Friday, January 20, 2006
Centre Daily Times | 01/20/2006 | Walker adds element of control:
"It was the sort of shot that has gotten Mike Walker in trouble in the past, the quick 3-pointer in transition with both defenders and teammates scrambling to get into position.
"Ed DeChellis, though he wants his players to push the basketball, isn't the biggest fan of this type of shot, and has let Walker know it on several occasions.
"So, while the words 'No, Mike!' might have been running through his coach's head, Walker squared up, stopped, jumped and ... fired a bullet pass to a cutting Jamelle Cornley, who laid the ball in for an easy two.
"It was another fast-break bucket for the Nittany Lions, who got plenty of them during Wednesday's 74-54 home rout of Purdue, but it was also another great example of the maturation process of their sophomore guard from Lewisberry.
"Penn State, winner of two of its last three Big Ten games, has picked up its overall level of play thanks to players like Walker improving their individual games. Walker has averaged 10.7 points and four assists in his last three, providing the Nittany Lions with their best outside shooting threat and taking excellent care of the basketball. ..."
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Thursday, January 19, 2006
Scout.com: Nittany Lions Pound Purdue at the BJC:
"For a night, Ed DeChellis' vision for Penn State in the Big Ten came to fruition. The Nittany Lions alternated between six different defenses, including an effective press, forcing the tempo to gain a season-high 12 steals. They dunked in transition, threw down an alley-oop jam in the half-court game and forced 19 turnovers.
"Oh yeah, and they hammered Purdue at the Jordan Center Wednesday night, 74-54, their first 20-point victory over a conference team in half a decade. Sophomore forward Geary Claxton led the way with 20 points and 10 rebounds, and freshman post Jamelle Cornley was close behind with 18 points.
" 'We haven't been able to play that way,' said DeChellis, whose team (10-5, 2-2) was coming off a wrenching loss to Iowa at the BJC Saturday. 'I think it's positive. It's uncharted waters for us.' ..."
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PSU earns major rout:
"The Penn State men's basketball team is having a blast.
"The Nittany Lions (10-5, 2-2 Big Ten) stifled Purdue last night with defensive switches, offensive fluidity and superior intensity, winning 74-54.
"In the driver's seat for much of the game, Penn State gradually expanded its lead in the second half, securing the program's first double-digit win total since the 2000-2001 season.
"'It's uncharted waters for us,' Penn State head coach Ed DeChellis said of the cushion in the second half. 'We haven't really been there before where we're up, and I can talk in timeouts about taking it from 10-15, and then 15-20.'
"Penn State kept Purdue (7-9, 1-4) out of sync offensively by switching defensive systems from time to time. When the Boilermakers got used to seeing a 2-3 zone, DeChellis switched to a 1-3-1, in which the wings would extend far to the outside, providing extra pressure for a struggling offense.
"Occasionally, the Lions would even move to a full court trap, pressuring Purdue into hasty decisions. The Boilermakers committed 19 turnovers on the evening.
"'They weren't ready for it,' Penn State forward Geary Claxton said.
"'They looked confused, like they didn't know what to run.' ..."
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Coach utilizes witty defense:
"Ed DeChellis may not have any WMD's, but he's still got a secret weapon or two. He unleashed them both on Purdue last night.
"The press and trap -- two high-risk, high-reward defenses, seemed to catch the Boilermakers off-guard last night in the Bryce Jordan Center.
"The Penn State men's basketball team forced 19 turnovers, helping the team secure its biggest conference blowout win since the 2001 season.
"'There's no doubt we struggled a little bit against the press,' Purdue coach Matt Painter said. 'Our guys know that teams are going to press them ... we're just short-handed.'
"Short-handed or not, the Nittany Lions (10-5, 2-2 Big Ten) still had some say in the matter: Six different players recorded a steal, including 6-foot-6 freshman Jamelle Cornley, who finished with two.
"'We normally press every now and then, but we pressed a couple possessions at a time,' Cornley said. 'It's pretty fun, but it's sometimes very tiring -- and I think that's one of the reasons why we didn't do it in the beginning of the season.' ..."
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Lions set a trap to catch Boilers | IndyStar.com:
"STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- A step backward. A giant step backward.
"For all it did well in Saturday's 17-point victory over Minnesota, Purdue's basketball team never gave itself a chance Wednesday night at Penn State, where the Nittany Lions pulled away for a 74-54 victory.
