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Newbill, Frazier eager to revive partnership TWO OF A KIND Newbill (left) and Frazier played together in only four games last season. Guard tandem holds key as Nittany Lions look to move up in Big Ten standings | rom the moment point guard Tim Frazier tore his Achilles tendon last November, Patrick Chambers refused to let his team dwell on the injury. With redshirt sophomore transfer D.J. Newbill carrying the heaviest burden, Chambers strived to get the most out of his squad night after night, an effort that continued through the final buzzer of Penn State's 83-66 loss to Michigan in the first round of the Big Ten tournament. Only after the season was over did Newbill, Frazier, and the rest of the team begin looking forward to Frazier's return and, with it, the realization of two years' work. F "During the season, I was just focused on what I had to do, but now, after the season, it's all we talk about, Newbill said. " "We just can't wait to play with each other. "When you watch us play, we're just constantly trying to make plays for each other. We're going to get other people involved, but I'm looking down the court and I just see another captain, another leader, and I respect him just as much as he respects me." Penn State fans are still, in effect, waiting for the opportunity to see the two play together. Due to NCAA transfer rules, Newbill was forced to sit out the 2011-12 season. Save for the four games last season in which Frazier played, their only oncourt pairings have been behind the closed doors of spring and summer practices. "We're still trying to really get used to each other," Frazier said. "We all had to take on different roles. Last year, he had to take on a different role because I wasn't there, and our first year, I had to take on a different role because he wasn't there. "Now we're just trying to balance it out. That's our job, and that's Coach's job. Just to go out there and try to balance and focus everybody while having fun. Just go out there and play like you're playing with your brother." Frazier was a first-team AllBig Ten point guard in 201112, a season in which he led the conference in assists and finished second in scoring. Without him last year, the Nittany Lions needed to learn to surPhotos by Tim Owen vive. They finished 10-21 overall, a record that included a 14-game Big Ten losing streak but also featured wins against NCAA tournament runner-up Michigan and Northwestern. Leading the team with 16.3 points per game while playing out of position at point guard, Newbill did what he could, but the Nittany Lions weren't able to provide enough support to produce a winner. Frazier's impending return has changed the team's outlook significantly. And while it's unclear as yet just how much improvement can be expected this season, Chambers is thrilled to have him back. "He just brings more leadership on the court. He's another feisty guy with a will to win, another weapon for us on the court," the third-year coach said. "It's kind of like he's the piece to the puzzle that I think was missing last year. So having him back, man, it's just been great I so far. "

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