Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1179560
P atrick Chambers knows what it's going to take to get Penn State back to the NCAA tournament. It's going to take an offensive surge that comple- ments the Nittany Lions' feisty defense. A year ago, the Lions finished 13th in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (41.7), 10th in both 3-point field goal percentage (32.0) and free throw percentage (69.3), and ninth in scoring offense (69.7 points per game). As if to highlight the disparity be- tween their defensive scrappi- ness and offensive struggles, they were first in the league in steals (7.7 per game) and last in assists (12.2 per game). This year, Chambers is hoping to change all that. "We need to have a really good offen- sive identity, and our of- fense needs to help our defense," he said. "Our defense is pretty consis- tent; for the most part, you know what you're going to get. We're usu- ally in the top half of the league. Nationally, we're usually in the top 25, right around there in KenPom. I think our offense needs to help our defense. "What does that mean? We have to take care of the basketball. We've got to get uncontested shots. We've got to put pressure on the paint. We've got to do a really good job with offensive rebound- ing. And we've got to maximize the free- throw line. So if we can do some of those things, I want to see us get better in that in the preseason here. Consistency throughout. I thought we were inconsis- tent in December and in January last year. Even when we were playing great M E N ' S B A S K E T B A L L ALTITUDE ADJUSTMENT Penn State has been urging its followers to 'climb with us.' This season, the Nittany Lions may have the combination of talent and versatility they need to make that eagerly awaited ascent READY TO ROAR Chambers is look- ing to get the Nit- tany Lions back to the postseason after missing out last year with a 14-18 record. Photo by Ryan Snyder I N T E R V I E W P A T R I C K C H A M B E R S