SCRANTON, Pa. - The Penn State Coaches Caravan rolled into Midtown
Manhattan on Wednesday afternoon for a lunch stop in New York City before
heading to Scranton for dinner.
Nittany Lion basketball coach re-joined the Caravan on Wednesday to make it a
four-coach lineup in New York. Chambers,
along with head coaches Bill O'Brien, Charlene Morett and Mark Pavilik all
spoke to a sold out crowd of 220 at the Edison Ballroom in Manhattan. Chambers, O'Brien and Pavlik then traveled
west for the Penn State Alumni Association Greater Scranton Chapter dinner in
Dickson City, Pa. Take a look through
some highlights on day five of the Caravan.
Stop IX - New York City (The Edison
Ballroom) Just down the block from Times Square on 47th Street in New York City, a
sold out crowd of 220 supporters packed The Edison Ballroom for the ninth stop
on the tour. Coach Morett joked as she
took the microphone that she felt like she was on Broadway performing and
thanked the crowd for coming to her debut show.
The stage in The Edison Ballroom featured leather, padded armchairs for all of
the coaches to sit in. With that in
mind, Coach Chambers opened up his speech by telling the crowd that he felt
like he was sitting on the set of Johnny Carson. The room erupted into laughter.
Chambers also shared his love for Madison Square Garden, what he called the
mecca of basketball. He coached in The
Garden as an assistant at Villanova.
O'Brien added some lighthearted jabbing with the New York fans about their
professional sports teams.
But all of the joking aside, the New York stop was another good reminder about
the way the athletic department at Penn State truly functions as One Team. All of the coaches support one another. They all get along. And they all understand that a united athletic
department is a strong athletic department.
"We truly support one another," Chambers said.
"That's what Penn State is all about."
And the One Team mantra goes deeper than just the head coaches supporting one
another. It stretches to the fans, like
the 220 in The Edison Ballroom at lunch hour in New York City. The Penn State fans are a big part of why
Penn State Athletics continues to grow together as One Team.
Following the lunch stop in New York, the Caravan bus made a quick stop at
MetLife Stadium for some photos and videos in preparation of Penn State's
season-opener against Syracuse on Aug. 31.
Call 1-800-NITTANY for tickets. VIDEO: New York Press Conference
with Coaches O'Brien and Chambers
Stop X: Scranton (Genetti Manor in Dickson City) Day two of the second week wrapped up in front of the Caravan's largest
crowd. More than 830 Penn State fans
seated at 80 tables crammed into the ballroom at Genetti Manor to welcome a
great group from the Penn State Athletics family. The list of attendees included Scranton
natives Matt McGloin, J.R. Refice and Eric Shrive, Wilkes-Barre product Eugene
Lewis, Director of Athletics Dave Joyner and the voice of the Nittany Lions
Steve Jones.
Prior to dinner, Coach O'Brien signed autographs for a throng of fans that
lined up more than 90 minutes prior to the program began. Fan after fan walked up to Coach O'Brien for
an opportunity to shake hands, take photos and obtain an autograph for more
than an hour. Some offered advice. Some told stories. Some even gave him gifts.
Pavlik and Chambers both spoke prior to O'Brien, energizing the room packed
with Nittany Lion supporters. Chambers
brought the crowd to its feet before he began his passionate speech. The room followed his command and stood up
cheering.
"This is a very coachable group in Scranton," Chambers joked.
Coach O'Brien took the opportunity to recognize the current and former Nittany
Lions at the dinner before he delivered his Caravan message to the crowd. McGloin and O'Brien had a special
relationship during his time as the leader of the Penn State offense in
2013. Commending him on his dedication
and work ethic, O'Brien told the room that a great deal of Penn State's success
in 2012 was a direct product of McGloin.
"Thank you for everything you did for Penn State," O'Brien said to McGloin, who
was seated at the head table while the crowd cheered for the hometown hero.
Throughout all three speeches, the crowd of more than 800 was glued to the
podium. Chambers, Pavlik and O'Brien all
deserve a great deal of credit for their delivery on Wednesday night.
But simply put, the Scranton crowd was again tremendous for the second-straight
year during the Caravan.
The Coaches Caravan will wrap up on Thursday with men's hockey head coach Guy
Gadowsky joining O'Brien and Pavlik for a lunch stop in DuBois and dinner in Pittsburgh.
