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Penn State Basketball: Ice cold Lions lose rematch to wisconsin

By Evan Smith

Feb 2, 2021; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Aleem Ford (2) looks to pass as Penn State Nittany Lions forward Seth Lundy (1) follows during the first half at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 2, 2021; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Aleem Ford (2) looks to pass as Penn State Nittany Lions forward Seth Lundy (1) follows during the first half at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports /
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Penn State Nittany Lions forward Seth Lundy ( Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports)
Penn State Nittany Lions forward Seth Lundy ( Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports) /

Next up …

Winning back to back against Wisconsin is virtually impossible.

Officiating inconsistencies frustrate teams and the differences between Saturday and tonight were like night and day.

Plays that were let go were called fouls today, almost always against the Lions.

Sure, there was the awful Brockington charge call here and there but it felt like the refs watched Saturday’s game and said they wanted to call more fouls.

At both under 16:00 minute media timeouts, the home team hadn’t been called for a single foul.  A similar refrain you’ve heard all year (except Indiana), this isn’t the reason Penn State lost, but the officials sure played a factor.

On a cold shooting day (6-24, a paltry 25%) , it was just too much to overcome.  And it sure didn’t hurt that the Baders shot 50% from three highlighted by a Davis’s four three’s (he had four the whole YEAR coming into the night).

There’s no problem losing this game; no one wins in the Kohl Center.

It’s just disappointing getting blown out by a team you just beat (somewhat easily) just days earlier.  This is the first game the Lions didn’t belong on the court since Illinois, a notoriously bad match-up for Penn State and will certainly hurt the “metric darling” status when KenPom and NET Rankings drop tomorrow.

The Nittany Lions also won’t be in the Next Four Out, but that’s ok … if they win Friday.

This loss particularly hurts as Maryland, with their win over Purdue, jumps Penn State in the standings prior to their matchup on Friday.

That will be as close to a “must-win” as we’ll have this season, as jockying with the Terrapins will continue in both conference standings and in the proverbial bubble.   Remember, 1-2 in the at OSU, vs Wisconsin and at Wisconsin was what we’re looking for.

Now, Penn State MUST go at least 2-1 in the next three (vs Maryland, at MSU and vs Nebrasksa) and that will probably only get the Lions back into the First or Next Four Out.

To really have a shot at dancing, Penn State needs to sweep these next three games.

Let’s get them as we #keepclimbing.

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