Bleacher Report - Articles by Geoffrey Ames

Nittany Lions Still Have Work to Do in Big Ten Tournament

Geoffrey Ames — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:50:08 -0400

After suffering a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of the Iowa Hawkeyes to end the regular season, the Penn State Nittany Lions’ basketball team bounced back yesterday and delivered a beat down to the lowly Indiana Hoosiers 66-51 to start off the Big Ten Tournament right.

A lot of fans may be satisfied that this win would be enough to put the Lions into the NCAA tournament, no further work needed.

A win against the worst team in the conference is going to put them over the top? I don’t think so.

It is my belief that this team needs to take it out of the selection committee’s hands as much as possible.

In short, this means that Penn State need to play tough tonight against a Purdue team that is currently ranked, but struggling as of late.

Although these teams split the season series, each winning at home, Purdue was missing two of its key players, including Robbie Hummel, when the Lions won at University Park. Also, in the second meeting in West Lafayette, the Lions were blown out by 14 points.

For those who are willing to rest on their current resume, I’d like you to see what I see.

Their RPI is currently 66 and dropping; hardly a number that will assure them of inclusion. Combine that with a very weak out-of-conference schedule that was ranked number 311 in the country, and you can see why there are still doubters.

This is all without mentioning their strength of schedule, which is 98th overall.

I do see a lot of positives that are working in the Lions’ favor, such as quality victories over the RPI top 50 and bubble teams losing. However, it would be my preference that this team makes a deep run in the conference tournament, leaving no doubt they belong in the field of 65.

Nittany Lions Looking To Roar Their Way into the NCAA

Geoffrey Ames — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:10:54 -0500

The Nittany Lions of Penn State have had a successful season thus far. Currently sitting at 19-9 going into the home stretch, the Lions have already surpassed last year’s win total, and have key victories over Michigan State, Purdue, and Illinois.

Coach Dechellis and the team have a lot to work on going into the postseason. Even having won two of their last three games, the Lions have struggled to find consistency in their game. They missed a key opportunity to potentially validate an NCAA bid by losing a tough game to the Ohio State Buckeyes on Feb. 24.

Whether it is scoring, defense or free throws, the Lions have been very streaky, and struggle to find a groove. The team has endured long stretches without scoring any points, and the defense has a tendency to break down at the wrong times.

I didn’t want to mention the meager 38 points they scored against the Illini, but I think it is important to point out that they shot 29 percent from the field that day. That kind of play will not get them very far in the tournament.

The Lions have cooled off considerably since their big victory against Michigan State in early February. Three players have led the team thus far this season; Talor Battle, Jamelle Cornley, and Stanley Pringle.

However, lately these key players are shooting well below their averages. In the game against the Buckeyes, the trio went for just 31 points, which is 15 points below their season average. The Lions lost that game by 14 points.

The Lions’ defense has been average at best this season, and it has definitely shown through late in the season as one of the weaknesses that can be exploited. Players have struggled to break through picks and/or switch-off in zone situations, leaving the opposing team wide open jump shots that are not contested.

When playing man-up, the players are slow in trailing opposing players when they are moving without the ball and have left open three-point attempts. Teams are shooting well over 40 percent from behind the line against the Lions.

Not all is lost in Happy Valley, however. Chris Babb, Andrew Ott, and Cammeron Woodyard have been bright spots off the bench for the Lions lately, providing quality minutes and offensive support.

Babb has been especially consistent, averaging 17 minutes and 7.5 points per game over the last four games. On the starting front, Andrew Jones has been a pleasant surprise down the stretch as well, averaging seven points and eight rebounds over the last four games, as well. His hard work under the basket has been a key to second chance points.

This team is very talented, and has the ability to score points in bunches. The key is to do this consistently throughout a game, while maintaining a high level of defense that limits opposing teams’ second chances.

The Lions will need to finish with a roar in their final three games of the regular season and make some noise in the Big Ten Tournament. This team is looking to make their way into the NCAA for the first time since 2001, and for the first time with Ed Dechellis as their head coach.

A late season run could be very likely for the Lions, who seem to have put themselves in a must-win situation. Two of the final three games of the season are at home, and the away game is against a struggling Iowa team.

Their next game is against Indiana at the Bryce Jordan Center, which should be a good game for the Lions to come out strong against an inferior opponent and build some confidence.

The team then stays at home against Fighting Illini before going on the road to end the season against Iowa. If the Lions take two out of three, they should be considered in for the NCAA, but ideally they would win out and at least have one win in the Big Ten tournament.

Assuming this team is invited to the NCAA tournament, they have a good enough team to make some noise. However, unless they regain that mental toughness they had at the beginning of this season, it could be one and done for the Lions.

Big Ten RPI: Where They Stand

Geoffrey Ames — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:54:17 -0500

The Big Ten basketball season is in the home stretch, and teams are jockeying for position to get into the NCAA tournament. Currently, the only Big Ten teams ranked in the top 25 are Michigan State, Purdue, and Illinois, and the conference standings are very close.