VIDEO: Scranton Press Conference with
Coach O'Brien
Miles Covered on Day One - 203 miles Miles Covered on Day Two - 147 miles
Miles Covered on Day Three - 254 miles Miles Covered on Day Four - 188
miles Miles Covered on Day Five - 377
miles
Caravan Total - 1,169 miles
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Coaches Caravan bus rolled south on I-95 for day
two of the first leg on Wednesday morning en route for a lunch stop at the Inner
Harbor in Baltimore and an evening reception in Washington, D.C.
More than 225 fans at lunch and 375 enthusiastic attendees at dinner greeted an all-star cast of Penn State coaches,
which included Bill O'Brien, Patrick Chambers, Cael Sanderson and Coquese
Washington. Take a look through some highlights
on day two, which included an entertaining evening stop in the nation's capital.
Stop III - Baltimore (Sheraton Inner
Harbor) The Baltimore crowd was greeted with a treat on Wednesday morning as
coaches from four major Penn State programs took the opportunity to meet,
mingle and address a room filled with Penn State fans and alums. Joining O'Brien and Chambers on day two of
the Caravan were two coaches with Big Ten Coach of the Year accolades from the
2012-13 season in Sanderson and Washington.
Washington, who led the Lady Lions to a second-straight Big Ten title and
third-consecutive NCAA Tournament trip this season, spoke to the crowd first.
"It's fantastic to see so much support from Baltimore," Washington said.
Washington added that she will be thrilled for the Penn State fans in the
Baltimore to be able to see the Lady Lions in person when Maryland joins the
Big Ten prior to the 2014-15 season.
Washington highlighted her team's march to a second-straight conference
title and updated the crowd on what lies ahead for her young team in the fall.
"We have seven freshmen coming in this summer.
Baltimore, please pray for me," Washington joked.
To close her speech, Washington expressed her appreciation for what all of the
Penn State fans do for each and every program on campus.
"For us to do what we do, you guys are a part of our team," Washington said.
Fresh off leading the Penn State wrestling team to its third-straight NCAA
title, Sanderson received a standing ovation as he was introduced to the
crowd. O'Brien was among the first
people in the room to stand and applaud for Sanderson, who walked to the
microphone clad in a dark suit with a blue "O'Brien's Lions" T-shirt on under
his jacket.
"I think that was probable for the T-shirt," Sanderson joked as he opened his
jacket. "That's why O'Brien stood up
first (laughter)."
Coach Chambers explained to the crowd that he and his staff spend a lot of time
recruiting in the Baltimore area. Like
he did on day one, the leader of Nittany Lion basketball told the crowd to
expect an exciting, high-paced attack on the hardwood when the Lions take the
floor in the fall.
O'Brien spoke last during the luncheon.
He kicked off his speech with a sarcastic congratulatory message to the
fans of the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens in the room, which drew a
great deal of laughter. Additionally, he
told the crowd how he and strength coach Craig Fitzgerald Googled Cael
Sanderson's name to marvel over his athletic and coaching accomplishments,
which again created a roar of laughter from the crowd of 225.
The Nittany Lions currently have 11 players on the football roster from
Maryland, many of which play a very prominent role on the team. With that being said, O'Brien talked about
the importance of recruiting in Maryland and how the program will continue to
emphasize the importance of finding talent in Maryland.
As was the case in Reading and Philadelphia, all four coaches used the Caravan
stop to say thank you for the support.
Without the core group of supporters, like the ones in the room at
Baltimore, the Penn State athletic programs would not be the same.
"You are the foundation. Without you
guys we are not possible," Chambers said.
VIDEO: Baltimore Press Conference with Coach
O'Brien
Stop IV: Washington (Hyatt Regency) The Coaches Caravan moved
south after the Baltimore stop to the nation's capital for the fourth program
on the first week. In front of a lively
crowd of 375, O'Brien, Chambers, Sanderson and Washington delivered a superb
series of speeches on Wednesday night.
"You all are a lively bunch. This is
going to be a fun evening," Washington said to open the program.
The four coaches deserve a great deal of credit for their presentations, but
the fans and alums in attendance made the Washington, D.C. event one of the
best in the two years of the Coaches Caravan.
From start to finish, the crowd was enthusiastic and energetic inside
the Regency Ballroom.
Sanderson, who spoke second, put on a display of stand-up comedy at the podium
during his five-plus minutes at the microphone.
Wearing his second piece of Bill O'Brien fan gear of the day, Sanderson
donned a "Billieve" shirt under his suit jacket.
