A Celebration Of Masonry: Lions Win 38-33.
by Run Up The Score on Feb 19, 2009 7:00 AM EST
in Basketball
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PrintFollowing the conclusion of Wednesday night's 38-33 victory over Illinois, there can be no doubt who were the luckiest people in Pennsylvania. If you're an Illinois fan, there's no possible way to shine the turd left behind by the home team. Not after they blew a nine-point lead to a team that had only scored 20 points in 30 minutes.
Put it this way. Bruce Weber offered this guy a scholarship five minutes after the game.
But the people who produce the Penn State Basketball Story? Lucky dogs -- they get to work with a crucial road victory over a top 20 opponent, and have just enough offensive* highlights to prove that it actually happened.
Let's get right to the good, bad, and ugly.
The Good
- Well, there's Andrew Ott. Often, his stiff play is maddening and unproductive, but he occasionally comes up with a few great plays. Against Illinois, he had several. His second half block initiated Penn State's second half comeback, and the team was more productive with him on the floor in the first half, as well.
- Coffee is for closers. Penn State finished on a 14-2 run.
- Chris Babb is settling in rather well in Danny Morrissey's former role, hitting some long-range shots and coming up with a huge steal that led to a go-ahead lay-up by Stanley Pringle.
- Not fouling! Penn State had four fouls to give in the final moments, which allowed them to disrupt Illinois' plans for the tying three-pointer.
- Finally, Talor Battle had a tough night from the field (3-11), but he put the team on his shoulders late by hitting all four of his free throw attempts in the last 20 seconds of the game. In fact, the entire team went 9-11 on free throws. Babb and Cornley had the only misfires.
The Bad
The Ugly
The Bad and The Ugly will not be seen this week, so we can bring you this very special episode of The Fugly.
The Fugly
This would be everything else. Stanley Pringle went 1-9 from the field, but it was a big one. Jamelle Cornley was 2-8. Danny Morrissey still can't buy a basket, but he was digging in on defense. Both Penn State (13) and Illinois (15) had as many field goals as turnovers. The Associated Press account of the game notes that the teams’ combined 71 points was the lowest total in Division I men’s basketball since Monmouth beat Princeton 41-21 in 2005, and during one 20-minute stretch, Penn State was just 3-for-26.
But they survived. You survived, diehard PSU basketball fan. The Nittany Lions are a little closer to a top 5 finish in the Big Ten, and for once, might even get to watch the first round of the Big Ten tournament from the bleachers.
* - And Good Lord, how many "offensive basketball, indeed!" columns and headlines do you think were written overnight?
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I'm not positive
But I think Ohio State losing actually hurts us, depending on how far their RPI drops. They are already in the tournament, so even if we lose we want to lose to a team with a good RPI.
After sleeping on it...
I’m still not sure. It would bump OSU’s RPI down, but a road win at OSU would still going to be a huge deal for us. Plus, getting into the top 5 of the conference is a big deal if we can hold it.
--
Mr. Bob Dobalina
by Run Up The Score on Feb 19, 2009 8:50 AM EST up reply actions
I think we've got a great shot against OSU
I was looking at the schedule and OSU has to play Illinois on Sunday and that will be a very big game for both teams. Then two days later they have to play us. PSU on the other hand doesn’t have to play until Tuesday so we can rest and prepare for OSU solely. I think that’s a big benefit for our guys. I like our chances in Columbus on Tuesday!
by RNF18 on Feb 19, 2009 9:05 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Cornley
You know he will be rested and amped to play. His dream was to play for them and he admits to looking forward to this game every year.
"would still going"?
Didn’t finish my coffee yet.
--
Mr. Bob Dobalina
by Run Up The Score on Feb 19, 2009 9:22 AM EST up reply actions
Correct me if I wrong
but we play NW and OSU once each, and if OSU loses RPI isn’t NW’s increased by an equal # of points, thus making the whole thing a wash for PSU?
The only potential problem I can see is OSU now will have a tougher time getting into the RPI top 25 (before the loss they were 31) but (1) that might not have happened anyway, and (2) that is more of a talking point than something that affects our ranking.
Maybe there is another layer of computation I don’t know about, I haven’t studied the formula or anything, but for me it’s a net win because anytime someone loses to NW in anything it is fun.
BSD
RPI Top 100,50,30,25
They break it into tiers, and it hurts because it takes away another potential win versus a potential top 25 RPI team. It sounds stupid, but this is the stuff the committee looks at. NW was 81 I believe (I could be a little off), so them winning will get them to like low 70s, not enough for our win over them to have any effect in the minds of the selection committee.
