Black Shoe Diaries - Hoops - Penn State vs Purdue DOMINATE THE STATEhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47529/blackshoediaries_fave.png2013-02-05T21:44:03-05:00http://www.blackshoediaries.com/rss/stream/36360172013-02-05T21:44:03-05:002013-02-05T21:44:03-05:00The Streak Continues: Purdue downs PSU 58-49
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<figcaption>Please come back soon, Tim. | Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Bricks-on-bricks-on-bricks</p> <p>Well, this was a game PSU could've easily won and there haven't been many of those this year, especially in the Big Ten. Purdue looked like a team that had been humiliated in their prior two games and were playing their 5th contest in 13 days. They simply looked lethargic for most of the game. </p>
<p>But even though the Lions had off this past weekend, they once again couldn't make enough shots to win a conference game. <span style="line-height: 9px;">The hill gets steeper while the frustration continues to mount as the team gets closer and closer to becoming the 2nd team ever to go 0-fer in the Big Ten.</span> </p>
<p>The Boilermakers didn't make one three-pointer (0-10) and they shot just 62% from the foul line. For the game, they scored at just 0.90 PPP efficiency. However, they did have the six-straight career-high scorer against the PSU defense as Ronnie Johnson produced 16 points despite going 2-8 from the foul line. </p>
<p>Sasa Boronvjak and Jon Graham both fouled out before they played 20 minutes. The Nittany Lions shot 2-20 from three, many of them were solid looks. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99913/jermaine-marshall">Jermaine Marshall</a> couldn't have picked a worse time to have his worst game of the year, finishing with just 7 points on 2-14 shooting.</p>
<p>Overall, the Lions were only able to muster 49 points on 65 possessions (0.75 PPP). The only remote positive that seemed to come from this game was <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145926/ross-travis">Ross Travis</a> with 8 points (on 4 strong field goals) and 8 rebounds. </p>
<p>The Lions now travel to Lincoln, Nebraska to face the 2-8 Cornhuskers. </p>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2013/2/5/3957006/penn-state-purdue-basketball-final-score-recapejg50682013-02-05T18:40:01-05:002013-02-05T18:40:01-05:00YAY HOOPS: Purdue at PSU Live Game Thread
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<p>Could tonight really be the night?</p>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2013/2/5/3956508/live-game-thread-2-purdue-vs-penn-stateejg50682013-02-05T08:09:00-05:002013-02-05T08:09:00-05:00Hoops Preview - Purdue
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Nittany Lions take on the struggling Boilermakers in what is perhaps their best remaining chance at earning that elusive Big Ten win.</p> <table width="350" border="1"><tbody>
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<td><b>Who:</b></td>
<td>
<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/purdue-boilermakers">Purdue Boilermakers</a> (11-11, 4-5)</td>
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<td><b>When:</b></td>
<td>Tuesday, 7:00pm</td>
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<td><b>Where:</b></td>
<td>Bryce Jordan Center</td>
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<td><b>TV:</b></td>
<td>BTN</td>
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</tbody></table>
<p>Each team comes into Tuesday's matchup searching for answers after some poor performances over the past week. Matt Painter's crew was on the wrong end of a #BEATEMDOWN incident against Indiana and followed up that 37-point home loss with a 15-point defeat at Northwestern. Purdue may have a better idea of where to find those answers though, especially against Penn State. The Boilermakers locked all windows and doors against the Lions in the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2013/1/13/3872870/purdue-penn-state-basketball-60-42">reverse fixture</a> three weeks ago, holding PSU to a season-low 42 points.</p>
<p>Center <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175133/a-j-hammons">A.J. Hammons</a> is starting to look like the real deal in West Lafayette. Despite the ugliness of Purdue's latest losses, the freshman from Oak Hill has been a real bright spot. Hammons posted 30 points and five blocks against Indiana and followed that up with 19 and 13 rebounds at Welsh-Ryan. Penn State has done surprisingly well against some elite big men this season, limiting the effectiveness of players like <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145499/cody-zeller">Cody Zeller</a> (2 points and no field goals at Assembly Hall) and Bucknell's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100880/mike-muscala">Mike Muscala</a> (10 points on two made field goals).</p>
<p>But when the Lions do stifle one player, another usually emerges. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123903/adreian-payne">Adreian Payne</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175075/shavon-shields">Shavon Shields</a> and Aaron White have all posted career-highs against Penn State in recent weeks, and Purdue does feature players that are capable of lighting it up. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99923/d-j-byrd">D.J. Byrd</a> is regarded as one of the top three-point specialists in the conference, and brothers Terone (team-high 12.7 ppg) and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175129/ronnie-johnson">Ronnie Johnson</a> (9.3 ppg as a freshman) can do some damage on the perimeter as well.</p>