From ribbing Coach Chambers about the work he has ahead of him to telling Coach
O'Brien that the reason everyone is a fan of his is because he goes for it on
fourth down every chance he gets, Sanderson had the crowd roaring with
laughter.
"How many times do they really go for it on fourth down?" Sanderson joked.
Chambers picked up right where Sanderson left off, telling the D.C. crowd about
how he had been mistaken for Sanderson on several occasions in Baltimore and
prior to the evening event Washington.
He joked that he even signed a few autographs with Sanderson's
signature.
"He's a beast! I'm just a skinny point guard (laughter)," Chambers said.
Outside of the comical speeches from all four, the theme of Wednesday night
centered on the folks in the room, the core Penn State fans, as O'Brien has
called the group throughout the Caravan.
It is people like the enthusiastic crowd in Washington, D.C. that make
Penn State sporting events and its programs so special.
Like Sanderson said during his speech about what his message is to recruits -
"When you come to Penn State, you will be a part of something special," he
said. The same holds true for the fans. When you support Penn State sports teams,
whether it be fans or alums or both, you will become a part of something very
special, much bigger than wins and losses on the field of play.
"This is one of the best crowds we've had since we've done this for two years,"
O'Brien said.
The Caravan moves to Lancaster and Camp Hill on Thursday to cap off week one.
VIDEO: Washington Press Conference with
Coaches O'Brien, Washington and Sanderson
Miles Covered on Day One - 203 miles Miles Covered on Day Two - 147 miles
Caravan Total - 350 miles
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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -
The 12-stop Penn State Coaches Caravan kicked off on Monday before enthusiastic crowds of more than 225 in a sold out event in Reading and more than 400 during an evening stop in downtown Philadelphia.
The Penn State themed Fullington Trailways bus pulled out of the Bryce Jordan
Center parking lot at 8:10 a.m. en route to the Penn State Berks Campus. Take a look through some highlights on day
one, which included an evening stop downtown Philadelphia, of the six-day
caravan.
Stop I - Reading (Penn State Berks) Head coaches Bill O'Brien and Patrick Chambers headlined the initial stop
on Monday morning to begin leg one of the second Coaches Caravan. Both head coaches participated in a media
session on the Penn State Berks campus before addressing a sold out crowd.
"The band is back together," Chambers joked as he opened his speech.
VIDEO: Reading Press Conference with Coach
O'Brien and Coach Chambers
During the morning bus ride, Chambers and O'Brien shared stories and coaching
insight during the entire two-plus hour trek to Reading on Monday morning. The two leaders have a great relationship,
and both are excited to be back on the road for the Coaches Caravan. At the first stop, the duo moved around the
entire gymnasium at Penn State Berks, walking from table to table as the crowd
at its lunch to shake hands and say hello to all of the Penn State fans.
After introductions and a brief video, Chambers took the microphone first
during the formal lunch program. Always
passionate, the leader of Nittany Lion basketball delivered a powerful speech
about the progress the Lions made on the hardwood despite facing adversity in
2012-13.
Chambers told the capacity crowd that All-Big Ten guard Tim Frazier is nearly
back to 100 percent and looking ahead to what will be an exciting fall with the
Big Ten's top two leading scorers from last season - D.J. Newbill and Jermaine
Marshall - back, along with the conference's second-leading rebounder - Ross
Travis - in 2013-14.
"There is a buzz about Penn State," Chambers said. "People want Penn State basketball to be
good...I wish the season started tomorrow."
Chambers, who hails from Newtown Square, shared stories of his childhood trips
to the Reading area and updated the crowd about Reading native Donovon Jack.
O'Brien then took the microphone and told the crowd that Chambers is a tough
act to follow because of his energy and passion with everything he does. But both head coaches spoke with great enthusiasm
about not on their own programs, but Penn State University during Monday's
lunch.
Heading into his second season at the helm of the Nittany Lion football
program, O'Brien took Monday morning as an opportunity to thank the Penn State
fans for their support of the football program.
He delivered a direct message to the crowd in the room that their
support of the Penn State athletic department has never been more important.
"We wanted to come out and show our appreciation for everything you do,"
O'Brien said. "We need your support more
than ever and we need to be unified."
While he provided an update on the 2013 team as it heads into the summer,
O'Brien's message was to thank the fans for their continued commitment to
support Penn State in everything it does on the field and in the classroom.
"A full Beaver Stadium and a full BJC is a statement about a whole lot more
than just football and basketball," O'Brien said.