This will drop OSU to high 30s probably, and would make a loss to them much worse, and would even lessen to win. Say we beat them. their RPI could possibly drop into the 40s since that would be 2 losses to mid RPI teams (us and NW) in the span of a week.
but seriously
that makes sense, so the point is that it’s a mathematical wash but not an image one.
However, with Ill, Pur, Iowa, PSU and NU ahead, they probably weren’t going to run the table and get into the top 25 anyway, at least IMO.
BSD
Good point on OSU
But you got it, image means a lot, so much that if a team was ranked 51 in RPI, it would pretty much be discounted as a win vs a top 50 RPI team. Kind of stupid.
more great writing
I’ve been mostly successful at grabbing my life back from BSD this football offseason, but just can’t seem to pass up a peek now and then. A Celebration of Masonry. Good stuff.
pax et amor
Life is for losers.
There is no offseason, you know.
--
Mr. Bob Dobalina
by Run Up The Score on Feb 19, 2009 9:23 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah
and the offseason is a lot more fun when there is something else to talk about than Paterno and how old he is.
BSD
Re: No Offseason
Ha! That’s why you guys are the Leaders, and I’m just a band-aid. I’ll be fine a few more months playing the disciple to your David Koresh. I still love to hear The Message shouted from the mountaintop!
pax et amor
Not bad for a
10-and-under Girls team.
I wasn’t able to see the game, so I have no understanding how you score 38 points and win. Glad to see some game ending Free Throws made. Go PSU!
pinkertonpark.com - you owe yerself a laugh.
I don't think seeing the game would actually help
I didn’t get home until about halfway through the second half. I saw the score (25-20, Illinois, with ~10 minutes left in the half) and thought “man, this is gonna be a high scoring game.” Then I saw that it was the 2nd, not the 1st half.
All the stat lines were horrible. People just missing shots constantly. Lot’s of, erm, “masonry” thrown up (apparently in celebration of something…perhaps the rumors of building a new hockey arena?)
10 and under girls team, indeed.
by The JuggerNitt on Feb 19, 2009 9:42 AM EST up reply actions
Another crappy one
The Joe Pa Statue outside Beaver Stadium
The DeChellis Statue outside the BJ Center
by Cairo on Feb 19, 2009 9:55 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
LOL
"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it."
by ReadingRambler on Feb 19, 2009 10:32 AM EST up reply actions
It was unbelievable
I “flipped” to the game just before halftime – saw the score and groaned. Then I watched a DVR’d episode of “Underdog to Wonderdog” (this is probably the best show on TV right now) – and then I watched the end of the game -
It was the equivalent of the 6-4 – but at least PSU came out on top for this one.
The team fouls, given the score, were remarkable.
it was a win, right?
moving on, does anyone think the internets would explode if our ncaa basketball dreams came down to a game on the road vs. iowa?
World F#$king Champions
Well
at least the wind won’t be blowing and we won’t have to worry about whether or not Ed gave the team heaters inside of the arena!
but what if a tornado came by and tore the roof off
but they deemed the building structurally sound to still hold a b-ball game. What then?
by The JuggerNitt on Feb 19, 2009 1:10 PM EST up reply actions
At Carver?
A tornado could actually improve the looks of that building. Architects really shouldn’t work while drunk.
There is a tractor in the parking lot, West Virginia license EIEIO. Your lights are on.
by leeharvey418 on Feb 19, 2009 1:28 PM EST up reply actions
Somebody will need to strap Battle down
because with a strong wind he might end up in the next county.
The real celebration of masonry
is the train in the post-game post.
Did an image search for train and bricks turn that one up?
There is a tractor in the parking lot, West Virginia license EIEIO. Your lights are on.
Who would have taken this in the beginning of the season
With 4 games left in the regular season PSU is 2.5 games out of first and still has a mathematical chance at winning the Big Ten regular season title. Incredible!
Even if we did
I’m sure Ohio St would somehow claim themselves co-champions.
"The sea was angry that day, my friends." G. Costanza
Comparing the remaining schedules
I think Wisky is going to surge and play themselves into the tournament. I think that we’re in great position now. OSU hurt their cause with the NU loss lastnight. I see Minny falling and possibly getting knocked out of tournament contention. I think it’ll be MSU, Purdue, Illinois, PSU, Wisky, & OSU in the tournament when it’s all said and done with Michigan and Minnesota on the outside looking in. I hope I’m right.
Seems like it would be
more appropriate to attach the “Struggle Train” to IL. They lost at home to a team that scored 38 points. And they did so after building a (when I turned it on in the second half) 7 point (apparently at one point 9 point) lead w/ about 7:00 to go. I give them my “struggle train” award.
