Back in Happy Valley

NIT on the line

It's tough to beat a team three times in a season, we know, but Penn State can do it Thursday against Illinois in round one of the Big Ten tourney.

And if they do it, they're likely to be NIT bound and probably host a game at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Why not? This team has momentum and is a feel-good story, achieving without its two best players and showing heart on the court.

Led by Talor Battle, you have to think this team's best days are ahead. You also have to think it can win in Indy, at least once.

And that's what will be needed for an NIT bid.

The Penn State nation should be watching Thursday at 2:30. And until then, don't miss Jeff Rice's outstanding story today on Geary Claxton.

There's a class act, and we wish him the best.

Beating Indiana

It was like an old-time game against Indiana at University Park -- hard fought, overtime, tough.

But there was no Bobby Knight, obviously, and Penn State won this one with an impressive performance that rocked the Bryce Jordan Center.

No bad calls this time. The Nittany Lions don't beat Indiana often, and this one is special.

The first win over Indiana was in 1996, remember? It made up for those OT struggles in Rec Hall, a little bit. It was great to beat Knight then, you know.

There haven't been many Indiana wins since, any PSU hoops fan knows, but we'll count 2008 in a big way.

This is five straight home wins and while the team is 15-15, the Nittany Lions should have great momentum going into the Big Ten tourney in Indy.

We'll be watching.

Too bad that not too many fans were watching at halftime today, however, because after the kids shot free throws the Nittany Lion made a half court shot.

Hardly anyone noticed, it seemed, but it was one to remember on a hoops day to remember.

Sharing hoops memories

Larry Rotz and Mickey Bergstein ended our new Penn State hoops memories series in grand style with great columns.

Make sure you read them, and let me know if you'd like to write one next year.

The column series was a slam dunk, I think, and can grow from here. As with the football columns, writers share very different memories and they all add up to great reading by fans.

Thanks to Elena Pyle and the men's and women's basketball offices for helping coordinate these.

A hoops fan

For some reason, I'm showing up in the reader comments about Penn State basketball like I'm part of the problem.

Let's confront the matter. I love basketball and have a men's hoops season ticket. Been attending Penn State games since my college years -- a long, long time ago.

Love seeing the Big Ten teams in the Bryce Jordan Center, no matter the year.

I like to see good basketball, and there's where Jamelle Cornley fits. He is an "Ultimate Warrior," like Jeff Rice wrote Saturday, and you only had to watch Sunday's game in Minnesota to see why.

Rice writes some great stories on the players, who stay out of trouble and do what they can. He has access to the coach, a situation that's much different than football. Overall his coverage is very good.

Yes, the team is struggling but we've seen that in Big Ten play before. Penn State did beat Michigan State -- remember -- and perhaps something can happen down the stretch.

We get blamed, always, for being too easy on the team or for being too tough. Often the same day, concerning the same story. 

I'm looking forward to March Madness like always, even getting to some of the action on a western trip.  Shows you, in case you're wondering, that I do like hoops.

Covering a late game

I always think one reader represents a group thinking similarly, so let me perhaps shed light on what it's like to cover a game late in the night, for the next day's newspaper.

Case in point was Saturday night's Penn State-Michigan State basketball game, which ended around 10:30.

Our copy deadline for the Sunday paper is around that time, and everything has to be finished in the next hour. So there wasn't much time for basketball writer Jeff Rice to turn around a story and for sports desk to put it on the page, with photos.

They did a remarkable job, as the story ran at the top of the sports page with a celebration photo, and we had a basketball tout at the top of the front page. Yet, that wasn't enough for one reader, and I'm sure others, who perhaps expected much more for an upset of this magnitude.

Timing is everything in print, and you do what you can. In this case it was a fast turnaround that worked.

The story gained great readership online, with photos, and that's something I talk about a lot when it comes to late events. We do what we can in print, and perhaps have more online.

Giant hoops win

The basketball crowd was treated to a gem last night in the Bryce Jordan Center, as the young Nittany Lions came together and turned away Michigan State in grand style.

A student-led celebration broke out on the court afterward, fitting for Penn State fans celebrating the first home win over a top 10 team since 2001 against Illinois.

And Michigan State was top 10, led by Drew Neitzel. Who didn't expect him to take over the game like last year? But no, Talor Battle and Stanley Pringle played outstanding games, and the Nittany Lions broke away late to win.

The crowd helped, no doubt, and it was nice to see the big place rocking. You even saw a few fans sitting under the big blue curtains covering the two end zones. Can't say I've seen that before.

Today's headline calls it "A Giant Leap," and let's hope the Nittany Lions make it a springboard for a great second half of the Big Ten season.

Enjoy our coverage today, and don't miss our hoops memories column this weekend. Brian Allen shared his Rec Hall memories, and I know fans appreciated it based on what I heard last night.

Look for these columns every Saturday in the Centre Daily Times.

Intensity would help

It must be a downer for Penn State to come home to crowds like Wednesday night's, after playing to full houses on the road.

Human nature says so, so we'll give the team a break on that one.

But the Nittany Lions have to show some intensity to compete in the Big Ten, and it wasn't evident Wednesday night against Purdue.

The high level of play, the enthusiasm shown at Indiana was absent, and so were the points. It's no wonder the Bryce Jordan Center crowd stayed away.

We're into the ugly stretch of the Big Ten season, and Penn State without Geary Claxton is looking at tough road, home or away.