Stop II: Philadelphia (Hyatt at The Bellevue) The Coaches Caravan bus drove 65 miles south east to stop No. 2 of the
caravan on South Broad Street in downtown Philadelphia. Coach O'Brien and Coach Chambers participated
in a press conference prior to the dinner program inside the Hyatt at The
Bellevue.
VIDEO: Philadelphia Press Conference with Coach O'Brien and Coach Chambers
From the moment they
walked into the Grand Ballroom inside the second floor of the historic Hyatt,
Chambers and O'Brien were fired up to address a crowd of more than 400 Penn
State fans and alums on Tuesday night.
"It is so great to be back in Philadelphia," Chambers said. "What a great place to be right here on Broad
Street; it feels like home. It's great
to be here."
The Philadelphia product addressed the enthusiastic group first with an
energetic and rousing speech about the importance of maintaining a positive attitude
regardless of what circumstances a team faces.
Chambers received several ovations during his speech as he remarked
about his team's fight and ability to continuing pushing forward.
After detailing the returning talent on the hoops squad, Chambers told the
hometown crowd that he borrowed a line from O'Brien's playbook for the upcoming
season, and he said to look for the 2013-14 Nittany Lions to run some
"NASCAR"-paced offense. As he wrapped up
his speech, Chambers earned a well-deserved standing ovation.
"It's always great to come back to the City of Brotherly Love, especially with Coach
Chambers," O'Brien said as he stepped to the microphone.
The leader of Penn State Football again delivered a straightforward,
impassioned speech to the Caravan crowd. O'Brien said that there is no more
important time than now for Penn State fans.
"The success of our students is why we are here," O'Brien said.
Both Chambers and O'Brien share the same vision on the importance of thanking
the Penn State fans for their unwavering support. And both will continue to express the
importance of the Nittany Lion community joining together to support the
University and athletic program they love.
"You win as one team," O'Brien said.
"That's what it is going to take to rise above what we are up against."
Both coaches did a tremendous job engaging the audience with energetic speaking
presentations. Fans who do not have
plans to attend one of the 10 remaining sessions on the Coaches Caravan,
register today. You will not be
disappointed with what you hear and see.
The Caravan rolls into Baltimore for lunch and Washington, D.C. for dinner on Wednesday. Lady Lion head coach Coquese Washington and
three-time defending NCAA champion head coach Cael Sanderson join the Caravan
on Wednesday.
Miles Covered on Day One - 203 miles
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Coaches Caravan Registration - Click Here
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - With spring practice in the books, head coach Bill
O'Brien, along with seven other Penn State coaches, are set to embark on the
2013 Coaches Caravan beginning April 30.
Building on last year's successful road tour, O'Brien and Nittany Lion
basketball coach Patrick Chambers will kick off this year's 12-stop excursion
in front of a sold out lunch crowd on the Penn State Berks campus in Reading on
April 30. The bus will then travel to
Philadelphia for an evening session featuring O'Brien and Chambers.
"I'm really excited. We decided to do
the Caravan again because we thought the turnout last year was excellent,"
O'Brien said. "We are looking forward
again to getting out there and connecting with the alums and fans and all the
people who support our athletic program, and obviously the football program."
"I'm fired up. It's going to be great to
get to Reading and Philly; I'm going back home," Chambers said. "It's going to be great to see a lot of the
alums, a lot of the fans. I thought it
was great last year. We had such a good
time."
Day two (May 1) of the Coaches Caravan kicks off in Baltimore with a lunch stop
with a full lineup of leaders - O'Brien, Chambers, three-time defending NCAA
champion wrestling coach Cael Sanderson and two-time defending Big Ten women's
basketball champion coach Coquese Washington.
The quartet will also be the headliners at the May 1 evening reception
in Washington, D.C.
The first week of the Caravan will conclude with a lunch stop in Lancaster and
an evening stop in Camp Hill (Harrisburg) with O'Brien, Sanderson and five-time
women's volleyball national champion head coach Russ Rose on May 2.
Among the coaches slated to join O'Brien on the road during week two of the
Coaches Caravan are field hockey's Char Morett, men's volleyball's Mark Pavlik,
Chambers and men's hockey's Guy Gadowsky.
"These people reach out to us all the time - they come to our games, they send
us letters, they e-mail us," O'Brien said.
"I think it is really important for us to return the favor, so to speak,
to get out there to meet them and talk to them and to reiterate all the things
that are great about Penn State and its athletic program."
