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knows I'm doing it for the right rea- sons." Frazier said he does have faith that Chambers is pushing him to be the best player he can be. "He knows that I can give more, and I know that and I can believe in him that I can give more and I know he wants the best from me," he said. "It's an easy stride when a coach is behind you and he's getting on you but you know he wants the best for you." In each practice, game, meeting and early-morning workout, Chambers ex- pects more and more from Frazier. In turn, Frazier has worked to deliver. Amid all the give-and-take, they've created a unique bond, with both coach and player trying to will an out- matched team to future success. And although the results have left both wanting more, the effort is on- going. "He asks more from me each and TOURNAMENT PREVIEW WHEN March 8-11 WHERE Conseco Fieldhouse, Indi- anapolis WHY The tournament winner re- ceives the Big Ten's automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. LAST SEASON Penn State earned its first trip to the NCAA tournament in a decade with a thrilling run to the Big Ten tournament's championship game. Though the Nittany Lions ul- timately fell to top-seed- ed Ohio State, 71- 60, the ef- fort was enough to secure a berth in the Big Dance. ALL-TIME TOUR- NAMENT RECORD 9-14 BEST FINISH Only once have the Nittany Lions reached the championship game of the Big Ten tournament. WORST FINISH Penn State has fallen in the first round nine times, includ- ing a 77-49 loss to Indiana in 2003. FAVORITE Following back-to-back losses at Northwestern and Michi- gan early in the conference sched- ule, Michigan State has been simply outstanding. Securing a victory at Ohio State, then turning around and knocking off Wisconsin at home in mid-February, the Spar- tans have set themselves up for not just a Big Ten tournament run, but possibly an NCAA tournament No. 1 seed. DARK HORSE Although Purdue has been a hot-and-cold team through- 18 M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 1 2 HAMBURGER HELPER Patrick Chambers serves up Big Macs as part of a recent Penn State basketball promo- tion in downtown State College. The coach is prepar- ing for his first vis- it to the Big Ten tournament. Patrick Mansell out the Big Ten season – its portfo- lio includes an embarrassing 65-45 loss to Penn State early in the year – wins at Northwestern, Illinois and Michigan down the stretch have set the Boilermakers up for a potential run in the conference tournament. Now that his team is finally healthy and playing well, it wouldn't be a surprise to see head coach Matt Painter guide Purdue into the conference tournament semifinals. MVP CANDIDATES Michigan State's Draymond Green has put together a phenomenal senior season for the Spartans, earning Big Ten Player of the Week honors four times. He's the only player in the conference who is averaging a double-double. One of the main reasons the Spar- tans are the favorites entering the tournament is because of his ef- forts. Ohio State's Jared Sullinger and Wisconsin's Jordan Taylor are two others to watch, as their teams are likely to go deep into the confer- ence tournament. PENN STATE'S OUTLOOK The Nittany Lions are among the hardest-working and THE BIG CHEESE hardest-playing teams in the con- ference, but a dearth of shooting talent has plagued them this sea- son. They are shooting a Big Ten- worst 39.2 percent from the field, and as a result have the confer- ence's 11th-ranked scoring offense at 62 points per game. Junior point guard Tim Frazier has been superb this season, but barring a serious scoring outburst from Jermaine Marshall and Cammeron Woodyard, this tournament is likely to be a growing experience to set up next season. every day in all aspects," Frazier said. "He's pushing me every day. Ear- lier today, he told me that he wasn't going to lay off me, and if I thought he was going to lay off me, I should- n't." Frazier's reply? "Bring it." – N.B. W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M

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