a consistent performance on the offensive end.  Penn State averages just 59.1 points and 7.6 assists per game, while shooting just .365 from the field.  13 turnovers per game and .250 from 3-point range do not help either.

Tim Frazier’s absence surely will play a role throughout the season, but perhaps no more than right now is it noticeable.  D.J. Newbill is still adjusting to the point guard position, while Jermaine Marshall works his way into a go to scorer.  Freshman Brandon Taylor has shown flashes of being that third scorer, but has struggled on the defensive end to stay out of foul trouble.  In last weekend’s win over Ross Travis showed flashes scoring 7 points, but more importantly, playing much more aggressively on the offensive end.  All told, State got to the line 23 times vs. the Quakers.

LaSalle enters the game 4-1, including an impressive overtime win vs. Villanova.  The Explorers are lead in scoring by junior guard Tyreek Duren and senior guard Ramon Galloway, averaging 16 and 15 points respectively.

The key to the game, as it will be all season for the Lions, will be offensive efficiency.  PSU cannot afford to waste offensive possessions with turnovers, and take advantage of opportunities from the foul line and off of offensive rebounds.  The hallmark of Chambers’ first season was the energy of every player, which quite honestly, has been missing at times this season.  Moreso now with Frazier’s injury, PSU needs all five guys on the floor scrapping and clawing for everything, and playing with that Philly swagger.

The game airs at 9:00 on the NBC Sports Network.

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Then junior point guard Tim Frazier emerged as one of the top point guards in not only the Big 10, but in the country, leading PSU in points, assists and rebounds per game.  Now a senior and the unquestioned leader of the team, Frazier will be joined in the backcourt by sophomore transfer D.J. Newbill.  The Philadelphia product transferred to Penn State from Southern Miss, where he earned Conference USA All-Freshman Team honors, with 9.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.  Athletic junior guard Jermaine Marshall also returns, coming off an up and down season where he averaged over 10 points per game, but struggled to put it all together on a nightly basis.

The front court will be lead by sophomores Ross Travis and Jon Graham.  Travis plays bigger than his 6’6″ frame and is tough on defense and the boards.  Down the stretch last year, he also began to emerge on the offensive end.  Graham showed flashes on the offensive end as well, but must become more consistent with his post moves, as well as at the free throw line.  Expect freshman Brandon Taylor to make an impact too.

Penn State opens the season on November 9th against St. Francis in the Jordan Center.  Leading up to the opener, we will take a closer look at the key players, the schedule, and the rest of the Big 10.

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Last week the roster of the Penn State men’s basketball team was shook up a bit as the university announced that guards Matt Glover and Trey Lewis would be released from their scholarships and seeking to continue their educations elsewhere. In the case of Lewis, the decision to transfer comes as a surprise because he’s got a lot of potential and was such a highly touted recruit for Penn State coming out of high school.

Lewis’ freshman season was hampered by inconsistent playing time early on and then a stress fracture in his back that sidelined Lewis for most of the Big Ten schedule. However, during the last three games of the season, Lewis appeared healthy and played significant minutes. The athletic scorer appeared ready to take on a larger role next season. Lewis may still take on that role, but it will have to be at another school.

“I would like to thank my teammates and coaches for the past season at Penn State,” Lewis said. “I had a great experience at Penn State and learned a lot with the opportunity to play in the Big Ten as freshman.  After thinking about my future, I think it is best for me to move on and continue my career at a program that may be a better fit for me.”

Glover’s situation is a little bit different. He was brought in this season as a junior college transfer from Sheridan Community College in Wyoming. Although Glover turned out to be dreadfully unproductive as an offensive player, his hustle, defense and rebounding skills led to Chambers giving him significant playing time throughout the season. Now Glover leaving Penn State to be closer to his home in Orange, California.

It is tough to see a guy with such high upside like Lewis leave the program without getting the chance to fulfill his potential, but Chambers has his roster ready with possible replacements. Southern Miss transfer D.J. Newbill decided to transfer to Penn State soon after Chambers took over last August. Transfer rules forced Newbill to sit out the 2011-12 season, but the sophomore guard should be set to receive major playing time next season.

Chambers also has some talented backcourt recruits coming in out of high school. Akosa Maduegbunam from Charlestown, Massachusetts is set to enroll this fall, and Geno Thorpe of Pittsburgh will be a freshman in the fall of 2013. Even with Maduegbunam and fellow classmate Brandon Taylor joining the team for next season, Chambers still has four scholarships open thanks to the transfers, so there could be more help on the way.

Based on recent history, it’s not very unusual to see players leave the program like this under a first-year head coach. Eric Gibson of Black Shoe Diaries reminds us that roster turnover is very common when a school changes basketball coaches.

The reality is these situations are very common, especially under a new head coach. Ed DeChellis saw the early departure of six players he inherited from Jerry Dunn in his first year along. A more fair and recent comparison can be made with Iowa under Fran McCaffery. He was hired in April 2010 and saw four contributing players leave Iowa City for various reasons in his first year, including two returning starters in Aaron Fuller and Cully Payne. There are hundreds of other examples because this much roster turnover is very common under a new head coach.

We’ll make sure to keep you posted on how Chambers plans on filling those open roster spots.