They better get the intensity back in Iowa and keep it. They'll need it to draw any fans but the die-hards, not to mention to win a game or two.

Cable Car Classic '95

OK, Penn State basketball fans, how many of you were like me, glued to the radio in late December 1995 for the games in the Cable Car Classic in San Francisco?

Yeah, you know, the time Danny Earl faced off against Steve Nash and cleaned his clock. Who remembers listening to every play of that sweet win over Santa Clara?

And who remembers the unlikely championship game against Bradley? Penn State won and came home the champs, leading to a great basketball season.

I remember this like it was yesterday, and whatever I didn't remember I came back quickly when I read our Penn State hoops memories column for Saturday.

Wow, Lea Asbell-Swanger and Terry Swanger, of Boalsburg, were there for that Cable Car Classic and shared their memories in this wonderful column in our Centre Living section.

What an experience that was. And what fans they are.

Thanks for the memories, from one fan to another. And as I wrote in my printed column last Sunday, I hope you like these hoops memories columns as much as I do. Look for them every week, and don't miss next Saturday's by a former Lady Lion from the early days.

Biggest win on Big Ten Network

Penn State's big win today at Illinois -- entirely satisfying to a hoops fan -- was the biggest win yet for the Nittany Lions on the Big Ten Network.

That means only the lucky fans got to see it, and it was a good one featuring the Nittany Lions at their rebounding best.

Take a look, this young team is 2-0 in the Big Ten and making some noise early in the season.

It was a good move, apparently, to keep the team in Illinois after the Northwestern game. They spent some time together, practiced, and were ready for today's clash.

They play well at Illinois, we know, but a win today was nice and it certainly is encouraging as the Nittany Lions come home for a game Saturday against Minnesota. Hey, fans, how about it, come out to the Bryce Jordan Center. Game time is 2 p.m.

Getting back to our point here, however, is that the Big Ten Network will feature quite a few of this team's games. More wins are ahead, most likely. Hope you get to see them.

Fully prepared for Wildcats

Say what you will about Penn State's non-conference basketball scheduling, but you have to conclude that the games got the Nittany Lions ready for the Big Ten opener.

Yep, playing Princeton and Denver in the preseason certainly would prepare a team for Northwestern, and the Nittany Lions beat the Wildcats on the road last night.

It's a satisfying 1-0 conference start for Penn State, and we'll see how the Lions do this weekend at Illinois.

Hoops fans had a treat last night, watching the Lady Lions' big win and then the men's victory. Can't say that's happened too often recently around here. Starting a new trend?

A win and a tribute

Spiderman and Ketchup and Mustard were part of a strong student turnout last night at the Bryce Jordan Canter, as Penn State beat Virginia Tech in the ACC-Big Ten challenge.

It was a good win for the Nittany Lions, coming off the downer of the Old Spice Classic, and you have to think Mike Walker is now in the right spot coming off the bench and adding a spark.

Last night his shooting was the difference as Penn State, as Jeff Rice reports today.

Freshman Talor Battle's impressive driving layup in the last minute was a great sign for this team, which is improving and has a lot of potential.

Spiderman and Ketchup and Mustard seemed to enjoy themselves, and one of the best moments was when the students sitting near Spider stole the Papa John's pizza that was being delivered to him in the timeout feature.

Pretty cool stuff.

The tribute to Jeremy Herbstritt and victims of the shootings occurred just before the game and a remarkable $110,000 was presented from sale of the Virginia Tech memorial shirts downtown.

All in all it was a good win for the Nittany Lions and a good night for Happy Valley hoops fans.

We are all Hokies

With Virginia Tech coming to town tonight, I'm reminded of a special poster hanging in my house, purchased at the APME silent auction this year.

"We are all Hokies" is the theme, and it's fitting.

Tonight the family of Penn State graduate and Bellefonte native Jeremy Herbstritt, killed in the shootings, will receive a special presentation, and the Bryce Jordan Center basketball crowd will honor victims.

It should be a great night and hope many fans can attend the 9:30 p.m. game, which will be televised on ESPN2.

I must admit, though, I'm jarred at the marketing approach coming out of Penn State and seen in an ad today promoting the game. "Light up the Hokies," is the theme, with fire around Hokies.

C'mon, that approach is not needed and is insensitive, and I'm not one who gets worked up easily.

Jeff Rice previews the game in his story today.

Among friends

There weren't many people at the Nittany Lions' home opener last night, and the Web reader who posted the crowd at 2,200 or 2,300 is probably right.

We were truly among friends, joined by a hearty group from St. Francis who took up two sections of the Bryce Jordan Center.

Penn State's attendance figure counts tickets sold, and clearly some ticket holders stayed home rather than venture out on a mild Monday night in Happy Valley.

Too bad for them. The Nittany Lions have depth and energy and should be fun to watch this year. It's nice to see Coach Ed DeChellis have several guys on the bench who can contribute.

I'm a hoops fan from way back so you'll read about basketball in this blog. Let's hope the fans -- students and the public -- turn out. There's plenty more room in the Jordan Center.

Great for hoops fans

You have to applaud the additional Big Ten basketball games on the schedule this year, for Penn State or any of the conference teams.

Good teams, good games, right here in the Bryce Jordan Center and of course on the new Big Ten Network.

The first impression you'll get when you look at the schedule is it's bad for Penn State since Northwestern is only scheduled once, and it's on the road. And there are 18 Big Ten hurdles, rather than 16.

