Penn State Update - 2/21/2009

Here is your weekly Penn State update for February 21st, 2009...

• The Penn State Icers are one of the most successful club hockey teams in the nation. They have won multiple National Championships at their level and continue their strong play, year in and year out. But is it time for them to take the next step? And how would that change the face of Division I hockey? A SBN blog has been taking a look. Check out Part 1, 2, and an update. [Western College Hockey]
• Penn State basketball's (extremely) slow resurgence is inching closer to its goal: the NCAA Tournament. Though they sit on the bubble now, three more wins and a good showing in the Big Ten tournament might seal a place in march Madness for the first time since 2001. This is all thinks to a football-like outcome of a win against #16 Illinois. For more, check out "Why Can't Us? PSU Stuns Illini!" [Nittany White Out]
• This past Thursday, February 19th, marked the 43 year anniversary of Joe Paterno becoming Penn State's football coach. [Mel Phillips Remembers]
• As all of the Penn State world knows, THON 2009 began last night at 6pm. As of now the "dancers" have been on their feet for over 16 hours! Be sure to check the THON website for more information, a look at the marathon's history, and to donate to the cause. All proceeds to go to fight childhood cancer through The Four Diamonds Fund at Hershey Medical Center. Plus, you can watch it live! The event concludes Sunday at 4pm when the final money tally will be unveiled. Last years THON total was more than $6.6 million and over the past 36 years more than $52 millions has been raised to defeat cancer! [THON LIVE Webcast]
• Both Nittany Lion gymnastics teams continue their recent run of excellence. The men's team is currently ranked #2 in the nation and 1st in the east. Their next match is a week from today, Saturday, February 28th, against Ohio State at Rec Hall. On the other side the women's team is ranked 17th in the nation and 2nd in the Northeast, behind only Michigan. The women's team has a match TONIGHT (February 211st) at Rec Hall against New Hampshire, Rutgers, and Bridgeport. If you need an hour or two break from standing at THON in the Bryce Jordan Center, head across campus to watch the women's gymnastics team!
• The defending National Champion men's volleyball team hopes to copy the women's team once again. Can the men make it two in a row? Well they're off to a pretty good start! The team is 10-1, though they did lose last night to Loyola in Chicago. They have little time to recover as they have a match today against IPFW in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Their back in action at Rec Hall on Wednesday versus St. Francis (PA). As of the last rankings the men's team was ranked #1 in the nation.
• The wrestling team was ranked 24th as of 2/18 and held a record of 8-11-2. They suffered another loss last night versus Penn at Rec Hall. That was the final meet of the regular season. Up next? The Big Ten Championships starting March 7th and continuing through the 8th. The event is actually being held at Penn State this year so head out to cheer on the team in 2 weeks! I know absolutely nothing about wrestling so I'll direct you to someone else for analysis and in-depth updates. [The Nittany Line]
• Back to some men's basketball now. The Nittany Lions are 19-8, with an 8-6 mark in the Big Ten. They have had their ups (wins vs. Purdue, at Michigan State, at Illinois) and downs (losses to Rhode Island, vs Temple, and vs Wisconsin) this seasons. They have four games to go in the regular season, all Big Ten conference foes. They play at Ohio State on Tuesday, then return home to play Indiana on the 28th and a rematch against Illinois on March 5th. The season finale is at Iowa March 7th. Penn State must win at least two of these games to have any hope for an NCAA berth. Three would be best. This doesn't include a strong showing by them in the Big Ten tournament either.
• Unfortunately as the men's team has improved in recent years the girls team has taken a step back. Gone are the likes of Kelly Mazzante and Tanisha Wright and any shot at a Big ten Championship. The women are 9-16 overall but a mere 4-11 in the Big Ten. The have three more games left this season (2/22 @ Illinois, 2/26 vs Northwestern, 2/17 @ Ohio State). The women have not had a winning record since the 2004-2005 season, their last appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

That's the Penn State round up for February 21st.