In a season fast approaching February, Penn State’s game against Indiana on Saturday in the Bryce Jordan Center is a bellwether. Not only is it a game Penn State can win, it is one they need to win. With IU leaving Michigan State and Purdue in its wake this past week, Penn State must turn its bow into the Hoosier current and rise to the occasion. In his fourth season leading the Nittany Lions, Ed DeChellis (Penn State ‘82) has endured and persevered amidst the anonymity of being the head basketball coach at a university where the color of Joe Paterno’s full head of hair is fodder for the sports page. Lest anyone forget Penn State’s heroic run to the Sweet Sixteen in 2001, DeChellis’ rebuilding of Penn State hoops has been diverted on its path to the upper echelon of the Big Ten by the stigma associated with being Joe Pa U and the untimely departures of players such as Aaron Johnson, Jan Jagla, and Marlon Smith. However, to those outside of range of State College AM radio, it is worth observing that Ed DeChellis is on the cusp of creating a serious basketball program, which makes the Indiana game that much more important.
With a record standing at 10-5, Penn State is led by last season’s B10 Freshman of the Year, Jamelle Cornley and one of the best players in the league, Gerry Claxton. Playing typical DeChellis defense and rebounding their hearts out, the Lions are a dangerous team albeit with one glaring Achilles Heal: turnovers. Although they lead the league in assists, they’re also first in turnovers. Sloppy ball handling led to their demise in a second half collapse against Seton Hall and did them in against Purdue in a 64-60 loss. If DeChellis is to guide Penn State to a finish in the upper tier of the of the Big Ten, he’ll need to find a solution to the turnover woes of Danny Morrissey and David Jackson. Perhaps more minutes for Mike Walker in the backcourt are on the horizon.
Some reinforcement to the guard position (as well as some intrigue) is also coming this weekend in the form of Justin Norwood, star wide receiver for Coach Paterno’s football Lions. After Norwood helped lead State High to a Pennsylvania big school championship in 2003, DeChellis offered Norwood a spot on the Penn State roster as a preferred walk on but Norwood instead chose football. According to DeChellis, who presumably will utilize him better than Galen Hall, Norwood plays great defense and can handle the ball. And everyone knows he’s not slow.
Penn State’s future looks promising with only two seniors of the roster (Luber and Jackson) and a good recruiting class coming in next season. With two scholarships to offer, Penn State landed a top 15 point guard in Talor Battle and beat out Louisville, Kentucky and Arkansas for 6′7″ forward Jeff Brooks. That said, for Penn State to keep their momentum moving the right direction, they need to take full advantage of the roster on the court now.
Having made the NIT last season with a roster dominated with DeChellis freshmen and sophomores, anything less than an NCAA invitation this season would be disappointing. To get there, the Nittany Lions need to hold serve at home (even if BJC is mostly empty) and pick off a few on the road, the standard recipe for Big Ten success. Unlike tickets for Saturday football games, tickets to Penn State hoop games are far too easy to come by. To change that dynamic, like Wisconsin under Dick Bennett, DeChellis just needs to win, which starts with games like the one this weekend against IU. Winning begets winning and, like Bo Ryan, once that happens, DeChellis will consistently pick off top recruits and have a program replete with players in the mold of his system. Hoopraker believes DeChellis is up to the task. If you’re a Penn State fan, buy season tickets now, while you can. I wish my father-in-law bought some Badger tickets during Steve Yoder’s reign in Madison.