But optimism reigns, or it should reign, with new players coming in and improvements expected.

It's all great for the fans, as we think basketball for a few minutes on another hot summer day.

A basketball school

I have to weigh in on the Final Four, so here's a link to my picks in Friday's midday report. We'll see.

I also have to weigh in regarding whether a university is a basketball school. I often hear that Penn State is not and never will be. Well it appears Texas A&M was just like Penn State until its coach, Billy Gillespie, arrived with high energy and Texas roots.

In a short time it appears he's made A&M  into a hoops school, as evidenced by the sea of Aggies in the Alamodome last Thursday. There were 26,000 fans and many -- many -- were hollering for A&M. The atmosphere was incredible to us sitting in the lower level.

I read all last weekend about how amazing it was that A&M can be considered a basketball school, and how important it is for the Aggies to keep Gillespie, who may have his sights set on Arkansas or Kentucky.

That brings us to here, and we have to believe that Penn State -- yes, Penn State -- can become a basketball school too.

Jeff Rice writes about a two-year plan for Coach Ed DeChellis today, so here's his column.

I have to think it has to start in Pennsylvania -- meaning it's time to attract interest from all over Pennsylvania, with recruits and with activities. Some of that has been done in the past. More of it, much more, is highly possible. 

Texas A&M. Penn State. They have more in common that you may realize.

How about a hoops atmosphere?

Elana Pyle's column shouldn't be missed by men's basketball fans.

Elana contacted me last week and offered this column, which ran in Saturday's CDT and deals with a topic that is discussed time and again, why the Bryce Jordan Center doesn't have big-time basketball atmosphere.

It may start with winning, as we all know, but there are other factors and Pyle explores several of them. There should not be empty seats constantly in the lower bowl -- seats that are paid for by season ticket holders. That's one of the points Pyle raises.

Take a read through her column and you'll likely discuss it at work or at home. Thanks, Elana, for writing it.

11th in the Big Ten

It's over.

One and done in the Big Ten tournament, despite a nice effort, leaves the Nittany Lions as the undisputed 11th team out of this conference.

There will be much debate over this season, and I've offered my share of chatter in this blog. As a Penn State hoops fan from way back, I find it frustrating and amazing, really, that two players were so highly rated in Big Ten stats yet the team struggled.

And I must remind everyone what Jeff Rice pointed out in his column today, that not many of the games were really close. I won't subscribe to the recent Joe Paterno analysis about football in the down years, that Penn State was just a play or two away. Paterno may have been right, but we can't say this basketball team was a play or two away from anything.

It'll be a long off season and I hope, I just hope, that Penn State and Coach Ed DeChellis don't settle for a non-conference schedule of also-rans like last year. Maine anyone? How about Stony Brook (oh, that was a loss)? I'm still convinced the early season schedule did nothing to get this team ready for Big Ten play, and another year like that won't help the team -- and won't draw fans other than a couple of thousand true-blues. Thank goodness for them.

That's just the view from here.

Season of whining ends

Eight games, and a win at the beginning and the end.

The summarizes the Nittany Lions' Big Ten home campaign in the Bryce Jordan Center. It was a season of whining from start to finish, from where I sit.

The BJC might as well be called the whining capital, because Penn State fans -- this year more than any -- seamed to whine about the officials to no end.

Even last night, I heard the refs called "horrible" and "awful" at least two dozen times, along with other things. I heard people yelling for three seconds' calls when no player was near the paint. And it's been like this all season, even worse.

Maybe it's where I sit, and I went to all but one of the eight Big Ten games, as well as most of the non-conference games. Been attending games here regularly for nearly three decades.

Honestly, as I've blogged before and as I conclude the season. It's fine complaining about calls, supporting your team and yelling at the other team, but this whining about every call in every game is ridiculous.

That's what I'll remember about this season, along with the disappointing outcomes.

The projected #46

March Madness is around the corner: Are you ready?

Well, maybe not if you're a Penn State basketball fan. This long losing streak may be one for the record books, if it doesn't turn around soon. And tonight presents another opportunity, with Steve Alford and Iowa coming to town.

It wasn't supposed to be this way. No, this team was supposed to contend for the tournament.

It said so in Sports Illustrated, among other places. How do I know? Well it just so happened that the college hoops preview edition was in my suitcase for air travel reading, and I pulled it out on Sunday. Why I never got to it on a previous trip, I don't know, but here it was and it was interesting.

There as the projected #1 was Kansas, followed by Florida. LSU made the top 5. Other than the recent win over the Gators, what has happened to Big Baby and crew?

I went through the top teams and turned the page to the others in the projected top 100. There resting at #46 -- clearly in tournament contention -- was Penn State.

Yes, there was optimism before the season, but maybe we should have learned more from the preseason loss to Shippensburg and the early season disaster to Stony Brook.

We didn't, or at least some of us didn't.

The Nittany Lions are a long way from #46 and a long way from the top of the Big Ten. Right now they'd settle for a win. Will the fans?

Hey, it should be a great season of March Madness with a wide-open tournament. Think positive.

PSU's poll impact

You wouldn't think a team on a long losing streak would have much of an impact on the national polls, but you have to think Penn State had a bit of an impact this week.

Say what?

Well how else can you explain Wisconsin being ranked ahead of Ohio State, except for the Buckeyes' escape last week in Happy Valley. Penn State has played both of these Big Ten teams and Wisconsin handled the Lions easily Saturday, after a tough win here in Happy Valley.

