Game #31 vs Penn State - B1G Tourney

[hhcmatt]

Nebraska Cornhuskers (12-18) vs Penn St. Nittany Lions (14-17)

Date: Wednesday Mar. 8

Time: 3:30 pm CST 
Arena: Verizon Center in DC

TV Broadcast:  ESPN2

Penn St. Info

Head Coach: Pat Chambers
Location: University Park, PA
Conference: B1G
Nickname: Nittany Lions

Mascot: The Nittany Lion
Last time out: Lost to Iowa

Typical Rotation Depth: 8+
Line: Penn St by 1.5
Tempo: Fast Paced (Quick shot offense, slower defense)
Style: High Assist/Low 3pt attempts

4 Factors Good: Forcing Turnovers, shot defense
4 Factors Bad: Shooting, Rebounds

Four Factors
Effective FG%:	48.0 280	48.4 85	50.4
Turnover %:	18.6 156	21.0 50	18.8
Off. Reb. %:	27.0 254	30.8 235	29.4
FTA/FGA:	34.4 206	31.3 94	35.5

 

Most Frequently Used Lineup over the last 5 games

1

5 Glynn Watson 6-0  175  So

0 Tai Webster 6-4  195  Sr

11 Evan Taylor 6-5  206  Jr

12 Michael Jacobson 6-9  230  So

32 Jordy Tshimanga 6-11  275  Fr

12.7

1

10 Tony Carr 6-3  198  Fr

33 Shep Garner 6-2  187  Jr

23 Josh Reaves 6-4  210  So

11 Lamar Stevens 6-7  218  Fr

24 Mike Watkins 6-9  246  Fr

29.5

 

These five guys along with Payton Banks are playing the majority of minutes for Penn St.

 

 

Miles Presser

 

 

Watson Presser

 

 

Player to Watch: Mike Watkins

Redshirt Freshman Center Mike Watkins is part of a young core that of Philly players that coach Pat Chambers has recently tapped into. Watkins leads the team in blocks and rebounds and expect Nebraska to be much more aggressive to the paint when he isn't in the game. Watkins is the also most efficient scorer on the team. Last time out Nebraska was able to attack Watkins.

 

The Skinny

Neither team has won since mid-February so this lowly 12-13 matchup is a bit of a chance for one team to hang their hat on for a least one day. Traditionally these teams have played fairly close including 2 years ago when Penn State beat Nebraska by 3 in the tourney.

 

Defensively, this is the poor shooting opponent that Nebraska can get back on track against.  Penn St is more than willing to take bad shots all night and chances are that many of them won't go in.  Offensively, how much do they want it inside against Watkins? Will we see the return of Glynn Watson?

 

There is a good chance that whichever team gets down in this game is going to roll over and just die. Is this Nebraska team simply ready to give up and go home?  Seems like this game has the potential to be a throwback rock fight.  The Huskers have played in so many close ones this year. Will they pull it out if that's the case for this game?

 

Prediction: Nebraska 69 - Penn St 64

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