GoPSUsports.com will again board the modified Fullington Trailways motorcoach
for all 12 stops on the Caravan. Look
for photos, video and written content from all 12 locations as the Penn State
Coaches Caravan hits the road for six days in the coming two weeks.
Watch O'Brien and Chambers preview the 2013 Coaches Caravan. Register today for a stop near you, and we
look forward to seeing you on the road.
2013 Coaches Caravan Schedule Week One:
April 30 Penn State Berks; Reading (lunch-SOLD OUT)
Coaches: Patrick Chambers, Bill O'Brien
Philadelphia (evening reception)
Coaches: Patrick Chambers, Bill O'Brien
May 1 Baltimore (lunch)
Coaches: Patrick Chambers, Bill O'Brien, Cael Sanderson, Coquese Washington
Washington, D.C. (evening reception)
Coaches: Patrick Chambers, Bill O'Brien, Cael Sanderson, Coquese Washington
May 2 Lancaster (lunch)
Coaches: Bill O'Brien, Russ Rose, Cael Sanderson
Harrisburg/Camp Hill (evening reception)
Coaches: Bill O'Brien, Russ Rose, Cael Sanderson
Week Two: May 7 Penn College of Technology; Williamsport (lunch-SOLD OUT)
Coaches: Char Morett, Bill O'Brien, Mark Pavlik
Allentown/Breinigsville (evening reception)
Coaches: Char Morett, Bill O'Brien, Mark Pavlik
May 8 New York City (lunch)
Coaches: Patrick Chambers, Char Morett, Bill O'Brien, Mark Pavlik
Scranton (evening event)
Coaches: Patrick Chambers, Bill O'Brien, Mark Pavlik
May 9 Penn State DuBois (lunch)
Coaches: Guy Gadowsky, Bill O'Brien, Mark Pavlik
Pittsburgh (evening reception)
Coaches: Guy Gadowsky, Bill O'Brien, Mark Pavlik
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CHICAGO, Ill. - GoPSUsports.com
talks with several Nittany Lions in the locker room following Thursday's Big
Ten Tournament first round setback to Michigan.
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GoPSUsports.com's Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony
CHICAGO, Ill. - Nittany
Lion basketball coach talks with GoPSUsports.com head coach Patrick Chambers
one-on-one following Thursday's Big Ten Tournament first round setback to
Michigan.
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GoPSUsports.com's Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony
CHICAGO, Ill. - Welcome to live in-game coverage of the Nittany Lion
basketball team.
Take a look back at the running blog from Penn State's season-ending 83-66 setback to No. 6 Michigan in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
Starting Lineups:
Penn State - G - Marshall, G - Newbill,
G - Colella, F - Travis, F - Borovnjak Michigan - G - Burke, G - Hardaway
Jr., G - Stauskas, F - Robinson III, F - Morgan
13:36 1st Half - Penn State 14, Michigan 7 The Nittany Lions blasted out of the gate with a red-hot offensive
start. Big Ten Player of the Year Trey
Burke opened the scoring with a 3-pointer, but the Lions answered with
14-straight tallies, including eight points from the man in the middle, Sasa Borvnjak. Borovnjak has been active on every
possession. The Lions started 7-for-9
from the field and led by 11 until Michigan answered with back-to-back buckets
to make it a seven-point game.
Nonetheless, Penn State could not have asked for a better start in
tournament action.
11:24 1st Half - Penn State 14, Michigan 14 Following Penn State's strong offensive start,
the Wolverines countered with a big run of their own to square the game at
14-14 in Chicago. Mitch McGary accounted
for six of the 11 points during the 11-0 scoring run. Penn State is still shooting 7-for-13, but
the Lions need a basket to answer Michigan's push.
7:27 1st Half - Michigan 26, Penn State 20 The Wolverines took a 19-16 lead after a Nik
Stauskas 3-pointer at the 9:59 mark.
Jermaine Marshall answered with a runner in the lane, which pulled the
Lions within one. However, two more
baskeys from McGary, who now has 10 points and a 3-pointer form Tim Hardaway
Jr. had the Wolverines up six at the under eight-minute media timeout. Penn State's shooting is still better than 50
percent (10-19), but the Lions need to settle in on offense.
3:42 1st Half - Michigan 32, Penn State 26
The Nittany Lions weathered the Michigan surge and kept the game within
striking distance heading into the final media timeout of the first half. Playing with two fouls, Borvonjak converted
on a lay-in, which made it a 32-26 game after a runner from Burke put Michigan
up eight, marking its larges lead of the afternoon. Michigan's offensive rebounding has been huge
in the first half. Eight offensive
boards have led to 17 second-chance points for the Wolverines, which has
largely been the difference in the first half.