What do voters see? They see final scores and they remember scares, and they remember Ohio State's escape last week.

Is that the reason for Wisconsin getting the top spot over the Buckeyes? Who knows, but it makes sense, doesn't it hoops' fans.

A furious comeback

It was the comeback seen from coast to coast, and it almost was a stunning comeback win.

We're talking about the Nittany Lions' comeback against No. 2 Ohio State, which fell just short at 64-62 in a loud student-driven Bryce Jordan Center.

Mike Walker had the shot but it wouldn't go, letting Ohio State's fabulous freshmen escape after playing, well, like freshmen in the second half.

The Buckeyes went ice cold while the Nittany Lions stormed back, and this was a furious comeback (blog readers will know that I challenged that designation after Northwestern).

It was looking like one for the ages, as they took a big lead down to two where it stopped. And they did it against the likely top draft choice in the NBA, big Greg Oden.

The nation watched on ESPN and probably couldn't believe this Penn State team had lost nine straight in the Big Ten. Make it 10, but this one seems a bit different.

Memo to Penn State: Let the students in free in every game. The atmosphere was great, and the students to their credit turned out in the bitter cold, after a snow day on campus. Do it every game, it'll lift Penn State basketball. It's certainly better to see students in the Jordan Center than empty blue seats all over the place.

And an observation on Valentines Day: Did someone fall asleep in the Jordan Center? How could they miss the kissing feature, a staple of every game? Of all games to keep the camera away from couples in the crowd. ...

Rally falls short

I think I head an announcer describe Penn State's rally as "furious" on Saturday.

Furious?

It wasn't quite like that in the 53-51 slow-motion contest from north of Chicago. Sure, the Nittany Lions came back and Northwestern faded, but it ended like all of the others.

The Nittany Lions have now dropped nine straight Big Ten games, with Ohio State coming to town and a tough road ahead overall. They're looking up from the basement, and it's amazing because two of their players -- Geary Claxton and Jamelle Cornley -- are among leaders in Big Ten stats categories.

Remember Maine? Oh, that was awhile ago, wasn't it. Have to think that early season scheduling didn't help this team one bit.

Anything can happen in basketball, and that's the best thing going for the Nittany Lions this February.

Fighting cancer

Wisconsin comes to town Wednesday night, and it'll be great to see the Badgers.

Perhaps the Nittany Lions can rebound and play well, but we'll see.

No matter, we urge you to attend, not only to support the home team but to contribute to the Coaches vs. Cancer silent auction, which wraps up during the game.

It's mentioned in our Think Pink editorial today, lauding the Lady Lions and their fans for Sunday's impressive showing. There should be another impressive showing Wednesday night, to help the Coaches vs. Cancer.

Penn State Coach Ed DeChellis has been a leader in the fight, and I hope fans turn out in big numbers.

Here's one fan who'll be there, both for the game and the auction.

Winter of our discontent

It's fast becoming a winter of our discontent for Penn State men's basketball fans, watching a team with high preseason hopes just lose and lose.

It got so bad Saturday that fans saw some history in the Bryce Jordan Center, as Purdue won its first Big Ten road game since 2004, a string of 21 straight losses.

Purdue won with rebounding and shooting and most of all with the play of Carl Landry, who owned the inside and hit for 26 points in the 69-59 win.

The Nittany Lions, on the other hand, lost because of rebounding, shooting and defense and now have lost seven straight with a real problem ahead. Don't look now, but February's hurdles are high, with four games against Ohio State and Wisconsin and a very real possibility that this team -- in Coach Ed DeChellis' fourth year -- may lose out.

Next up, the Badgers come to the Jordan Center, and if you watch as much hoops as I do you know they're an impressive bunch, no doubt smarting from their recent loss to Indiana.

In this winter of discontent the fans are upset, and to their credit they're turning out in decent numbers to support their team in these Big Ten games. But there's little energy in the Jordan Center and there's a lot of angst over the officiating, as you'd expect.

However, the officials didn't lose this or any of the other games for Penn State, and it's quite ridiculous to hear some people who should know better yell "Three Blind Mice" and talk about officials taking payoffs and more. Yeah, these people should know better and they should yell instead about rebounding, shooting and defense, or the lack of those three aspects of basketball.

Perhaps the outlook will brighten in the second half of the Big Ten campaign. But from here it looks like this Nittany Lions' slide will continue through a February we may remember.

Congratulations to Landry and Purdue for breaking their skid.

A hoops disaster

The biggest basketball crowd of the year at the Bryce Jordan Center went home after having little to cheer about.

Tamba Hali and Larry Johnson were introduced to a great ovation, as were three military men and their children, honored for their service. See the photos in our Penn State blog.

But getting to hoops, the air left the Jordan Center early in the Michigan State destruction of the Lions 91-64.

Cheers from Michigan State students went like this: "Lazy NittWits" and "Why so quiet?"

It was over quickly, as Drew Neitzel commanded the court and Jamelle Cornley was a one-man army for Penn State.

The Lions appear to be regressing at the very worst time, the heart of the Big Ten schedule.

Tom Izzo and the Spartans were impressive, sure. But the Lions were not impressive.

I'll let Jeff Rice report on this one and you can read it tomorrow. But this was not a good day for Penn State basketball at a Jordan Center that had one curtain removed from the upper deck end zone, signaling at least that there was a decent crowd, finally.

