Penn State–Illinois Live Blog

Whats up folks. Those of you who were around for the days of the old blog 22,000+ you may have seen a few live blogs. These aren’t your usual live blogs though. It’s sarcastic, funny, and a different way to experience the game. We’ll start it at 8:50 so for now just relax. (This reads from top down, newest entry on the bottom)

10 Minutes to tip:

Crowd is filling in, like most BJC crowds do, slowly, and mostly students. It’s THON night tonight so all of the student ticket sales go straight to THON. Students might not give a damn about basketball but they’ll do anything for THON. Not that it’s a bad thing, but it’d be nice to see this sort of turnout because there was a big game.

It looks like this, only a few less people.

Teams have left the court, time for the usual warm-up videos. If I could get hyped up in the press box I would. That’s frowned upon so I usually just get hyped in my head. Good student turnout getting larger. Pretty decent amount of Illinois fans. I can’t see them traveling in this weather so they’re probably State College natives.

Interesting note, if Michigan State loses tonight and Penn State wins they’ll have the same Big Ten record. Big game for Penn State who can stay in the hunt for a top 7 finish if things go their way. It’s a longshot, but it’s not impossible.

4 Minutes to tip.

Teams back out on the court. There’s a stretching band still on the floor so maybe Penn State is hoping somebody will trip over it. Didn’t happen but it was a good attempt.

Time to sing the national anthem. *stands*….Sits down…

Starting lineups:

Illinois: Their players

Penn State: Brooks, DJ, Frazier, Battle, Jones

While we wait for tip I’d just like to say that Mike Tisdale has played for Illinois for 10+ years. He and Chad Henne are the only players who can seemingly never graduate and still only play four years. I can’t explain it, but Tisdale looks 30.

FLYERS SCORE!..oops.

Tip:

Illinois controls the tip, turns it over. Battle makes his first basket to make up for the flaming struggle bus he has been riding for a while now.

Battle with 5 quick points. Looks focused. Jeff Brooks saves a ball out of bounds and then walks back on the court like he’s a boss. Another Illinois turnover. Penn State up 7-2. Timeout Illinois.

Nothing pleases me more than the P-S-U chant without the band. Nothing.

Under 16 Timeout:

Critical junction for Penn State who needs to in the very least match Illinois’ baskets. Frazier is playing maybe his best game of the season only 4 minutes in. Generating offense, getting steals, and playing smart. He’s the sort of player Penn State needs in order to take a run at whatever is in store for the rest of the season.

Back to the action: Penn State ball 9-2

Penn State looks calm. Brooks with a big block. And Jones with the basket. Penn State has a lot of talent. It’s about getting it going. Illinois with their 5th turnover.

A cold spell for Penn State who is finding out what we already know: Tim Frazier isn’t much of a shooter. Billy Oliver with a block, nice way to represent. And by that I mean all the people who think white folk can’t jump.

Illinois goes for the flying squirrl defense and picks up their 3rd team foul. Only to do it again and get away with it. Welcome to the Big Ten.

Under 12 Timeout: Penn State up 13-5. Dance Team’s time to shine which can only mean one thing. KICKLINE!

Some kid in a burger suit just danced at center court. I’m a fan.

Back to the action.

Back to back turnovers for everybody.

Basketball is a game of 4 minute battles. Penn State and Illinois trade 3s. 16-8 Penn State.

Take that for what it is.

Illinois gets away with 16 fouls on one possession. It’s ok, they’re ranked. Penn State gets a makeup call. We hug, timeout. It’s all good. Oh and Billy Oliver blocked Mike Tisdale. Yep..

Under 8 Timeout: Penn State up 18-13.

 MSU beats Wisconsin 64-61. That whole bit of drama is gone for tonight.

Back to the action

Battle hits 2 FTs. 20-13. Some kid yelled a few words I can’t say on here, but they weren’t nice.

Battle with a steal and a dunk. 9 points this half.

Frazier is playing out of his mind right now 6 rebounds and 2 assists. Considering his role and his size those a big numbers for Penn State.. Refs letting them earn the boards. Illinois timeout. 25-13 Penn State. Jeff Brooks with a 3.

Back to the action

Penn State is playing good team defense right now. Oliver picks up his second foul on a ticky-tack call. Jones back in to do his thing. 25-17  Illinois.

Under 4 Timeout.

I don’t like sharing, but this halftime needs to come soon. I drank too much water during pregame.

Kid, and by kid I mean college kid, in a diaper. Real American hero there.

Battle has played 15 minutes and become Penn State’s all-time leader in career minutes played passing Joe Crispin (4,063).

Back to the action:

Frazier turnover on the shot clock violation. Illinois ball with 2:45 left.

Penn State’s lead down to 4. Need to play strong to finish out the half.

And they aren’t, playing soft to end the half. Lead is 2.

