Penn State Update - 3/21/2009

The NCAA Tournament is underway, ACHA Nationals are over, and Big Ten Championships are aplenty. Find out how your favorite Nittany Lion teams fared this past week.

• Let's start with some hockey. The Icers - fresh off of their regular season and postseason ESCHL championships - traveled to Ohio for the ACHA Nationals Tournament. Penn State settled in as the #2 seed, set to face 15 seed Duquesne last Saturday afternoon. The Icers dispatched id the Dukes 5-2 and advanced to face host Ohio in round two. As expected the home team was amped to take on a bitter rival. Fortunately the Icers came out on top, 3-2, in OT. The team had on off day Monday before facing off against Illinois, the team that beat Penn State in the finals last year. The Fighting Illini would again get the best of the Icers, winning 3-0 and advancing to take on Lindenwood in the finals. Lindenwood, the #1 seed, would go on to win their first ACHA National Title, dispatching Illinois 4-1 on Wednesday. The Icers lose 13 seniors to graduation. [Penn State Hockey, Black Shoe Diaries, & The Daily Collegian]
• The men's basketball team was left out of the NCAA Tournament but was chosen to participate in the Postseson NIT. It was the first time the men's b-ball team has gotten to play in the postseason since 2001. They, of course, made it interesting. Penn State was give a 2 seed and was to face off against #7, and former NCAA Cinderella, George Mason. Penn Stata controlled the first half of the first round NIT game but GM stormed back and took control for much of the second half. With five seconds left and Penn State down by three, Talor Battle drove down the court and nailed a three at the buzzer, sending the game into overtime. Battle would lead the Nittany Lions to victory, 77-73, and a berth in the second round. You can see the final seconds of regulation below. [Nittany White Out & Black Shoe Diaries]
  

• The men's team wasn't finished. They sought revenge for a regular season loss to Rhode Island, their NIT round two foe. Penn State controlled the game and won 83-72, advancing to the NIT's Elite Eight. They face #1 seed Florida on Tuesday in Gainesville. [Black Shoe Diaries]
• The wrestling team is participating in the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, MO this weekend. The event started Thursday and continues through this evening, when National Champions will be crowned. Penn State initially sent six wrestlers for individual matches. Two have emerged as All-Americans (finishing 8th or higher in weight class). Redshirt freshman Frank Molinaro and true freshman Quentin Wright both won enough matches to finish 8th or better in their weight classes. Molinaro will fight today for 7th place. Wright has a match this morning to advance to the semi-finals. Two Penn State All-Americans from last season - Jake Strayer and Dan Vallimont - fell one win shy of repeating. [Go PSU Sports & The Nittany Line]
• The baseball team continued their four game series with Rutgers last Saturday. After winning the series opener Friday evening, the Nittany Lions lost both games of the double header, 6-5 in 10 innings and 5-2. They ended up splitting the four game series when Penn State won the final match on Sunday, 7-3. The Nittany Lions returned home this week and started a three game series with New York tech last night. Penn State won the first game 4-2. They play today at 1:05 and tomorrow at 12:05.
• The women's gymnastics team is currently in Champaign, IL for the Big Ten Championships which start today at 3 PM. The women are currently ranked 13th in the nation and are favored to take home the Big Ten crown. The main challengers will be Michigan (national rank: 15), Illinois (16), Minnesota (17), and Ohio State (18). After the Big Ten Championships, the ladies have off until April 4th, the start of the NCAA Regionals.
• The men's gymnastics team remains 6th in the nation and 3rd in the Big Ten behind Illinois (3) and Minnesota (5). Last Saturday evening the men fell to 4th ranked California in Rec Hall, 355.150 to 353.800. Tonight they are in Norman, OK to take on #2 Oklahoma. The Big Ten Championships for the men are April 3 and 4.
• The men's volleyball team is in a bit of a rut. After losing to BYU in the opening round of the Long Beach State Active Ankle Classic, the team fell to the hosts, 3-2. Penn State rebounded last night, dispatching IPFW in straight sets. The team plays at Juniata on Tuesday. The men are now ranked 7th in the nation.
• This weeks Nittany Lion of the Week is Talor Battle. The Penn State basketball player hit the game tieing shot at the buzzer to send the game versus #7 seed George Mason into OT. Battle remained hot in OT and the Nittany Lions emerged victorious. Battle was also a consensus All-Big Ten selection. [Black Shoe Diaries]
  

Penn State Update - 3/14/2009

Well, collegiate winter sports are winding down. Men's and women's basketball conference tournaments are ending with the national tournament on the horizon. Wrestling, gymnastics, and hockey have just a week or two left as well. Here' a round up on how some of Penn State's other (read: not football) teams did this past week.