Kelvin in charge

Have to follow up my Bobby Knight-era post with an observation from Saturday's Penn State-Indiana game.

While Penn State fans debate what didn't happen in the second half, leading to a loss at the Bryce Jordan Center, Indiana fans should feel good about their team's comeback and their coach's first visit to Happy Valley.

Kelvin Sampson had quite a career at Oklahoma but he looks comfortable with Indiana, and his moves worked Saturday.

It was fun watching Sampson, and I'll note in particular that he jumped about three feet in anger over something his team did -- or didn't do -- with about 5 minutes to go.

It's clear Kelvin is in charge, and he looks like a good fit for the Hoosiers.

Recalling the Knight era

Blog readers know I'm a Penn State basketball fan from way back and truth be told, I'm a Bobby Knight fan.

So you know I've watched with interest as Knight set the wins mark with Texas Tech's win over New Mexico. And I seem to tune in to Texas Tech pretty often on TV, considering they're from Lubbock, a town I've never visited.

Indiana comes to town this weekend -- always one of the great games in the Bryce Jordan Center. This year should be no different, with Indiana coming off a big win over Purdue the other night.

Looking back, however, how can you ever forget those Penn State-Indiana masterpieces of the Knight era? The overtimes, the controversial calls, the packed arena, the excitement.

How can you forget Penn State's first-ever win over Indiana during the magical 1996 campaign, the inaugural Jordan Center season. It was a snowy week in January, the way it used to be, and the top-10 Lions completed a sweep of Purdue and Indiana at home. We kid you not.

Fans out that night were greeted with wind-swept snow, but the they were happy with an actual Penn State win -- finally -- over Bobby Knight.

It was great, too, to see Knight, and as the crowd watched for his annual arrival on the court you first saw red -- his red sweater -- as he made the entrance.

Knight is now at Texas Tech and Indiana has largely forgotten about him. Yep, a few years back I attended my first game at Assembly Hall, an exhibition after the Penn State-Indiana football game when Larry Johnson ran wild.

I was fascinated by the photos of Indiana greats all around the grand building, so I walked around looking for Knight. Around and around, I walked, and I saw him only in the team photos of his championship teams.

Only the team photos. They had obviously taken down his profile shot, and it was quite apparent since dozens and dozens of portraits of Indiana greats were still hanging. He was no longer an Indiana great.

Just a blast from the past, as we gear up for Saturday's Indiana game. Perhaps you share some of these memories.

Morrissey and the refs

A couple thousand people left the Bryce Jordan Center encouraged, to say the least, on Wednesday night.

Encouraged at how the Nittany Lions, led by Danny Morrissey, shot out the lights and played strong fundamental basketball to dispatch Northwestern with ease.

And encouraged because the Big Ten referees let them play and let the 83-57 game sail by in near record time.

Yes, you can see a game at the Jordan Center without countless fouls and without Penn State fans complaining about the officials throughout.

No, these guys let them play and the Nittany Lions played well, starting the Big Ten campaign in fine fashion. They shot 69 percent before the subs came in and the score tightened.

The Lions next play at home on Saturday, Jan. 13 against Indiana, and let's hope the students show up in force and the public shows up at all. A couple thousand fans, we'll estimate, saw a good show Wednesday night. It's time for more to turn out at the BJC.

The comeback

Geary Claxton is already making a difference for the Nittany Lions, as Jeff Rice reports today, and Penn State stunned St. Joe's with a classic comeback for the 65-61 win yesterday.

St. Joe's unraveled before Coach Phil Martelli's eyes, while the Nittany Lions made the plays and Danny Morrissey made the shots -- two threes -- to lead the Lions.

Penn State overcame poor foul shooting but had the energy to pull the comeback, leaving the Bryce Jordan Center crowd smiling and bringing a "Bounce" to wild ending.

It's too bad the students weren't there to see this great win, and it's too bad that there were empty seats for this Pennsylvania match up.

The Lions leave the friendly confines of the Jordan Center for a meeting with Georgia Tech, a good test early  in this season. But they should feel good leaving town with two big wins this week and their best player back in the lineup.

Beating Bucknell

Safe to say, they'll be talking about the Bucknell-Penn State game for quite some time.

My favorite comment from a fan to the officials: "Put your whistle away for 5 seconds."

Kind of summed it up, until Mike Walker hit a three at the end of overtime to send the Nittany Lions to a needed win, 63-60, and a wild celebration at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Walker, in fact, ended up on a table, and for good reason. He concluded what was a marathon of a game, filled with fouls and timeouts, before an enthusiastic crowd of orange-clad Bison fans mixed into the Penn State loyalists.

They traveled well from Lewisburg and it was really great to see these two teams play again, for the first time since 2004. Used to be that Bucknell was the game before the holiday for the Lions, and they're back, we hope.

Bucknell is a strange 0-4 after this one, and the Lions rebounded from Friday's dismal showing to go to 3-1 before a big St. Joe's game Saturday.

All in all you could say it was ugly, foul-laden and choppy. But it has to feel like a big win for a team with high hopes once its best player, Geary Claxton, returns.

Perhaps you should conclude that the Nittany Lions are thankful for the win. And what better description as we head into Thanksgiving.

Notre Dame coming to town

We're not talking about next September here.

No, we're talking about Thursday night at the Bryce Jordan Center, where the high-flying Lady Lions take on Notre Dame.