Halftime - Michigan 35, Penn State 33 Penn State opened the game 7-for-9 from the
field, which fueled a 14-3 lead in the opening 5:33. Michigan came back with a 16-2 surge, which
made it 19-16 Wolverines. From there, Michigan
led by as much as eight points at 32-24 with under five minutes to play in the
half. However, Penn State stormed to a
7-0 scoring run to close the half, which pulled the Lions to within two at the
break. Borovnjak was tremendous in the
first half finishing with 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting. Newbill led the Penn State scorin with 12
points on 6-for-12 shooting. Ross Travis
was active on the glass throughout the opening 20 minutes, finishing with six
points and nine rebounds. McGary paced
the Wolverines with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The difference in the opening half was Michigan's ability to score after
offensive rebounds. Michigan had 17
second-chance points to Penn State's six tallies. The first half was very well played on both
sides with the teams finishing with a combined three turnovers. Penn State's late run has the Lions
toe-to-toe with the sixth-ranked Wolverines.
14:14 2nd Half - Michigan 48, Penn State 45 Travis is having one of the best games in his
Nittany Lion career. With back-to-back
put-back buckets, the Lion sophomore now has 12 points and 11 rebounds for the
Lions. Michigan's largest lead of the
half has been three points, largely because of the six-straight tallies from
Travis on the offensive end of the floor.
Hardaway Jr. is beginning to heat up for Michigan. After back-to-back baskets, he has 12 points
to lead the Wolverines.
11:48 2nd Half - Michigan 54, Penn State 47 Michigan mounted an 8-2 scoring surge to make it
a 54-47 game at the 12:14 mark before Coach Chambers used a timeout. Michigan's Jon Horford will go to the foul
line after the media timeout with two foul shots looking to make it a
nine-point game. The Wolverines have
scored 28 points on 15 offensive rebounds.
Penn State has 10 second-chance points on seven offensive rebounds. The Lions will be looking for a scoring surge
out of the break to trim the deficit. The
Lions can ill afford to go down by double digits. 7:29 2nd Half - Michigan 68, Penn State 52 With 14:40 to play, the Michigan lead was one
point. Since then, the Wolverines have
out-scored the Nittany Lions 22-7. That
stretch included a 16-2 scoring spurt covering nearly three minutes of game
time. Taylor snapped a 3:02 dry spell
for the Nittany Lions with a free throw, but Michigan came right back with a
basket from Hardaway. The Lions need a
push to get it under double figures heading into the final media timeout.
2:58 2nd Half - Michigan 79, Penn State 61 Michigan pushed its lead to 19 points on two
different occasions, both of which coming after tallies from Burke, who has 15
points on the afternoon. A Colella
transition 3-pointer from the corner in front of Penn State's bench cut the
deficit down to 16, but a Horford dunk extended the Wolverine lead back up to
18.
FINAL - Michigan 83, Penn State 66 Penn State played
like a team that had nothing to lose in Chicago on Thursday afternoon. The Nittany Lions stormed to an 11-point lead
in the opening minutes and went toe-to-toe with the sixth-ranked Wolverines
until mid-way through the second half.
Penn State's offense went dry for a 3:02 span, and Michigan made Penn
State pay. With the score reading 46-45,
Michigan, the Wolverines scored 16 of the next 18 points to claim a 15-point
lead. From there, Michigan never allowed
Penn State to get any closer than 15.
Newbill led the way for the Nittany Lions with 20 points and six rebounds. Borovnjak capped off his Nittany Lion career
with a terrific game, finishing with 15 points on a blistering 7-for-10
shooting. Travis finished with a strong
12-point, 11-rebound effort against the Wolverines. Big Ten Player of the Year Trey Burke led
Michigan with 21 points. Penn State shot
48 percent from the field in the game.
"I'm proud of our kids," Chambers said after the game. "They competed. They played hard. The last month has been a lot of fun...And I am really proud of these players and how they competed down the stretch."
The Nittany Lions wanted to play their best basketball at the end of the
season, and that was without question the case.
The final score was not indicative of the type of effort Penn State
turned in on Thursday afternoon.