"In no particular order, the Boilermakers' struggles centered on their inability to attack Penn State's 1-3-1 trap, a poor night from freshmen Korey Spates, Chris Lutz and Marcus Green, and foul trouble and poor shooting from big men Matt Kiefer, Gary Ware and Marcus White.
"Penn State (10-5, 2-2 Big Ten) entered the game having lost 30 of 35 conference games during coach Ed DeChellis' two-plus seasons.
"But with only 5,951 watching in the Bryce Jordan Center, the Nittany Lions had the look of an improving team, led by 20 points and 10 rebounds from sophomore forward Geary Claxton and 18 points and six rebounds from freshman forward Jamelle Cornley. ..."
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PennLive.com: SportsFlash - Penn State 74, Purdue 54:
"STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — The game started at 6 p.m. The arena was less than half full and the crowd less than enthusiastic.
"Then Penn State reserve Mike Walker came onto the court and provided a first-half spark with his outside shooting and Purdue wilted under defensive pressure in the second half as the Nittany Lions defeated the Boilermakers 74-54 on Wednesday.
"Fans gave a hearty cheer as they headed for the exits after Penn State (10-5, 2-2 Big Ten) passed their conference win total from last year, when they were 1-15 in the Big Ten.
" 'Unbelievable, this is just a different atmosphere from last year,' said Walker, before a fan called out his name while walking off the court. 'When you win, everything just seems to be better.' ..."
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Centre Daily Times | 01/19/2006 | Extending the Lions:
"UNIVERSITY PARK -- The suddenly swarming Penn State pressure was getting to Purdue. Steals turned to easy points, and the Nittany Lions' lead swelled from 10 to 15 to 20.
"The Boilermakers got it back to 10, but Penn State just ... kept ... coming. And its starters wouldn't come off the floor, not until they had collected their biggest conference win in five years, 74-54, Wednesday at the Bryce Jordan Center.
"We didn't want to give up anything easy tonight, said Penn State forward Geary Claxton. Against an extended full-court defense, nothing was easy for the Boilermakers (7-9, 1-4 Big Ten).
"The Nittany Lions (10-5, 2-2), who won for the second time in three games and the sixth time in eight, looked very much at ease playing the defense-to-offense, up-tempo style Ed DeChellis has been working to build.
" 'It's a statement game for our players,' a relaxed DeChellis said afterward. 'I think our players really understood the importance of playing well tonight and getting a win.' ..."
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Centre Daily Times | 01/19/2006 | Extending the Lions:
"UNIVERSITY PARK -- The suddenly swarming Penn State pressure was getting to Purdue. Steals turned to easy points, and the Nittany Lions' lead swelled from 10 to 15 to 20.
"The Boilermakers got it back to 10, but Penn State just ... kept ... coming. And its starters wouldn't come off the floor, not until they had collected their biggest conference win in five years, 74-54, Wednesday at the Bryce Jordan Center.
"We didn't want to give up anything easy tonight, said Penn State forward Geary Claxton. Against an extended full-court defense, nothing was easy for the Boilermakers (7-9, 1-4 Big Ten).
"The Nittany Lions (10-5, 2-2), who won for the second time in three games and the sixth time in eight, looked very much at ease playing the defense-to-offense, up-tempo style Ed DeChellis has been working to build.
" 'It's a statement game for our players,' a relaxed DeChellis said afterward. 'I think our players really understood the importance of playing well tonight and getting a win.' ..."
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Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Lions need win vs. Purdue:
"When you're in the position Penn State is in, the big games aren't the ones against the big teams. The really important contests are the ones against the scrubs.
"That's the case tonight as the Nittany Lions entertain crippled, teenager-dominated Purdue for an odd 6 p.m. start at the Jordan Center.
"To PSU's credit, it's doing anything possible to get any possible win on any TV outlet. That's why the game was moved from its original 8 p.m. start. ...."
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Sunday, January 15, 2006
Centre Daily Times | 01/15/2006 | Nittany Lions drop Big Ten home opener to Iowa:
"UNIVERSITY PARK -- It's hard to be sure if they were there to see the Orange Bowl trophy, get an autograph from Derrick Williams or, of all things, watch the Penn State men's basketball team take on Iowa.
"For whatever reason, 8,293 came to the Bryce Jordan Center on Saturday afternoon, and they saw the kind of game the Nittany Lions haven't been able to deliver in a while -- one that, if not for a couple of late, clutch plays by a couple of Hawkeye seniors, could have been a gritty Penn State win.