Yes, it'll be a battle of unbeatens and a great basketball night in November, no doubt. There's nothing quite like a Penn State-Notre Dame match up.

And about next September ... oh, we'll wait until after bowl season.

Look up, it's a basketball blimp

A few-fan friendly features made their Penn State hoops debut last night, including my favorite, the basketball blimp.

Yes, when you attend games you'll see a blimp in the Bryce Jordan Center, making its way around at some point and dropping coupons and tickets.

At least that's what happened last night during the Penn State-Morehead State game.

It promises to become an anticipated feature at the games, I predict.

We also saw singing and pizza delivery features that were popular with the State College Spikes. A student aced "Build me up Buttercup" and you know pizzas are popular, especially when they go to entire rows.

All in all these and other fan-friendly additions made for some fun.

The game itself was a start, let's say. We look forward to Monday's match up with UNC-Greensboro.

Jeff Rice reports on the game and Brian Chapman, our newest blogger, offers his basketball thoughts in PSU Pick 'N Roll. Brian is a Penn State senior who loves basketball. I think Web readers will enjoy his blog, supplementing our hoops' coverage.

DeChellis leads this battle

Ed DeChellis is taking a lead role in the battle against cancer, and the Penn State basketball coach deserves applause for his effort.

Don't miss Jeff Rice's column about DeChellis' work and what it means.

Today's Coaches vs. Cancer golf tournament and banquet will help the local chapter raise more than $150,000 to fight cancer, which has presented a constant challenge for DeChellis' family and so many others.

DeChellis is the organization's national man of the year, and when you read Rice's column you'll understand why.

This is fantastic work. DeChellis deserves credit for not staying on the sidelines in this battle.

My pick: Kansas

OK, I didn't get this posted until the NCAA men's tournament started. Boston College is in overtime and the first games are over.

But I've been solid with this for days and I have to put it out there for blog readers.

My pick: Kansas.

Sorry, Jayhawks' fans, but I like your team and I like the way they've improved. And Bill Self can take them there.

A lot of people think Pittsburgh will take Kansas out before they get to Indianapolis. I don't.

I also like Duke, UConn and Ohio State for the Final Four. Yes, I don't know how I can pick the Buckeyes, but there goes.

But it's Kansas in my mind. We'll see.

I'm following it during the day, when I can, on our great March Mania page. Take a look and I bet you go back time and again.

There's truly nothing like March Madness (or Mania).

Energy in the Jordan Center

In the end it was a downer, losing to Rutgers after a strong comeback and ending NIT play after one game.

But it was an atmosphere for Penn State men's basketball not seen in a couple years.

The Bryce Jordan Center's lower level rocked, even as Penn State fell behind. This crowd was into it, the towels were flying, and it was fun.

Now, let's try to understand why. 

We heard it said that the real basketball fans came out last night. Sorry, but I beg to disagree. Real basketball fans show up for pre-conference season games and for Big Ten match ups with Iowa, Purdue and Michigan, to name a few.

No, what made it special last night is the lower level was full, not sprinkled with empty seats of people who get season tickets and don't show up. It was full. You didn't notice the curtains covering the second deck, because the energy level below reached Rec Hall standards.

Just wondering: While Penn State keeps trying to fill the Jordan Center for men's basketball, how about filling the lower level first, with fans rather than empty seats. It would require changes, but you can't argue with the crowd last night.

A suggestion on a snowy morning in Happy Valley.

A deserving NIT bid

The Nittany Lions play Rutgers Tuesday to start NIT play, and it's a deserving bid for a deserving team.

We always watch Penn State basketball closely and the Lions improved as the year went on and played well in the Big Ten tournament. Getting a chance to continue is a good reward for a young team.

The game is Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the Bryce Jordan Center. See you there.

And here's a reminder of our great March Mania Web package, every day. Make it part of your Web reading and use it to make your bracket picks and follow your teams.

And while we're on basketball on this Happy Valley Monday, check out our new online-only Final Four contest. We're waiting for an entry from you.

Will hoops history repeat?

Jeff Rice's report today on 10 things to watch for in the Big Ten tournament reminded me of history, and that's always a teacher.

Will the Nittany Lions, who looked so good in game one of the tournament, follow it with an upset of Ohio State?

As Rice's story showed, the two times Penn State won the first tournament game they pulled off a big win in game two. Nothing like a reminder of history.

I'll make my pick in tomorrow's midday report and will link it here for all of you. As one newsroom observer noticed Thursday, I'm often more optimistic about basketball than football.

Interesting observation. Possibly right. Basketball, especially in March, offers so many possibilities.

Let's see, Syracuse knocked out Big East top-seeded UConn today, and Temple got rid of Atlantic Ten top-seeded George Washington.

Could we see the Big Ten top seed exit tomorrow?

We'll see. Stay tuned. The game starts at noon. Let's put it this way, I'll make the pick in the morning and then go to a place with TVs for lunch.

Will you?

Off to a great start

Those "road warriors," the Nittany Lions, got a running start and kept going in the Big Ten Conference tournament, easily beating Northwestern 60-42 to get another shot at Ohio State.

That's top-seeded Ohio State, the team that beat the Nittany Lions twice.

Penn State looked sharp in winning its first Big Ten tournament game since 2001. You could say that's the best they've ever looked in a Big Ten tourney opener.

