Blue White Illustrated

primary goal was to simply make progress throughout the season. "We had five newcomers, and then you had other guys who were not used to playing," he said. "Tim didn't know what to expect. Billy Oliver got con- cussions. How many different starting lineups did we have? We didn't have one for five straight games where we stuck with it." Penn State is unlikely to vie for Big Ten supremacy this season, but im- provements are expected. In fact, some within the program are hoping to jump to the middle of the league standings. Guard D.J. Newbill, a transfer from Southern Mississippi, is one of the biggest reasons for optimism. Frazier needed backcourt help last season, and he didn't get it, due to NCAA transfer rules that kept Newbill off the court. This season, the shifty attacker will join Frazier as a consistent scoring threat. He's also a strong penetrator who dis- tributes and another high-character in- dividual who will provide leadership. On the floor, Chambers has some decisions to make. While Frazier and Newbill are certain to start and play significant minutes, the rest of the lineup is in flux. Chambers said going with four guards is an option, but Jermaine Marshall, who reportedly had a strong off-season, still has to earn those minutes. Ross Travis, a 6-foot-6 wing who matched up against Indiana's behemoth 7-foot Cody Zeller last season, could also fit at either forward spot after making necessary improvements to his shot. "It's gotta be cohesive," Chambers Taylor-Dake showdown scheduled for Nov. 3 It's being hailed as the Ali-Frazier bout of college wrestling. On Nov. 3 at American Universi- ty's Bender Arena, Penn State's 165-pound David Taylor, named the most dominant wrestler in the country last season, will face Cor- nell's three-time NCAA champion said. "We've got to think through what's best, and we've got to incorporate these freshmen, too. But I'm not opposed to playing four guards if that's the best team that we can put on the floor." Guard Akosa Maduegbunam may be the freshman to watch this season. At 6-3, 200 pounds, he's considered one of the fastest and most athletic players on the team. Down low, Chambers will work close- ly with redshirt sophomore Jonathan Graham following his physical trans- formation this summer. Weighing 250 pounds for most of the 2011-12 cam- paign after arriving at Penn State as a 200-pound freshman, Graham trimmed down to 220 in the off-season and has become a much more agile player in the process, Chambers said. With 6-8, 225-pound Sasa Borovnjak also returning, much of the Nittany Lions' success could depend on how well the big guys convert passes from Frazier and Newbill into easy buckets. Though Chambers has been pleased with the progress the team has made since he took the job, last year's results have created higher expectations and an even tougher practice atmosphere this preseason, leading into the home opener against St. Francis on Nov. 9. "It's not hard to be hard on them be- cause when you love somebody, there are times when you have to have tough love," he said. "You love them, but you have to be tough on them. "Something is different once you step into that gym. That's the way it's got to be for their success – for them to be the best that they can be." WRE S T LI NG Kyle Dake in an exhibition bout at the the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic. "David and I are like the two best wrestlers in the country right now, most hyped up," Dake said on ESPN Radio in Ithaca, N.Y. "For us to go at it is going to be something special, and I think a lot of people can appreciate that because it's good competition." Dake, who won his three titles at 141, 149 and 157, respectively, said he plans to stay at 165 for his sen- ior season. His sights are set on be- coming the first wrestler to win four NCAA titles at four weight classes. Dake and Taylor met at the U.S. Olympic Trials over the summer, with Dake winning by fall. Penn State and Cornell are both expect- ed to compete at the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn., Jan. 1-2. PSU finalizes 2013 class Having landed two big men and a shooting guard in his Class of 2013, Penn State men's basketball coach Patrick Chambers rounded out a strong recruiting effort for the year with the verbal commit- ment of 6-foot, 170-pound point guard Graham Woodward of Edi- na High in sub- urban Minneapo- lis. Woodward is considered a three-star prospect by Rivals.com. He averaged 20.5 points per game his junior season and was named to the Star Tribune's second-team All-Metro squad. A sharpshooter, Woodward fills a critical need for the Nittany Lions. The diminutive guard distributes and scores with ease, leaving only his defensive abilities open to ques- tion before he arrives on campus next summer. Woodward chose the Nittany Lions WOODWARD over Brown, Cal Poly, Gonzaga, Drake, Idaho State, Montana, Princeton, South Dakota State, Ver- mont, Washington State and Yale. He also received considerable in- terest from Minnesota. –N.B. –TIM OWEN

• Cover