When a team shoots better than 50% from the field, wins the rebounding battle by 11, and is perfect from the free throw line in an away game, you normally wouldn't expect them to lose. Then again, Penn State isn't a normal team.
Once again, coaching ineptitude cost the Nittany Lions players a victory that they rightly deserved.
After the basketball team's three memorable performances last week, which included upset wins of #18 Michigan State and #16 Illinois and a heart-breaking three-point loss at #2 Ohio State, we here at Onward State wanted to go behind the scenes and follow the brains of the operation, Coach Ed DeChellis.
As the NFL heads into Sunday's conference championships, Penn State will be well represented with four former Nittany Lions looking for a chance to play in Super Bowl XLV.
Defensive end Anthony Adams and kicker Robbie Gould, both of whom play for the Chicago Bears, will take on the Green Bay Packers and tight end Andrew Quarless who starred for Penn State from 2006-2009 in the NFC Championship. That game is slated for 3:00 p.m.
In the nightcap, the stout defenses of the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets will meet in the AFC Championship. The field position battle will be an important one in this game, so former Penn Stater punter Jeremy Kapinos could give the Steelers a winning edge in the 6:30 p.m. kickoff.
With Ohio State knocking on the door of the number one ranking in America, it was a couple of freshmen who took the Buckeyes on their shoulders to shut the door on an upset-minded Nittany Lions team.
Aaron Craft scored 19 points and dished out seven assists while National Freshman of the Year favorite Jared Sullinger converted on two straight old-fashioned three-point plays in the final minute to give Ohio State a 69-66 victory at Value City Arena in Columbus Saturday night.
While Joe Paterno has earned many accolades for his work on the football field, his many accomplishments off the field over the past sixty years have not gone unnoticed. He was honored again on Thursday night in San Antonio when he received the Gerald R. Ford Award at the annual NCAA convention. The Ford Award honors an individual who has provided significant leadership as an advocate for intercollegiate athletics on a continuous basis throughout his or her career.
Expectations were high for the Penn State basketball team going into this season. After adjusting to life after Jamelle Cornley's departure last year, where no leader ever stepped up and the Nittany Lions struggled to an 11-20 record, this year was supposed to be different. With four senior starters, this team was expected to compete for the top half of the Big Ten. After sixteen games, I'm still very shaky about this team.