What does it mean? Well, from here I think they have a real shot against the Buckeyes, with confidence and nothing to lose against team with high expectations and pressure.

And if they win, well it would be an interesting weekend in Indianapolis.

Look for Jeff Rice's coverage in the Centre Daily Times and here on CentreDaily.com.

Try this Web-only hoops contest

From your participation, we can only conclude that many of you like our contests.

Some appear both in print and online. Others, like this new one, are Web only.

That means only you blog readers and CentreDaily.com visitors get a chance to show your stuff, and in this case the topic is Big Ten basketball.

To get you ready for March Madness, we're hosting a contest asking you to pick the winner of the Big Ten men's tournament that begins Thursday at noon when Penn State faces Northwestern.

Here are the contest details. Good luck.

Northwestern, again

Penn State opens Big Ten tournament play Thursday against Northwestern, a team they've beaten twice already.

Can they go 3-0?

If they do, they'll follow the same route as the Lady Lions, getting top-seeded Ohio State in Indianapolis. The Buckeyes won the conference title outright Sunday.

Ohio State, of course, shot out the lights in that win over the Nittany Lions at the start of Big Ten play in Columbus. And the Buckeyes won again in a much closer game at the Bryce Jordan Center.

First things first, Northwestern. Follow Jeff Rice's previews this week and his coverage from Indy.

And remember to get all your basketball news, as it happens, from our March Mania page.

Missing a good thing

There have been some lean years for Penn State men's basketball, but this isn't one. This team has improved and won some Big Ten games, including that upset at Illinois. They deserve attention.

Yet, as Jeff Rice reports today, unless a big crowd shows up at the Bryce Jordan Center today this will rank as the lowest men's attendance since the facility opened 10 years ago.

The lowest....lower than some of those lean years.

Fans have been missing out on what could be a turnaround year in Penn State basketball.

Why is this happening? It takes awhile to regain the attention of fans, sure, and everyone loves a winner. The early season schedule was not inviting, to say the least (remember that New Hampshire battle?). But winter weather wasn't much of a problem and the schedule presented some good Big Ten weekend home games for fans who have to travel.

Whatever, it's a challenge Penn State faces after today's home finale with Northwestern. I'll just say some fans missed out on a good thing.

Indiana comes to town

It takes some getting used to, Indiana coming to the Bryce Jordan Center without Bobby Knight.

Yes, it always was a big game in these parts, Knight leading the way in his red sweater and the Penn State fans feeling like everyone, including the refs, were against them. There were some classics, we all remember.

Things have changed and Indiana comes to town Wednesday with Mike Davis maybe on his way out and Penn State trying to win one of these three home games.

It's a big game for both teams, to say the least.

It's not the same without Knight, now about to star in an ESPN reality series but taking his lumps this year at Texas Tech.

Davis deserves better at Indiana, it says here. He's done a nice job from afar.

That's our comment about basketball a day before the Indiana game. See you there.

Wins to remember

It's Super Bowl Sunday and you're gearing up for that Steelers' party, towels and food and good times.

Here's to the Steelers, from a Philly fan at heart.

And here's to the Steelers from a Penn State basketball fan at heart, who has been there for awhile now, like (don't tell anyone) nearly three decades.

Wins like Saturday night's make you think about great wins in the past, where you were and how you felt.

I immediately thought back to 2001, the upset of Michigan State in the Big Ten tourney on a Friday night and the run in New Orleans to reach the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.

We decided to go. It was St. Patrick's weekend and the start of March Madness, and it was in New Orleans, where we had memories of Sugar Bowls past.

We got there Friday morning, in plenty of time for that day's Providence game in the Superdome. The Lions won, setting up a Sunday afternoon game with North Carolina. We spent Saturday around New Orleans, stopped in the team hotel to pick up tickets for Sunday and talked a bit to Jerry Dunn, who was always pleasant.

The North Carolina game was magic, an incredible win and something we didn't see coming. All of a sudden it was the Sweet Sixteen for the Lions and basketball was back big time. (The run ended in Atlanta, where the Lions played Temple the following weekend, and yes we went to that too.)

It's funny I immediately thought of New Orleans after Saturday's game, the city that took the worst in 2005 and will come back.

Perhaps the Lions have taken the worst and are coming back. Anyone who stuck with the game after the Illini took a 13-0 lead and saw the upset, the overturned call and the players' celebration will remember it for a long time.

Enjoy the Super Bowl today, even as you talk Penn State basketball.

Young Lions grow up

Of all places, Illinois.

Of all places to grab a signature road win, a basketball victory that will raise eyebrows across the country and raise spirits of every fan of Nittany Lions hoops.

Many people will see the score flash across the TV screen tonight and Sunday and do a double take. Does it really say Penn State 66, Illinois 65? Believe it.

It would be easy to say you saw it coming, because the Nittany Lions have been so competitive this year and almost won last Saturday at Michigan State.

But that would be too easy. You didn't expect a win at No. 6 Illinois, a team with 33 straight home wins.

The Nittany Lions won in dramatic fashion, coming back in the second half and taking the lead at the end, then watching Illinois hit the final shot at the buzzer to win. The Illini students rushed the court but the officials stopped to take another look. TV viewers saw it over and over and it was close, whether the game clock had expired when the shot went up.

They wouldn't overturn a call in Illinois, would they?

But they did, making the right call, and the Nittany Lions pulled out one of their biggest upsets. The young Lions grew up and become road warriors at one of the toughest haunts in the country.