The Nittany Lions enter the tournament having won two their last four games, including a thrilling 84-78 victory over the Wolverines inside the Bryce Jordan Center. Sixth-ranked Michigan comes into the postseason having also won two of its last four and five of its last 10 after starting 2012-13 with 16-straight wins. Ranked as high as No. 1 in the nation on Jan. 28, the Wolverines dropped a one-point game against No. 2 Indiana in the regular season finale on Sunday.
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
When the ball is tipped in the United Center at 2:30 p.m. ET
on Thursday afternoon, a new season begins for the Nittany Lion basketball
team.
Head coach Patrick Chambers and his Nittany Lions are headed to Chicago for the
2013 Big Ten Tournament. As the 12th-seed, Penn State faces fifth-seeded and
sixth-ranked Michigan in Thursday's first round. The winner of the Penn
State-Michigan game lives another day and advances to the quarterfinals for a
date with Wisconsin. The team that does not advance heads home.
"I'm excited about the tournament and the excitement around it," said Chambers.
"We're 0-0 right now in my mind and we have a lot to play for and a lot to
fight for. It's the Big Ten - it's the best conference in America."
Playing an 18-game conference schedule, which included two matchups against the
Wolverines, Chambers and his squad said that there are no real secrets between
any Big Ten teams at this point in the season.
That being said, the head coach knows that it will be important for his
team to be at its best.
"Do your job today and live in the moment," said Chambers. "Forget the
schedule, forget the record and forget all of that - it's gone. Work today,
work tomorrow and see what we can do on Thursday."
Penn State's leading scorer, D.J. Newbill, could not agree more. Before
practice on Tuesday, the sophomore guard said that he and the team want to keep
moving forward and work to become the best they can be no matter when the
season ends.
"We're confident right now," said Newbill. "We're playing fearless basketball
and we're playing more together. We're just ready to go out there and play."
The Nittany Lions enter
the tournament having won two their last four games, including a thrilling
84-78 victory over the Wolverines inside the Bryce Jordan Center. Sixth-ranked Michigan comes into the
postseason having also won two of its last four and five of its last 10 after
starting 2012-13 with 16-straight wins.
Ranked as high as No. 1 in the nation on Jan. 28, the Wolverines dropped
a one-point game against No. 2 Indiana in the regular season finale on Sunday.
VIDEO: Coach Chambers Big Ten Tournament
Preview Press Conference Head coach Patrick Chambers met with the media on Tuesday to preview the
Big Ten Tournament. Take a look at some
of his remarks leading up to the Michigan game.
VIDEO: Michigan Scouting Report with
Assistant Coach Brian Daly GoPSUsports.com talked with assistant coach Brian Daly for a video scouting
report of the first-round matchup against Michigan. Take a look.
VIDEO: Big Ten Tournament Player
Interviews GoPSUsports.com talks with senior Nick Colella, sophomore D.J. Newbill and
junior Jermaine Marshall for a preview of the Big Ten Tournament matchup
against Michigan.
Stat Comparison: Penn State and Michigan Penn State enters the Big Ten Tournament playing its best basketball of the
season, while Michigan enters the postseason having gone 5-5 in its last 10
games. The Wolverines rank No. 2 in the
Big Ten in scoring at 75.4 points per game, No. 2 in field goal percentage at
48.7 percent and No. 2 in three-point field goal percentage. The Nittany Lions' numbers below are not
indicative of the way they have been playing for the last several games. Since Feb. 14, Penn State has averaged 65.1
points per game while shooting 43 percent from the field, which is nearly four
percentage points higher than the season total.
Take an inside look at the numbers in Thursday's matchup at the United Center.
#12 Penn State
Big Ten Tournament
First Round
#5 Michigan
10-20
Overall Record
25-6
2-16
Big Ten Record
12-6
182
RPI
12
61.5
Points Per Game - Offense
75.4
67.7
Points Per Game - Defense
62.6
.392
FG Percentage
.487
.427
Opponent FG Percentage
.418
.295
3-point Percentage
.388
.344
Opponent 3-point Percentage
.329
.697
Free Throw Percentage
.706
35.0
Rebounds Per Game
35.0
+1.5
Rebounding Margin
+3.0
9.8
Assists Per Game
14.5
Newbill (16.1 ppg)
Leading Scorer
Burke (19.2 ppg)
Travis (7.3 rpg)
Leading Rebounder
Robinson (5.5 rpg)
Frazier (4.1 apg)
Assists Leader
Burke (6.8 apg)
2-8
Record - Last 10 Games
5-5
1-1
Season Series
1-1
9-15
Big Ten Tournament Record
8-13*
0
Big Ten Tournament Titles
0
* Michigan's Big Ten Tournament record does not include wins vacated due to sanctions.