Game is tied at 25. Halftime. Bathroom. Be back in 15 minutes.

2nd Half Start–Illinois ball

Back from my trip to the bathroom, no it didn’t take me the whole halftime. Penn State grabs the rebound. Good defensive series. Jackson headed to the line. Hits both. 27-25. Site keeps crashing and not crashing. Just a heads up.

Brandon Paul with a 3. Penn State really can’t let Illinois heat up from 3. Turnover Andrew Jones on what looked like a bowl more than a pass.

Penn State gets it back. Battle blocked, Ed stomps his foot, Jeff gets a block, travels. Struggle.

Jones picks up his 3rd on a Tisdale dunk attempt. Oliver back in, Marshall in for Jones. Oliver rims one in and it’s tied at 30. Battle with a steal, Penn State is playing 3 guards. Up 32-30. Battle with another basket to put him at 14 points. Penn State up 35-30. Brooks picks up his second foul.

Under 16 Timeout: Penn State up 35-30. All things considered a good start to the second half.

Papa John’s Pizza time which means the crowd yells more than it has all game. Basketball at Penn State ought to be played with Beer cans and Wings. So many people would come to our games.

Back to the action: Illinois Ball

A game of runs so far. Lions with 9-0, 9-0, 8-0. Illinois with a 12-0.

Jeff Brooks to the line, makes them both. lead back to 4. Illinois responds, back to 2.

Wild pass by Illinois.

Penn State makes it a 4 point game again. Oliver with a hard foul. Tisdale to the line. Makes both, 39-37 Penn State

Tisdale drains a 3 to give Illinois a 1 point lead. Frazier still running the offense.

Talor Battle with a buzzer beater from 100 feet away. Illinois with an offensive foul. Penn State ball.

Under 12 Timeout: 42-40 Penn State

Penn State playing well enough to stay with an Illinois team that isn’t playing much better. They haven’t lost a 4 minute battle yet so that’s a good sign. Far from over though. Battle with 19 points 3 steals. By far his best game out of the past 3.

Back to the Action:

Battle fouled, headed to the line. Hits both. Illinois gets an And-1. 44-43  Big Ten leading 39th career 20-point+ game, 9th on the year.

Back and forth action. Illinois might win this 4 minute stretch but not easily. Illinois offensive foul. Marshall back in as well as Oliver.

Scramble for the ball. Illinois gets it to go off of Penn State.  Slow period here, 44-43 Penn State.Next team to make a run will help.

Under 8 Timeout:

Jones draws the foul. Bad free throw shooter but Tisdale gets his 3rd. As far as points Penn State wins the 3rd period in a row in this second half.

Just saying.

Back to the Action:

Recap. Penn State has the arrow, 4 timeouts, 5 team fouls. Illinois has 3 timeouts, 6 team fouls.

Jones to the line. Makes them both. Huge for Jones. Penn State up 46-43.

Defensive breakdown. Mike Davis dunk.

Battle to the line, 7th team foul for Illinois. Makes both. Foul on Marshall Illinois to the line for 3. Makes all 3, 50-51 Illinois

Andrew Jones with his 10th point on a jumper. Playing well since he’s great game against MSU. Illinois turnover is their 13th. Battle with a LONG 3 again makes it 55-51.

Illinois Full Timeout. Penn State up 55-51. 4:25 left.

Penn State had their worst 4 minute chunk of the half but got it together, or Talor Battle did. Either way Penn State has the lead and is playing well. Big 4 minutes left. A lot on the line for both teams.

Back to the Action:

Crowd is into it now. Feels good, but a lot to go. 55-53 Penn State. Penn State calls timeout.

Back to the Action:

First “We are” of the night, Penn State ball. 3:30 left. Jones with an airball.

Old guy just raged of a no-call over the back. Can’t say that I don’t agree..if that’s the right order of words.

Illinois Timeout: Penn State up 55-53

A little sloppy play for Penn State but that series didn’t last long. 2:11 back. A few baskets here for either team could decide this game. Sort of obvious but scoring next is huge.

Back to the Action:

The action was a miss by Illinois off of double-high screen #400

Timeout Penn State: 1:35 left. Penn State up 55-53

With 1:35 left it’s pretty clear what needs to happen. Score, play defense, and don’t give up stupid fouls.

Back to the Action: Penn State ball.

Bad pass on the drive by Jeff Brooks but in transition Illinois loses it out of bounds.

Timeout on the floor

Illinois–1 timeout 7 fouls

Penn State– 2 timeouts 6 fouls

Back to the Action: Penn State ball. 1:13 left.

Penn State ball. Under a minute left.

Tie game, playing for the win

Andrew Jones with a put back slam with .7 left. Battle took the same drive he had in THE GAME. Just missed it and Drew put it back.

Timeouts back and forth. Students about to rush.