We'll see what happens from here on out, whether Penn State can win enough for post-season play. That's for another day. For tonight, hoops magic is in the air.

Stop crying about the officials

As a regular Penn State basketball fan, I get tired of the constant official bashing heard around the Bryce Jordan Center.

Sure there are bad calls and you know Big Ten officials have their problems.

But really, do we have to hear from certain "fans" virtually every minute about one bad call or another? That was the case last night in Penn State's loss to Michigan? How about holding your screams for the really bad calls, which happen here and there?

Let's be honest, what you hope for in a game is for the officials not to win it or lose it for a team. And last night's officials did not do anything to change the outcome. In fact, their calls were consistent in most cases.

The Front Row blogger is encouraged about Penn State's performance this year, and I see good signs. There's no reason for the constant griping by some "fans" about the officials.

Spanier joins the cleaning crew

You just never know what you'll see at a Penn State basketball game.

Fans who stayed away missed a good one last night, and it wasn't the game or the halftime entertainment.

Early in the second half the Nittany Lion and his cleaning crew came out, pushing mops, to the "YMCA" song. No surprise there, really, but fans who looked closely immediately spotted a distinguished member of that cleaning crew.

Penn State President Graham Spanier did his part to keep the Bryce Jordan Center floor clean and entertain along with the Lion and other crew members. It was a pretty nifty skit, if we must say.

The game was good too, a win by Michigan before another half-empty Jordan Center house. But those in attendance saw the mop brigade get the job done.

A real hoops atmosphere

It's only right to follow up our last post with a report from the Bryce Jordan Centre Saturday, when an announced 9.400 people watched the Nittany Lions fall to Ohio State for the second time this year.

It was a lively atmosphere and the crowd, led by the students, brought a hoops atmosphere to the Jordan Center that was nice to see.

The Lions lost but clearly have improved since their first Big Ten game, that disaster in Columbus. The crowd is likely to return, which is the right thing. Maybe later this year the curtains covering much of the upper deck can come down?

That may be getting ahead of ourselves, but let's say there was a real hoops atmosphere today in Happy Valley.

The real hoops crowd

The young Nittany Lions deserve a decent crowd Saturday when they face Ohio State in what should be a good basketball game.

We have a close one in store. Fans should come out and see for themselves.

How many turned out Wednesday night for the Purdue game?

A few intrepid sports reporters counted the crowd and came up with about 2,500 people. Not quite the 5,951 as announced.

We know the announced number always exceeds the actual, but by that much?

Let's hope last Saturday's crowd for the Iowa game returns and a few thousand are added for what should be a Big Ten battle, as the Nittany Lions get another chance at the Buckeyes.

Throwing oranges

When you win an Orange Bowl thriller and end up No. 3 in the country, you deserve to throw oranges to appreciative fans.

And that's what five Penn State football players did at halftime of an entertaining men's basketball game won down the stretch by Iowa. Read Jeff Rice's story.

Derrick Williams, Justin King, Deon Butler, Tim Shaw and Jay Alford took the oranges from the bowl trophy and threw them into the crowd, with Williams hoisting one that hit a blue curtain in the second deck of the Bryce Jordan Center. Yes, the curtains were in place, covering sections of empty seats.

Ten years ago those seats were packed for basketball. Now, the curtains seem secure.

Fans bounced their way through a good game, saluted the football players and enjoyed a cool rendition of the Lion's "Thriller" dance.

And fans no doubt heard one fan's constant yells of "You're horrible" toward the Big Ten officials. How many times? We'll just say she screamed it a few times, and since the Jordan Center sometimes is like a library the sound carries.

The young Nittany Lions are improving, clearly. Purdue comes to town Wednesday.  If you're not crazy about baskeball you might come to hear the "Horrible" screams.

Time to start filling the seats

This basketball fan hasn't been blogging long enough to reflect on the ups and down of hoops games and seasons.

Particularly Penn State men's seasons. Hate too say how long I've been going to the games.

And the key word here is "going." I'm one of those regular fans who do enter the Bryce Jordan Center and watch the games.

It's sometimes lonely. But it's time now to start filling the seats.

Penn State's 33-game Big Ten road losing streak is over, history, and that alone should be reason for optimism. (Thirty-three games. Shudder to think how many blog items they would have generated).

That, and the start of a good Big Ten home season should be enough to encourage people to come watch this team.

Who knows what a win at Northwestern might mean? There's a new hoops discussion board if you care to chat about it.

Steve Alford brings Iowa to town Saturday in the first of three games for a 9-4 Penn State team. The game is at high noon, the football team will be honored and the Orange Bowl trophy will be on display at the Jordan Center.

Is it time to show up?

Fans disguised as empty seats

Penn State men's basketball fans will know what I mean when I say the announced crowd at a game, yesterday's game for example, has nothing to do with reality.

Perhaps there were 2,000 people in the Bryce Jordan Center. The crowd, though, was 5,409 for the Long Island game, if you take and run with the "official" figure. Same deal last Wednesday night, and for the season opener with Cornell.

It's too bad, really, and let's hope it changes. This team is showing good signs as it feasts on early season opponents and it gears up for its first real challenge, Tuesday night against Clemson.

Let's hope fans start showing up.

If not, the Jordan Center cameraman will continue to face a big job as he tries to take shots of fans, rather than empty seats, for the big scoreboard during timeouts. At least the students will be back to attract the camera.