<p>Simply put, Penn State will have to do better than the 0.66 points per possession figure they posted the last time these teams met. It would help their chances if someone other than <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/126257/d-j-newbill">D.J. Newbill</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99913/jermaine-marshall">Jermaine Marshall</a> stepped up to shoulder some of the scoring load. The pair have carried a sluggish-at-best offense for the better part of the conference slate--in fact, no other Nittany Lion has scored in double figures over the last <i>five</i> games. Brandon Taylor's 11 points against Purdue on January 13th marks the last time that has occurred.</p>
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https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2013/2/5/3953616/penn-state-basketball-game-22-purdueChad Markulics2013-01-13T16:48:47-05:002013-01-13T16:48:47-05:00Penn State Struggles At Purdue, Loses 60-42
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Lions couldn't overcome their own shooting woes in another road conference loss.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">After their most listless performance ever against Northwestern, the Nittany Lions went on the road to face another similarly-challenged Big Ten opponent. Purdue came in with a sub-.500 record and also figures to finish towards the bottom of the league. The end result was the virtually the same, however, as Penn State was put away fairly easily.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">It was up in the air how the Lions would respond with the quick turnaround after their previous letdown, but the fight was back in them in West Lafayette. They just couldn't get out of their own heads, as they put up their worst shooting performance of the season (and there sure have been some bad ones). It took a Brandon Taylor 50-foot heave at the end of the first half to keep Penn State above 40 points for the game.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Purdue always plays hard defensively, especially in Mackey, but Penn State seemed to leave plenty of opportunities on the floor. The stats don't lie. This was Penn State's worst shooting performance of the year by a decent margin, all things considered.</p>
<table style="text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<td style="text-align: center;"><b>PPP</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>eFG%</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>2P%</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>3P%</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>3PA/FGA</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>FTR</b></td>
</tr>
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<td style="text-align: center;">0.66</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">28.7%</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">26.1%</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">25.0%</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">20.7%</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">20.7</td>
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</tbody></table>
<p>No one is ever going to win a Big Ten game with this kind of inefficiency. Sure, Purdue's defense definitely made life hard for Penn State, who isn't really difficult to defend without <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99917/tim-frazier" class="sbn-auto-link">Tim Frazier</a> anyway. Even still, there were numerous missed layups and mid-range shots that weren't contested. Shots that every Division-1 player should be expected to convert.</p>
<p>DJ Newbill was scoreless for the first 33 minutes, while missing quite a few floaters/layups of his own. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99913/jermaine-marshall" class="sbn-auto-link">Jermaine Marshall</a> started out well, but flickered out with a few easy misses in the second half. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99916/sasa-borovnjak" class="sbn-auto-link">Sasa Borovnjak</a> finished the game just 1-6 from the floor, including a mind-numbing brick on an uncontested 3-foot jump hook after a loose ball scrum presented him the golden opportunity. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145926/ross-travis" class="sbn-auto-link">Ross Travis</a> was just 2-7 with many of his misses of the mid-range jumper variety, whether open or contested. Brandon Taylor scored 11 first half points, which turned out to be enough to lead the team, but was shutout in the 2nd half.</p>
<p>Penn State's bench? They logged 41 very unproductive minutes with just 4 points, 2 turnovers, and 7 fouls. Chambers drastically switched up his rotation as seldom-used Pat Ackerman and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175107/akosa-maduegbunam" class="sbn-auto-link">Akosa Maduegbunam</a> were the first players off the bench, while walk-on <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/181783/kevin-onyeaka" class="sbn-auto-link">Kevin Onyeaka</a> saw his first action as a Nittany Lion, but it didn't particularly matter. If this isn't more indicative of the lack of talent on this roster right now, I don't know what is.</p>