• We'll start again with men's basketball. The resurgence continued this past week. For the first time in many years, Penn State basketball players were awarded for excellence. Ed DeChellis was named Big Ten Coach of the Year by the media. Talor Battle was named to both the media's and coaches All-Conference First Team, Jamelle Cornley made second team as selected by the media and third by the coaches, and Stanley Pringle was honorable mention for each too. Battle is only the fifth, yes fifth, Nittany Lion to earn any First Team honors and only the second to be named to both the media's and coaches first team (Jarrett Stephens, 2000). He is also the first Nittany Lion since 2001 to get on the Big Ten's first team. Quite a drought indeed. [Black Shoe Diaries & Zombie Nation]
• The men's team did have a few games this week, too. Unfortunately it wasn't all good. After a thrilling victory over Illinois on March 5th, Penn State couldn't get anything going against Iowa last Saturday evening. The Nittany Lions fell to the lowly Hawkeyes in double overtime, 75-67. The loss dented the PSU armor and exposed some weaknesses heading into the Big Ten tournament. With the Iowa loss the teams hopes of returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001 were in jeopardy. They needed at least one win to stay n the bubble. With the Iowa loss Penn State dropped from a possible #2 seed to the #6 seed and drew Indiana in the first round. This years Big Ten Tournament is in Indianapolis, IN. Penn State had already beaten the Hoosiers twice this season and they say it's tough to beat the same team three times. Thankfully, Battle and Company were up to the challenge. Penn State had few problems dispatching Indiana, winning Thursday evening 66-51 in front of thousands of Indiana hoops fans. With the win Penn State moved into the second round of the tournament and got to play another Indiana school: Purdue. The Boilermakers had a somewhat disappointing season, having been ranked in preseason polls in the Top 10. At the start of the tournament they were barely hanging in the Top 25. However they came out on fire Friday night and had their way with Penn State, cruising to an easy 79-65 victory. If Purdue plays like that every game they definitely will be a threat the rest of the season. [Black Shoe Diaries & Nittanydelphia]
• Crispinandcream has had enough of the PSU doubters. He has chronicled and analyzed everything about the 2008-2009 Nittany Lion basketball team and sees one thing: a NCAA Tournament berth. Once can only hope. Is it Sunday night yet? [Crispin and Cream]
• Check out this great round up of what Penn State chances are of making "March Madness". Devon2012 believes that, as of right now, there are really only five spots left... are we in? [Nittany White Out]
  
• As stated last week, the women's basketball team lost in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament and their season is over.
• Baseball is starting to pick up steam and the Nittany Lions are back on track. After a sweep at the hands of Texas due to a lack of offense, Penn State has found their bats. They have played six games since my last post on them and have scored 74 runs and were 5-1 in those games.They defeated Akron last Saturday, 10-4, and the beat both Lehigh,15-5, and Saint Joseph's, 8-7, on Sunday. They then had a two game set in Fort Myers to take on Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday and Wednesday. They dropped the first game, 12-11, in 14 innings. They came back the next day and won 18-16. Yesterday the Nittany Lions started a four game set with Rutgers. Penn State won the first game 12-8. They have a doubleheader today. Game 1 is scheduled for 12 PM and game 2 is at 4 PM. They conclude their four game series with Rutgers on Sunday at 12:30 PM. Penn State is now 7-6 on the season. [Black Shoe Diaries]
• The women's gymnastics team continued it string of strong performances with a 196.225-195.925 win at West Virginia last Sunday. That is their third straight win, leaving them at 6-3 on the season and ranked 15th in the nation (as of 3/9/09). The women have a quad meet today at 4 PM at Maryland where they'll also face Arizona and Yale. This is their final regular season meet. The Big Ten Championships start next Saturday.
• The men also have been performing at an excellent level of late. They defeated William & Mary and Navy last Sunday and are now ranked 6th in the nation. They host California, who is ranked #5, at 7pm tonight at Rec Hall. This would be a big win for the program. They finish their regular season schedule at #2 Oklahoma next Saturday before the Big Ten Championships begin the first weekend in April in Ann Arbor, MI.
  
