Game Day Essentials: Game #19 @ Penn State

Pe nn St. Info

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

Mascot: The Nittany Lion
Last time out: Beat Rutgers
Typical Rotation Depth: 8+
Line: Penn State by 8

Tempo: Fast paced

Defense: Man

Style: Low assist % / Low 3pa%

4 Factors

Most Frequent Lineups over the last 5 games

Nebraska

Penn St

Obviously we know that Jordy is not playing but would you have guessed our second most used line up involves Tanner Borchardt? Crazy times.

Speaking of crazy time really big question is the status of super efficient starter Josh Reaves.  His backup  Nazeer Bostick is still a good defender but a serious downgrade offensively.

Players to watch: Tony Carr and Lamar Stevens

The prized Sophomore Philly area HS teammates drive this Penn State team and both players dominate the shots like Petteway and Shields did back in the day. Carr is the main cog as the 6'5" PG drives the action, leading the team in scoring and assists.  Carr is an undisciplined shooter so it's possible to lure him into taking low percentage mid-range shots. 

The Skinny

Coming into a tough road game where Nebraska hasn't won since Miles' first year it's been a drama filled 2 days as starting center Jordy Tshimanga doesn't make the trip to Happy Valley and may be leaving Nebraska for good.  Is Isaiah Roby worrying about having to find another roommate? Sudden departures can sometimes rip teams apart; sometimes it will pull them together.  For the purposes of this game, just imagine that it's one of those games where Jordy looks bad on the court but you don't actually have to watch that part of the game (and the team doesn't suffer the empty possessions.)  Look for veteran Dube Okeke to get the starting nod, make a run for that starting tip, and hopefully not pick up 2 fouls before the first TV timeout. Expect a heavy mix of Dube and Tanner unless they either foul out or big Mike Watkins starts eating them up.

Penn St is a hard team to figure out because much like Nebraska they haven't really beaten anyone but have cleared out any of the lower competition (minus a home loss to a salty Rider squad). Unlike every other Pat Chambers team at Penn St, this one can shoot as they sport a top 100 eFG% in addition to the hard nosed grinding you're used to.  Nebraska has been starting to lock in defensively. Can they shut down the super talented pieces of this Penn St. squad?  The Lions are like Minnesota in a sense that if you can make your way to their bench there is a drop off.

Even with Reeves out of the game you have to think this will be one of those close testy games where neither team backs down. Your guess is as good as mine which team comes out on top. Let's go with the better FT shooting team.

Prediction: Nebraska 73 - Penn State 71