On the other hand, I think Pringle deserves a “shout out”. Not only was his only FG a big one (kudos to Babb on the steal), but even with the lousy offensive night he was having, he stayed in the game (mentally/psychologically) to come up with an even bigger play with the blocked shot towards the end of the game. Even though he was having what had to be a pretty frustrating night, he refused to just go through the motions. That’s team play and as ugly as this “W” was, I like seeing the fellas showing the intestinal fortitude to stick it out (or maybe it was more like a “hey, THEY suck tonight, too. maybe they’ll give up first” moment).
"the secret to loving your job is having a hobby that you really despise"
I'm with you
I’m not upset about this game at all. We won and that’s the bottom line. Momentum is only as good as your next game. If I was an Illinois fan I’d probably be a little upset but in our case a W is a W. We could end up putting up 70 in Columbus on Tuesday for all we know.
Its making the bottom of the hour news in....Minneapolis?!?
They’re talking about the ugly game all the way on the west side of the big ten. Including play by play clips from the PSU broadcast…Battle for threeee…missed. Pringle for threee missed. Pringle with the layup…missed. Its a great clip.
Onward to the Rose Bowl...Again!!!!!
Trapped in the SF Bay area.....nothing like kickoff at 9 am.
Awesome
As long as the clip ends with…….and PSU eventually won which gives them a 2 game winning streak which began against the Gophers and places them ahead of the Gophers in the Big Ten standings. :-)
Oh well
On another note, the win lastnight, regardless of what others think about it, has given us a 58 RPI. Lets keep this ship moving in the right direction so there’s no doubt when the bids come out. It sure would be nice to put the final nail in Michigan’s coffin. Haha, Michigan missing out on a bowl game and the tourney in the same year. I bet that’ll be the last time they steal their coaches from WVU!!
You guys are now a lock in my book
http://www.offthetracks.org/2009/02/luckily-theres-family-guy.html
A futile crusade to prevent mass ignorance
Not there yet, not even close.
Appreciate the optimism, but we need three more wins, IMO.
--
Mr. Bob Dobalina
by Run Up The Score on Feb 19, 2009 3:09 PM EST up reply actions
Too early to tell
We have some impressive wins over MSU, Purdue, Illinois, and Minnesota.
But we also have some crappy losses and a lousy out of conference schedule pulling us down like cement shoes.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
Crappy losses?
Lousy non-con I’ll give you, but the losses don’t look as bad now.
The worst Big Ten loss is now the road game against Michigan (17-10), but they are a bubble team right now. The two losses in the non-con schedule were Temple (16-9) and Rhode Island (19-8), both are also bubble teams.
I think if PSU defeats Iowa and Indiana, then wins one game in the Big Ten tourney they are in.
Maybe
I think we need to win one of two against Ohio State and Illinois and then beat both Indiana and Iowa.
Given that we just beat Illinois on their court, I’ll be disappointed if they beat us on ours. Win three out of these last four with Ohio State being the lone loss, win a game in the B10 tournament and we’re definitely in. If we finish in the top four in the conference and don’t get in it will be a crime.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
Battle
Commentators continue to say that “Battle is worn down,” or “the Big Ten has figured Battle out.” I’m sorry, but if you are a big scorer, like Battle is, there HAS to be more ball movement to get him more opportunities to score. There were two key possessions in last night’s contest where the exact same shot was taken and missed by Babb (in the same spot). I am a huge fan of Babb and I’m glad to see him in ahead of Morissey, don’t get me wrong. But how does Eddie not get better plays together for Talor? He had two amazing drives at the end of the game (one he layed the ball up, another he converted both FTs), and he created them all on his own with fantastic moves. It is just frustrating to watch the guys stand around and not do anything, and then Talor has the ball half way between mid-court and the three pt. line with 7 on the shot clock…
Either way, I see a win as a win… and if we win in Columbus this week… the sky is the limit. WE ARE!
PENN STATE
Onward to the Rose Bowl...Again!!!!!
Trapped in the SF Bay area.....nothing like kickoff at 9 am.
Battle
While Talor is obviously our best scorer, he’s also the guy the offense has to go through. I think Ed depends on Battle to get other guys going by drawing the defense and dishing to the open man. Even when Battle isn’t scoring, he’s still averaging five or six assists per game which is as good as scoring another 10-12 points.
But to a degree I think the Big Ten has figured him out, or at least figured out that he’s the guy they have to stop. They challenge him when he gets the ball no matter where he is. When he drives the entire defense collapses on him. When he gets frustrated he throws up a bad shot anyway. He has to stay focused and realize that when the defense collapses on him there is an open man somewhere and kick it out.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
Battle
Needs to add some upper body muscle this offseason. When he drives to the hoop he lacks the strength to bump off the defenders and get shots off.
Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.
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