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though, the message had been sent. "That was not my intent, but he had to know," the coach said. "I've got to protect my best player." Throughout his sophomore season, Carr left no doubt about his place as not only Penn State's best player, but also one of the best in the Big Ten and the country. Named to the All-Big Ten first team by both the conference coaches and media voters, Carr became the first Nittany Lion to earn the designation since Talor Battle in 2009. His season-long performance, highlighted by his Big Ten scoring title for both the regular season (19.6 points per game) and against conference opponents (20.1 ppg), spurred the team to new heights in Chambers' seven-year tenure. Carr also was averaging 4.9 assists per game and shooting 46 percent from 3-point range as of mid- March, lifting the Lions to a 21-13 overall record and a 9-9 mark against Big Ten competition. "I think what he's done for this team over the en- tire Big Ten season is pretty incredible, pretty consistent," Chambers said prior to the start of the postseason. "That's what you look for out of your big-time players – consistency. And he's done that. He's led us to victories and he's put us in position. His leadership has been really emerging, becoming exactly what you need heading into the Big Ten tourna- ment." During the conference tourney, Carr not only backed up the accolades, he added a few more. Following Penn State's three- game appearance at Madison Square Gar- den, which included victories over Northwestern and No. 13 Ohio State, as well as the 78-70 loss to Purdue, he was named to the All-Tournament team. It was a well-deserved moment of valida- tion, as Carr reeled off some of his most impressive performances of the season during his stay in New York. He began by lighting up the Wildcats for 25 points in the second round of the tour- ney, a late burst that helped propel the Nittany Lions to a 65-57 victory in a game that had been in doubt with only a few minutes to play. Against a Northwestern defense that was determined to prevent him from scoring in bunches, Carr took over the game. That game had been a one-possession affair, but Carr scored 10 of the Nittany Lions' final 17 points to send them into the quarterfinals. "They went to some of SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT Chambers guided Penn State to a 9-9 conference record, the team's best showing in his seven season as head coach. Photo by Nate Bauer

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