Penn State news by
Penn State's student blog
Penn State news by
Penn State's student blog
For most of the first half Wednesday night at the Bryce Jordan Center, it looked like this might finally be the game where Penn State would finally win their first conference game of the year. In the end, however, familiar shooting struggles caught up with the Nittany Lions as they eventually fell 58-49 to Purdue.
Penn State traveled to Iowa City Thursday night looking to halt the team's eight-game losing streak to begin Big Ten play. The Lions kept it close, but ultimately fell 76-67 in a slopfest that produced a combined 34 turnovers and 41 fouls and kept Penn State the lone team without a win in Big Ten play.
Things have not been easy for Pat Chambers since he took over as head coach of the Penn State men's basketball program. In the 2011-12 season Penn State struggled to a 12-20 record, winning just four games during Big Ten Conference play. This season has been worse. The Lions boast just an 8-12 overall record. The program has been given the dreaded "rebuilding" title since Chambers took over in June 2011 after the abrupt departure of Ed DeChellis to Navy -- and rightly so. Chambers has been coaching a roster full of average-at-best DeChellis recruits and walk-ons. But at one time, there was potential for these teams. Where did things change?
Coming off a tough road loss at Indiana on Wednesday, the Nittany Lions return home to the Bryce Jordan Center Saturday for a matchup with another ranked conference opponent -- No. 14 Ohio State. The game tips off at noon and $3 from every ticket sold will be donated to the Coaches vs. Cancer fund for "Band Together Day."
Despite allowing only two points to National Player of the Year candidate Cody Zeller, Penn State again struggled to establish any sort of rhythm offensively as they shot just 33 percent from the field and turned the ball over 18 times in a 72-49 loss at Indiana.
Penn State will welcome another ranked squad from the Big Ten to the Bryce Jordan Center tonight when head coach Pat Chambers' squad faces off with No. 18 Michigan State. The ballgame tips off at 7 p.m. and will air on the Big Ten Network.
