Penn State Looks For First Big Ten Win
Penn State will be back at home Tuesday night where they will take on Purdue. The Boilermakers didn’t have much trouble defeating the Nittany Lions the last time around, winning 60-42 back on January 13th in West Lafayette. Purdue comes into the game losers of three of their last four including a loss over the weekend to Northwestern 75-60.
Purdue is led by junior guard Terone Johnson and freshman center A.J. Hammons. Hammons has the ability give you double-digit points from the center position, while Johnson averages 12 points per game. Penn State will need to stop Hammonds who has put up 30 points against Indiana and 19 points against Northwestern this weekend. Penn State has struggled guarding opponents down low this season.
The one advantage that Penn State has may be in the backcourt. DJ Newbill and Jermaine Marshall are proving to be a pretty good combo, and cause trouble at times for defenders. The tandem has posted double-digits and combined to average around 18 points in the team’s last five games.
The keys to this game will be Nittany Lions not named Newbill and Marshall stepping up. Newbill and Marshall have been consistent for Penn State, but it will take others such as Ross Travis or Brandon Taylor to step up and provide offense for Penn State. Penn State is coming off a 67 point performance at Iowa, their biggest output of the season.
Other keys to this game in order for Penn State to win: ball-control, take the best possible look, and rebound. If Penn State is able to do these things, the Lions have a good opportunity to secure their first Big Ten victory of the season. This is just the second game in ten days for Penn State so they will be well rested as they attempt to knock off Purdue in the Bryce Jordan Center for the second year in a row.]
Tyler Ball is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, e-mail twb5255@psu.edu.