• The men's wrestling team played in the Big Ten tournament as it did the last few weeks of the regular season: sub par. The team finished in 7th place and was extremely disappointed. The team really fell off at the end of the year after a strong start and high hopes. The NCAA Tournament begins on March 19th. [The Nittany Line]
• The Penn State men's volleyball team is participating in the Long Beach State Active Ankle Classic this weekend. They got off on the wrong foot, falling to #9 BYU in 5 sets. They play the hosts tonight at 10 PM. Prior to the weekend, Penn State was ranked #4 in the nation. They are 15-2 so far this season.
• The Icers begin ACHA Nationals action today at 2:30 PM versus Duquesne in Gates Mills, OH. If the Icers win they'll play either Rhode Island or Ohio at 2:30 PM tomorrow. Should they win that match they'd then take on one of these four teams on Tuesday at 8:30 PM: Delaware, Stony Brook, Iowa State, or West Chester. The winner of the Tuesday game goes on to the National Championship game versus one of eight teams (which I will not list). The final game is on Wednesday at 7 PM. Let's go ICERS!!! [Black Shoe Diaries & Penn State Hockey]
• Finally, BSD continues his "Nittany Lion of the Week" award. On Wednesday Ed DeChellis was named "Nittany Lion of the Week" for (possibly) leading his team to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in eight years and for being named the media's Big Ten Coach of the Year. Congratulations, Ed! [Black Shoe Diaries]
  

Penn State Update - 3/7/2009

What's happened the last week in Penn State athletics? Find out below...

• Let's start with men's basketball. The Nittany Lions had quite the eventful week. Last Saturday night they squeaked out a win versus lowly Indiana at the Bryce Jordan Center, 61-58. The significance about the win was two-fold. First, it got the team to 20 wins. That's a HUGE accomplishment for this team. Second, and more importantly, it kept their March Madness hopes alive. After the win on Saturday the team had off until a home showdown with Illinois on Thursday, March 5th, whom they beat in Champaign just a little over two weeks ago. The game was exciting, to say the least. Penn State pulled out an epic win, upsetting the Illini (again), 64-63. As you can tell this meeting had a bit more offensive flair than the previous one. Talor Battle stole the victory by hitting his shot with 0.3 seconds left in the game. For the first time that I know of, fabns actually rushed the court. [Nittany White Out]
  

From Nittany White Out.

• There are plenty of basketball write-ups to share. They are all good. [Nittany White Out, Black Shoe Diaries, Nittanydelphia, & Zombie Nation]
• Nittany White Out continues their great PSU basketball coverage. They actually had a post rebutting MGoBlog's about why Michigan should make the NCAA Tournament and not Penn State. This was written prior to the second Illinois upset. [Nittany White Out]
• Yes, the Penn State win over Illinois was huge. Rushing-the-court huge. Oh, and very You Tube-worthy. [Nittany White Out, Nittany White Out, & Black Shoe Diaries]
• The kid that appeared ready to attack Talor Battle after the Illinois game has come clean. He claims to have only bear-hugged him... for 3 seconds. [Crispin and Cream]

From Crispin and Cream

• Enough with men's basketball, how about the women? After back-to-back wins over Illinois and Northwestern the Lady Lions couldn't keep it going versus a strong Ohio State squad. The ladies drooped the game in Columbus 74-63 on March 1st. On the 5th they were in Indianapolis for the start of the Big Ten tournament. They faced Illinois once again but didn't come out on top, dropping the game 58-49. The Lady Lions are done for the season, finishing 11-18 overall and 6-12 in Big Ten play.
• Moving from the court to the diamond, the baseball team hasn't played any more games outside of that four game set with Texas. The Longhorns had their with Penn State. Texas swept the series, outscoring Penn State 25-4. Ouch. The most memorable of the series was the February 28th nightcap, in which SP T.J. Macy went eight innings, allowing one run on five hits, and struck out five. The team sits at 2-5 and has a match at 7:30 tonight against Akron in Florida. They also have a double header tomorrow, playing Lehigh at 1:00 PM and St. Joseph's at 4:30 PM. [Black Shoe Diaries]
• Nothing has happened with the wrestling team in two weeks. However, the Big Ten Championships started today in University Park. They continue tomorrow. [The Nittany Line]
• After a 1st place finish on February 21st the women's gymnastics team had off until last Sunday. They faced off against Ohio State and Alabama in Rec Hall. The ladies came out victorious. They finished with a score of 196.650, good for 1st place. The women travel to West Virginia for a head-to-head match tomorrow and then next Saturday travel to Maryland for another head-to-head match up. The Big Ten Championships are the following Saturday in Illinois.
• The men's gymnastics team hosted Ohio State last Saturday and traveled to Philadelphia to play Temple on Friday. The Nittany Lions won both matches, continuing their streak of good play. The team has off today but suits up again tomorrow for a dual meet in Williamsburg, VA. The team is matched against William & Mary and Navy.
• The men's volleyball team continues to roll through their regular season schedule. After trampling Lewis last Friday the team took down NJIT on Saturday. They swept George Mason last night at Rec Hall. Next the squad heads to Long Beach, CA for the Long Beach State Active Ankle Classic. They play BYU Friday and Long beach State on Saturday the 14th. The squad is 15-1 and ranked 4th as of March 2nd.
• The Icers competed in the ESCHL Post Season Tournament where they were the host and #1 seed. They dispatched Drexel in the semifinal, 6-2, on Saturday and then beat Delaware in the championship game, 4-1, on Sunday afternoon. The Penn State Icers were regular season and post season champions of the ESCHL. Yesterday the team took on Pitt, and easily disposed of the Panthers 6-2 in a tune up for Nationals. Nationals begin next Saturday. The Icers take on Drexel. [Penn State Hockey]
• Lastly, the great SBN blog Black Shoe Diaries - mentioned on this site (multiple times) weekly - awards their Nittany Lion of the Week every Wednesday. On the 4th, BSD selected woman's gymnast Brandi Personett. She was awarded her 4th Big Ten gymnast of the week award for the 2008-2009 season. This was her eighth award of her career. [Black Shoe Diaries]

