Penn State Basketball Stock Report
In a game that saw the Nittany Lions get off to a slow start, the team battled back late in what was a close loss to the Wisconsin Badgers. A few players got back on track and began contributing in their usual chunks, while one player in particular could not maintain his stellar play as of late.
Stock Up: Payton Banks
With two consecutive games in double figures, it can be said that Payton Banks has gotten back to the quality of play seen to begin the season. The sophomore was a big contributor from behind the arc, knocking down nine of his 11 from distance. Banks contributed in whatever way was needed, adding six rebounds, three assists, and one block in the near comeback. Banks was a part of a group of players that did their best to keep the team in the game early while Brandon Taylor struggled to find his rhythm. Throughout the season, the California native has shown a willingness to do whatever is necessary to win, and has seen his defense drastically improve from a year ago, something Brandon Taylor took note of when the players had their press conference together. Banks will be looking to continue his growth as a player, and in the coming years will likely emerge as a leader on this team.
Stock Up: Devin Foster
Devin Foster this season is yet another example of a senior who has learned to accept his role on the team and has provided consistency off of the bench for Coach Chambers’ squad. In the past game against Wisconsin, Foster provided 10 points on 60 percent shooting from the floor. The leadership from the seniors on this team and showing the younger players to accept their role is something that cannot be talked about enough. Moreover, the ability of many of these seniors to come off the bench and be able to contribute immediately is also something that should not be overlooked. Coming off the bench can be difficult, so for the Ohio native to consistently provided something from that position and be a spark is nice to see in his final season.
Stock down: Donovan Jack
Listed as a player with stock up last week, Donovan Jack’s stock is down following the Wisconsin game. Jack provided little to nothing -in terms of play- in his 14 minutes off of the bench. The senior only put up three points on four shot attempts, and was not the spark both he and Foster had been in recent games. If Jack had provided some of the same production he had previously, the possibility of Penn State completing its comeback would have been very likely. But this time off the bench, the Reading native was unable to ever find his rhythm and give anything extra to the team through the game.
As a team however, this game speaks volumes about what they can do going forward. Although they were down as much as 17 points at one point, the team never stopped fighting and their resiliency to keep pushing forward and almost complete a comeback will bode well going forward in the Big Ten, as long as players continue to contribute alongside of their leader Brandon Taylor.
David Arroyo is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email arroyodavid01@gmail.com.