<p>Not much else to talk about when you can't score. Chambers has embraced their offensive ineptitude by motivating his guys to play with attitude and a gritty, grind-it-out style. But it's simply impossible to keep giving maximum effort as an over-matched team when you can't even make the easy ones.</p>
<p>The nightmare season continues for Chambers, who has never coached in a situation as bleak as this one. Sure, last year was just as difficult, but Frazier could be leaned on. These guys, not so much.</p>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2013/1/13/3872870/purdue-penn-state-basketball-60-42ejg50682013-01-13T11:45:01-05:002013-01-13T11:45:01-05:00Penn State at Purdue Live Game Thread
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<p>Tip is at 12:00pm on Big Ten Network, as Penn State looks for their first ever road conference win.</p>
<p>Normal open thread rules apply.</p>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2013/1/13/3871994/purdue-live-game-threadejg50682013-01-12T16:00:18-05:002013-01-12T16:00:18-05:00Hoops Preview - at Purdue
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Lions look to rebound after their worst effort of the season against the young Boilers.</p> <table border="1" width="350"><tbody>
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<td><b>Who:</b></td>
<td>Purdue Boilermakers (7-8, 1-2)</td>
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<td><b>When:</b></td>
<td>Sunday, 12:00pm</td>
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<td><b>Where:</b></td>
<td>Mackey Arena </td>
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<td><b>TV:</b></td>
<td>Big Ten Network</td>
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<p>There's no rest for the weary. After what <a target="_blank" href="http://www.pennlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/01/frustrated_head_coach_patrick.html">Pat Chambers' flat-out called an 'embarrassing' loss at home</a> to Northwestern, the Nittany Lions look to get back to basics in West Lafayette tomorrow.</p>
<p>It's anybody's guess where Penn State goes from here after bottoming out, at home nonetheless, in just their third conference game. It'll only get worse if they let their aimless performance Thursday night affect their effort and confidence down the road, but it's unimaginable that we will witness such a lackadaisical effort from Chambers' team again.</p>
<p>Purdue is one of the youngest teams in the conference now that the last of the Baby Boilers have graduated. They start two true freshman and have six underclassmen contributing in the rotation. They've had their own struggles this season with losses to the likes of Bucknell, Oregon State, and Eastern Michigan. So far in conference play, they're 1-2 with a nice home win over the fast-fading Illini and losses to Ohio State and Michigan State. </p>
<p>Their all-Johnson backcourt is led by junior Terone, who is leading the Boilers at 13.7 PPG. True freshman Ronnie Johnson has been given the reigns to the offense and is playing like a true freshmen point guard. There's good (assist rate, free throw rate) with the bad (all forms of shooting), but he is averaging nearly 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists a game.</p>
<p>DJ Byrd is the lone senior for Purdue and continues to make the hustle-plays and big threes that earned him Big Ten sixth man of the year last year. He has more made three-pointers (31) on the year than the rest of his team combined (30). Joining him in the front court is their promising 7-footer, AJ Hammons, who's averaging 10 points and 6 rebounds in his first season in West Lafayette. The 280-pounder will be a handful for Penn State's smaller front-line.</p>
<p>On paper, both teams match-up quite similarly. Neither team has much punch offensively, as both are shooting around 45% eFG% thanks to <30% 3-point shooting. Fortunately for Purdue, they don't jack them up nearly as often as Penn State does. Both team's strengths are hitting the glass on both ends of the floor. Whoever gains control of the boards could be the deciding factor in this game.</p>
<p>For Penn State, they need to revisit their identity of playing hard, regardless of their own shortcomings on offense. Because as we've seen, they will likely struggle to score 60 in all of their games the rest of this season. It will certainly help if they could earn chances at the charity stripe, as Purdue is susceptible to fouling (35.4 free throw rate). </p>
<p>However, it seems pointless to focus on the details when Penn State's effort was as flat as it was on Thursday. All we can hope for is a much better showing from the players and what happens, happens.</p>
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<a data-lang="en" data-show-count="true" class="twitter-follow-button" href="https://twitter.com/BSDtweet">Follow @BSDtweet on Twitter</a><br>And join us on<a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Black-Shoe-Diaries/161813843845442"> Facebook</a><br>All BSD community members should review our current <a target="_blank" href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2012/6/5/3066778/commenting-and-posting-policy-for-bsd">Posting & Commenting Policies</a> before creating any posts or commenting.</blockquote>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2013/1/12/3868706/penn-state-purdue-basketball-previewejg5068