That is the Penn State athletics round up for the last week. With Big Ten Championships heating up these next two weeks, the update should be quite exciting!

Penn State Update - 2/28/2009

Here's what has happened in Penn State sports the last few days as well as some upcoming events.

• The baseball team competed in the Big Ten/Big East challenge last week. They dropped their first game to St. John's, 15-6, but won their next two games versus Northwestern (9-1) and Seton Hall (6-1). They started a four game set at Texas last night and fell in the opener to the Longhorns, 9-2. They have a doubleheader today (1:30 and 4:30). Texas is ranked #4 in the nation. [Black Shoe Diaries & Black Shoe Diaries]
• The men's basketball team had a rough week, losing their only game at Ohio State, 73-59. The loss really hurts the teams chances of making the NCAA Tournament. The boys will need a win tonight at the Bryce Jordan Center vs Indiana, as well as a win versus either Illinois on March 5 or at Iowa on March 7. Winning two of those three will not guarantee a spot, either. They probably have to win a game or two in the Big Ten tournament to have a shot at March Madness. Devon2012 has a look at the loss to Ohio State. [Nittany White Out]
  
• In some more encouraging news on the men's basketball team, Ed DeChellis is being recognized (finally) as underrated coach with a program on the rise. It has taken him a few years but he is finally getting the respect he deserves. Penn State (men's) basketball has never been dominant or among the nation's elite like football has but the basketball team has steadily improved and is reaching the point of solid play, week-in and week-out. [More Than Gold News]
• The Icers continue their fine play, finishing the season 27-8, ESCHL regular season champions, and the #1 seed in the ESCHL post season tournament. They host Drexel today at 3:30. The winner play either Rhode Island or Delaware tomorrow at 1:00 for the post season league championship. No matter the outcome, the Icers will be making an appearance in the ACHA National Tournament. They will most likely be the #2 seed and will play Duquesne on March 14th. More on them next week! Go Icers! [Black Shoe Diaries & Penn State Hockey]
• Last week the men's volleyball team was coming off their first loss, to Loyola (Chicago), 3-2. They have responded by winning their next three matches. They easily dispatched IPFW (3-1), Saint Francis, PA (3-0), and Lewis (3-1). The matches against Saint Francis and Lewis were at Rec Hall, as are the next two matches (vs. NJIT, vs. George Mason). The NJIT match is this afternoon at 2, but it is in the South Gym.
• The men's gymnastics team has been inactive since their Valentine's Day loss to Illinois. They host Ohio State today at 2 in Rec Hall. Ah, that's why the men's volleyball game is in South Gym.
• Last Saturday the women's gymnastics team hosted a four-team match and took 1st place! Other teams competing were New Hampshire, Rutgers, and Bridgeport. The women host another meet tomorrow, when Ohio State and Alabama will visit Rec Hall. The match starts at 2.
• Immediately after I was a bit harsh on the women's basketball team they go out and win their next two games. They defeated Illinois in Champaign, 67-56, and Northwestern in State College, 65-50. They travel to Ohio State tomorrow for their final regular season game of the year. It starts at 4 pm. The women are 12-16 and are assured a losing record unless they make a run in the Big Ten tournament, which starts March 5th.

That's the Penn State update for the week up to February 28.

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.