"Iowa won, 80-76, but the Nittany Lions (9-5, 1-2 Big Ten) gave notice that this conference season could be more entertaining, if not more successful, than those of years past.
"Adam Haluska scored a career-high 29 points for the Hawkeyes (13-4, 2-1), including 12 during a huge first-half run that might have decided the game.
"Penn State battled back on several occasions in the second half, taking a 68-66 lead with just under four minutes remaining and a 70-69 lead with two minutes to play, but a costly Nittany Lion turnover and two huge plays by Iowa center Erek Hansen wrapped up Iowa's third win in its last 10 Big Ten road games.
"'It seemed like we were one bounce away all night,' said Penn State coach Ed DeChellis. ..."
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Thursday, January 05, 2006
Centre Daily Times | 01/05/2006 | Nittany Lions face first tough test:
"It is time for the young members of the Penn State men's basketball team to show what they have learned.
"It is time for the first big exam.
"After feasting on numerous opponents who were decidedly inferior, the Nittany Lions will face their first ranked opponent of the season at 8 p.m. today when they visit No. 18 Ohio State in the Big Ten opener for both schools.
"'We're looking forward to Ohio State and these next few days we're going to have to just work hard in practice,' sophomore Geary Claxton said after Saturday's 65-53 win over Mount St. Mary's. 'We have to get ready for that.'
"There is much for the team to prepare for, including a bigger team, a road game for just the third time this season and an undefeated opponent.
"Penn State (8-3) is off to its best start since the 2000-01 season, but all of those wins have come at the expense of teams with losing records. The team has lost both of its road games this season.
"Now comes the Big Ten, where everyone is above .500 and where the Nittany Lions have struggled. Penn State is just 9-55 in conference regular season play over the last four season and have lost all 32 tries on the road. ..."
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Tuesday, January 03, 2006
The Penn Stater catches up with Meech
Thanks to Tima Hay and the Penn Stater for letting us reprint this - Ed.:Enough with the soccer and cricket already: John Amaechi wants people in the pubs of England to cheer basketball as well. Three years ago, Amaechi ’94 Lib—whose NBA career included stints in Cleveland, Orlando, and Utah—gave $4 million to establish the first Amaechi Basketball Centre in his native Manchester, where he hopes to build the next generation of basketball in the U.K. His work with children is the focus of a new documentary series on British television, one of the many projects “Meech” has taken on since he hung up his NBA high-tops in 2004. He has been named the captain of England’s national basketball team, was an ambassador for the effort to land London the 2012 Olympics, and is working on both his autobiography and his Ph.D. in clinical child psychology.
How is the British game of basketball different from the American game?The British game, up until now, has very much been based on street ball. I think that in England the emphasis on skills went away for a few years, and now we’re bringing it back.
You’ve just been named captain of the English team for the 2006 Commonwealth Games.Yes, sadly.
Why sadly?One, I would hope that at my age [35] there would be somebody better to take the job. And there isn’t. And the other part is that I retired for a good reason: My body is tired and my brain is tired of basketball.
I think many children see you as a role model. What do you think about the Charles Barkley philosophy that athletes don’t have to be role models?I love Charles Barkley. I think he’s a really great man, and I’ve never had a bad interaction with him. But I think it’s complete bupkis. It’s nonsense to think that being a role model is something that the person who is seen as a role model can control. The people elevate you to that level, so it’s almost involuntary. But one day you realize you’ve been elevated. Sometimes it’s by five students in your class. Sometimes it’s by your children. And sometimes it’s by 50 million people, because you’re really good at putting a ball in a hole. But it doesn’t matter—once they elevate you, it’s your job to behave in a way that will never leave you responsible for bad things that happen to them.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Centre Daily Times | 01/01/2006 | Fast start propels Nittany Lions to win:
"UNIVERSITY PARK -- If Penn State can get more starts to basketball games like this one, they will do just fine.
"Unfortunately, the road gets a lot tougher.
"The Nittany Lions held Mount St. Mary's without a field goal for nearly 10 minutes in the first half on their way to a 65-53 win Saturday afternoon at the Bryce Jordan Center to close the season's non-conference schedule.
"'We came out ready to play and we got a pretty good start,' Penn State coach Ed DeChellis said. 'The first 10 minutes of the game I thought we did a pretty good job.'
"Geary Claxton led Penn State (8-3) with 16 points to go with three blocks. Jamelle Cornley added 14 points and eight rebounds and Travis Parker netted 10 points. ..."
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