Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/233832
MEN'S BASKETBALL BALANCING ACT The Lions are getting points from starters and backups alike, and it's impacting their record | S miling has never been much of a chore for Penn State men's basketball coach Patrick Chambers. Even in the midst of an epic 14-game losing streak to start the Big Ten season a year ago, he never lost his faith that a positive attitude would eventually yield results. And with his team off to a hot start this year, the third-year coach has more reason than ever to feel good. "What is stress?" Chambers joked early this season. "There's no stress. We're prepared. We're ready to go. We've got depth. We've got skill. We're good. I feel comfortable with the guys who are leading our offense." With Penn State's nonconference season now complete and the Big Ten campaign about to begin, Chambers' assertions look to be well-founded. One particularly noteworthy development is the Nittany Lions' growing offensive versatility. Twelve times last season, their leading scorer was the same as it had been in the previous game, but that's not been the case this year. Lately, it's been nearly impossible to guess who the leading scorer will be from one night to the next. Guards D.J. Newbill (19 points per game) and Tim Frazier (18.4 ppg) are still pouring it in, and as of mid-December they were ranked first and second in the Big Ten, respectively, in scoring average. But Donovon Jack, Brandon Taylor, Ross Travis and Allen Roberts had all led Penn State in scoring at least once through the first 12 games of the season. Not coincidently, the team won eight of those games. The Lions have bedeviled opposing coaches with the matchup problems their newfound depth has created. Through midDecember, they were fifth in the Big Ten in assists thanks to an abundance of players who are capable of knocking down open shots. Said Chambers, "It's incredible. It's the greatest feeling in the world. " At his weekly news conference in early December, Chambers acknowledged that he wants more production from his reserve players. The difference this year is that it appears Penn State has the potential to fulfill that goal. The Lions' bench could prove to be eight-, nine- or potentially even 10-players deep. Through 12 games, Travis and Taylor were averaging 11.6 and 10.8 points per game, respectively, and had played key roles in transforming the Nittany Lions into the fourth-best scoring team in the Big Ten with an average of 80.3 points per game. Last season, the Lions finished 10th in the conference with an average of 61.6 points per game. Those numbers signify a major transition, one that began taking shape during the off-season.