atrick Chambers has something to
show us.
Minutes before taking to the
Bryce Jordan Center practice gym
with his Nittany Lions, the head coach
hurriedly marches a small pack of re-
porters through the carpeted hallways of
his team's facilities. Past the team pho-
tos and inspirational messages, but just
before the weightli?ing area, Chambers
excitedly swings to the right, ducking
into an entryway to the training room.
There he -white Jacuzzi tubs -season. Upstairs, along the
main concourse, there are banner im-
ages of the players and coaches who
have been integral to the success of the
men's and women's basketball programs
– images suggesting that yes, the facility
is home to hoops and not just Billy Joel
concerts and monster truck rallies.
Downstairs, a faceli? of a di>erent
kind is also in progress.
The Nittany Lions aren't a gut renova-
tion, not with Shep Garner, Brandon
Taylor, Donovan Jack, Devin Foster and
Jordan Dickerson all returning a?er av-
eraging 17 or more minutes apiece last
season. Also back are Payton Banks and
Isaiah Washington, players who have
spent the o>-season working to im-
prove.
But the Lions will certainly miss D.J.
Newbill's 20.7 points and 37.1 minutes
per game, Ross Travis' 6.3 rebounds per
game and Geno Thorpe's team-high 38
steals. With Newbill and Travis having
graduated and Thorpe having transferred
to South Florida, the Lions are in the
midst of a signi
