Penn State vs. Indiana Preview
Penn State returns home to the Bryce Jordan Center, trying to stop a four-game losing streak when the Nittany Lions take on the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday night. This is a pivotal matchup for both teams as Indiana looks to maintain their lead atop the Big Ten, while Penn State looks to climb out of the cellar.
The Nittany Lions will look to improve upon their performance against fifth ranked Iowa on Wednesday, as they were crushed by the Hawkeyes, 73-49. Penn State struggled offensively all night, as they shot 30.4 percent from the floor, including an abysmal 1-20 from behind the three-point line.
Senior forward Brandon Taylor had another good game as he secured his second consecutive double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Taylor has been a consistent force for the Nittany Lions this season as he has 21 double-digit games this season, including every conference game.
Matching up with Taylor is Indiana forward Troy Williams, who has played well recently for the Hoosiers. The biggest advantage for Taylor is that Williams is not a physical player, so look for Penn State to exploit Williams’ weakness early.
Center Julian Moore had a solid performance against Iowa, as he scored eight points on 50 percent shooting and swatted two shots. Moore seems to be developing nicely offensively and has capable backups in Jordan Dickerson and Donovan Jack.
Dickerson did not have a great offensive performance against the Hawkeyes, but he secured five rebounds and two blocks. Jack had limited playing on Wednesday, but was efficient with four points in seven minutes. The center trio has to be prepared for freshman center Thomas Bryant as he leads the nation in field goal percentage at 72.4 percent. Bryant is a capable scorer around the rim and is a constant presence on the offensive glass.
While the big men up front have the biggest challenge of the night, Shep Garner stars in the most intriguing matchup of the night as he faces Yogi Ferrell. Both guards are the catalysts for their teams and the winner of this matchup will decide the outcome of the game.
Garner is an erratic performer, as he is capable of great performances one night, going 5-12 against Michigan, and poor performances like Ohio State. His reliance on the three-pointer hurts him, as he settles for long threes and jumpers early in the game.
Ferrell has been a consistent performer for the Hoosiers as he is fourth in the Big Ten in scoring and assists. His steady play is the reason why Indiana has only one conference loss.
The battle on the wings is a battle between more defensive-minded and offensive as Payton Banks and Devin Foster square off against Robert Johnson. Banks is a capable offensive player, but he struggles with consistency.
Foster is a great defensive player who struggles offensively. Johnson is a player that likes to slash to the basket, so it is important that Penn State keeps him out of the lane.
The Bryce Jordan Center is a good home environment that is capable of making teams struggle. Indiana, though, is a very good road team and the Hoosiers should emerge from the game victorious.
Joseph Esquivel-Murphy is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism and Spanish. To contact him, email jje5139@psu.edu.
