Game Day Essentials: Game #25 vs Penn State

Penn St. Info

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

Mascot: The Nittany Lion
Last time out: Beat Illinois

Shirt not to wear: Blue, Thundercat
Typical Rotation Depth: 8+
Line: Nebraska by 4
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

Most Frequently Used Lineup over the last 5 games

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

Miles Presser

Roby 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.

The Skinny

This is sort of the same Penn St team, but it's not.  Thus, it's a gritty, poor shooting group but instead of transfers and spare parts Pat Chambers has been able to beat out some national powerhouses for talent in Philadelphia, specifically Philly powerhouse Roman Catholic HS whose alumni account for three of Penn St's five starters. With a few decent road wins and plus B1G victories over Maryland, Michigan St. and Minnesota the fightin' Chambers have proven they can knock off most anyone in the league. 

Offensively Penn St is challenged but it's more about knowing the strengths and weakness of each individual player and guarding accordingly. PG Tony Carr drives everything and it's all about keeping him out of the paint as the relatively poor shooter regularly gets to the FT line as well as feeding Watkins. Banks and Garner are the guys who will shoot the most 3s. Stevens and Reeves are slash to the paint guys. Penn St. typically presses the ball and takes the first open look. Keeping Watkins/Moore off the glass for those misses will be a key as well as not absorbing too much contact. This isn't a team well equip to exploit Nebraska's 3pt defense.

Defensively Penn St is going to pressure you into turnovers and block shots with Watkins in the game. Their soft man defense will at points bog down the Huskers and lull them into low percentage shots. Look for their to be plenty of offensive rebound opportunities and for Nebraska to score some easy points off of steals.  Take the big road win over Illinois with a grain of salt; the Illini are the mentally softest team in the B1G 10.  The Huskers can full court press or 1-3-1 their way back into this game if they're behind and this is a young Penn St that isn't yet ready to close out close games on the road.  

Penn St has yet to play Nebraska within 10 in Lincoln. At some point they'll get closer and at some point will win. Will that be tonight?

Prediction: Nebraska 75 - Penn St 66