Big Ten Tournament Bracket Breakdown There will be more teams ranked in this week's AP Top 10 under one roof
this weekend inside the United Center than any other building in America. Every ticket for every session is sold for
the highly anticipated 2013 Big Ten Tournament.
The competition level in the Big Ten this season was among the best in
the conference's storied hardwood history.
Four teams enter the weekend ranked in the Top 10, including No. 3 Indiana, No.
6 Michigan, No. 8 Michigan State and No. 10 Ohio State. Michigan, ranked sixth in the nation, is the
No. 5 seed for the tournament, putting the level of competitiveness in the
conference during the 2013 season in perspective.
With that being said, the tournament bracket is wide open. The elite teams in the tournament draw have
talented rosters capable of making a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. And the potential matchups over the course of
four days in the United Center will keep Big Ten hoops fans glued to their
couches all weekend long.
Indiana enters as the top seed after clinching the outright Big Ten title on
Sunday with a dramatic win on the road at No. 6 Michigan. In addition to Indiana, second-seeded Ohio
State, third-seeded Michigan State and fourth-seeded Wisconsin all earned byes
and will first be in action on Friday during the quarterfinals.
The Nittany Lions rest in the top half of the bracket. Eighth-seeded Illinois will meet ninth-seeded
Minnesota. The winner of that game moves
on to face Indiana. The Penn
State-Michigan winner meets Wisconsin on Friday. From there, the Indiana-Illinois/Minnesota
winner will meet the Wisconsin-Penn State/Michigan winner in Saturday's first
semifinal game.
Action begins at noon on Thursday inside the United Center. Television coverage will be on BTN and ESPN
on Thursday, ESPN and BTN on Friday and CBS on Saturday and Sunday.
By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - With just 13 seconds left in their final regular season
game of the 2013 season, the Nittany Lions trailed No. 22 Wisconsin by a basket.
D.J Newbill pulled up for a shot that didn't go down, but ran after his
rebound and got the ball back. As the clock dwindled to just six, he pulled up
again. Newbill tied the game with just seconds left to play. He wasn't giving
up.
In the final five seconds, Wisconsin's Traevon Jackson made the impossible
possible and sunk a long-range three at the buzzer. Penn State fell to the Top
25 team by just three points.
But the Lions never gave up.
Penn State played some of its best basketball against the Badgers in the
Bryce Jordan Center on Sunday afternoon. The resilience that Newbill showed in
those final seconds of the contest is the same that the rest of his team showed
for the entirety of the game - and their head coach noticed.
"We played hard - the kids competed," said Patrick Chambers. "I really felt
like we earned the right to win. That's why this one hurts, because they did
everything to earn it for the last few days and all year long."
The Lions' tough but clean defense held Wisconsin to just 24 points in the
first half while they netted 25. In the second, foul trouble plagued the home
team early and ultimately led to pulling vital offensive options off of the
floor when Penn State needed them most.
Offensively, the tag team of Jermaine Marshall and Newbill got the job
done. Marshall notched the game-high 23 points and Newbill recorded another 22.
After the game Newbill said that he was happy with the way the Lions played as
a group, but unsatisfied with the outcome.
"You always get a great lesson from a loss," said Newbill. "But at the same
time, we don't want moral victories. We want to win as many games as possible.
I think we continued to stick together and we just kept on fighting."
Marshall agreed and said that even though his teammates' effort didn't show
up in the box score, they were playing at a high performance level.
"I just think we are always willing to give it 100 percent," said Marshall.
"We got down early and nobody hung their heads and we made a little run to get
back into the game and we stuck together. I just think guys are not willing to
give up on this team."
The Lions finish at 10-20 overall and 2-16 in the Big Ten in the
regular-season but live to play another as the postseason begins near the end
of the week. Penn State faces Michigan in the first round of the Big Ten
Tournament in Chicago, Ill. on Thursday afternoon.
As he has said all season, Chambers likes the way that his Nittany Lions
are improving as individuals and working together to also improve as a team. In
fact, he's having so much fun watching his group grow that all he wants to do
is play more basketball.
"I don't want the season to end," said Chambers. "We're starting to figure
some things out and they're starting to play hard and together. D.J. looks like
a solid point-guard, Jermaine's playing at a high level, Sasa [Borovnjak] a
high level, Ross [Travis], Nick [Colella], and they're doing a great job. I'm
excited for next week."
