Instead, the Nittany Lions received their coveted big-game road win with an impressive and eye-opening performance against Tom Izzo's Spartans. Although the Lions will most likely not receive any AP votes in the newest rankings next Monday, they maintained their pace to receive their first tournament berth since 2001.
Although it's cliché and Ed DeChellis even admits he's over saying it, the Lions will most likely benefit from this loss in the long run. Talor Battle and Stanley Pringle went a combined 6-29 from the field, and continued to put up contested shot after contested shot. Hopefully both of them learned that you're not hot 100% of the time and that the team can't rely on 30 foot three's all game as they did against Michigan State. Yes, both guards have the ability to hit those shots...but you can't expect to shoot lights out every night. At some point the offense needs to slow down, re-group and run their sets.
It's clear that although the guards have been the spark to this team most of the season, Jamelle Cornley has been the rock. The senior scored 25 points and shot 10-12 from the field against Michigan (putting him at 18-22 against UM combined). I'm sure the team will look long at hard at game tape as they'll find more ways to get the ball inside to Mel. There were many possessions Thursday night where Cornley never touched the ball and if this season is expected to carry on after the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, this clearly cannot happen.
Although Wisconsin will enter the Bryce Jordan Center on Sunday with a 3-6 conference record, it's obvious that they cannot be taken lightly. Fresh off a home win against #22 Illinois, the Badgers will look to carry their momentum forward as they'll need a strong February showing to make the tournament. Although they lost six in a row prior to their win against Illinois, the Badgers, who won the Big Ten title and tournament last season, held the lead in the final 3 minutes of regulation in five of their last seven losses going into Thursday.
Penn State basketball fans better fasten their seat belts as the Big Ten conference schedule is heating up and there's still a long road to travel before a tournament berth is guaranteed. Looking back at the Big Ten scoreboard, it's obvious any team can be beaten on any night.
Penn State teams of the past may have lost by 20 to Michigan, only to lose four of their next five and deplete themselves of any chance of a post season and/or fan base they have. However, the team and the media has preached all year that this IS NOT the same Penn State team you grew up watching. Hopefully a sold out Bryce Jordan Center will have a chance to witness that first hand on Sunday.
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3 comments:
How old is that photo of a packed BJC? 1996?
I'm not sure. It's taken from the BJC link on GoPsuSports.com, so you know it's hold. Look how lit up it is. I seriously think they've either lowered the wattage in the bulbs in that place or don't turn all the lights on anymore. Even with both curtains taken back, it's not that bright in there anymore. TURN ON THE LIGHTS ON SUNDAY!
They had a sellout for a girls' game in 2004 when Kelly Mezzante was there, maybe that's when this pic is from. I agree with Dan, it's usually museum lighting in there.
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