Keeping all of this in mind, it's very likely that the Big Ten will get six or fewer bids to the tournament this year. That means that the last few games of the season are going to make or break this conference. Assuming that one of the top three teams wins the Big Ten tournament and the automatic bid, the all-important RPI will come into play for the at-large bids.

Now, as we all know, strength of schedule is just one factor that the NCAA uses to decide who receives bids and how teams are seeded, but it's nice to know where the Big Ten stands. According to CBS Sportsline, here are the latest RPIs for the Big Ten.

6. Michigan State (20-5) .6464

19. Illinois (21-6) .6180

20. Purdue (20-6) .6178

28. Wisconsin (15-9) .6104

36. Minnesota (18-6) .6024

37. Ohio State (17-7) .6015

53. Michigan (15-10) .5805

59. Penn State (19-8) .5753

77. Northwestern (14-10) .5566

109. Iowa (13-13) .5322

193. Indiana (5-18) .4844

For more information about the RPI, visit CollegeRPI.com.

Nittany Lions Hang Tough, Triumph Over the Illini

Geoffrey Ames — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 10:22:29 -0500

The Penn State Nittany Lions added another signature win to their resume Wednesday night by beating the Illinois Fighting Illini 38-33.

In a game where the score was reminiscent of a middle school girls' basketball game, both teams struggled to make shots, even lay-ups. Neither team shot over 30 percent from the field, and the top scorer was Talor with just 11 points.

Each team went on scoring streaks, however small they were. Around halftime, the Illini went on a 13-4 run, and eventually took a nine point lead with just over 10 minutes to go in the game.

It seemed as if the Illini were on their way to victory, when they suddenly went ice cold, making only one bucket in the next six minutes. The key for the Lions was going on a 14-2 run to close out the game and claim the victory.

Although neither team played well, the Lions had more positives to take away from the game. Players such as Andrew Jones, Andrew Ott, Chris Babb, and Cammeron Woodyard stepped up and played key roles during the game, taking pressure off the big three of Talor Battle, Jamelle Cornley, and Stanley Pringle.

Cornley was double-teamed almost every time he touched the ball in or around the paint. But Ott and Jones were able to pick up the slack, combining for 11 points and 12 rebounds. Babb and Woodyard came off the bench to hit some key perimeter shots, including two big three-pointers from Babb.

Illinois struggled from the get-go, and only got it going for about 11 minutes around halftime. Their three guards—McCamey, Meachum and Frazier—combined for just 19 points. Frazier was able to contain Talor Battle on the defensive end, however, or this game could have been worse for the Illini.

With this win, the Nittany Lions have gained sole possession of fourth place in the conference. If they can play well in the next four games and hold onto that spot, it would not only give them a first-round bye in the Big Ten tournament, but most likely an NCAA bid.

Next up: at Ohio State (17-7)(7-6).

Nittany Lions Show Signs of Life

Geoffrey Ames — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 23:28:29 -0500

After a tough 3 game win-less stretch, the Nittany Lions' basketball team finally showed some signs of life in a 68-63 victory over the Golden Gophers of Minnesota.

After a rocky start in the first half that saw the Lions continuing to struggle offensively and many turnovers, Talor Battle was able to hit a three pointer as time expired in the first half.

That shot would not only give Penn State a one point lead, but it also gave a struggling Battle the confidence he has so very much been looking for. Battle would go on a run in the second half and finished with a team-high 21 points.

Another player who was able to step up was Stanley Pringle, who heated up in the second half and finished the game with 13 points. His three pointers helped keep the Lions’ alive in a back-and-forth type of scoring game.

A big surprise was the play of Chris Babb, who played 18 minutes due to an injury to Danny Morrissey. Babb ran the offense fairly well and also contributed with 8 points of his own.

Devoe Joseph went on a late run for the Golden Gophers, hitting seven of eight three pointers down the stretch. The Lions always seemed to have an answer, however, keeping the game close. In fact, Talor Battle had a big steal from Devoe with 1 minute to play and took it for an easy lay-up/and one to give the Lions a 5 point lead with less than a minute to go.

A large factor in the win for Penn State was their clutch free-throw shooting, especially down the stretch. Uncharacteristically, the team hit 75% of their free-throws, including several in the last three minutes. The team took advantage of the Gophers going into the bonus and double-bonus in fouls. They were also able to penetrate into the paint and create opportunities by kicking the ball out and hitting jump shots.

Although this is a great win, the Lions have a lot to work on. At times the defense had problems with communication when playing zone, leaving Joseph open on several occasions when coming off screens. All things considered, however, Penn State seems to be back on track.

Five Reasons To Look Forward to the 2009 Pirates Season

Geoffrey Ames — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:46:25 -0500

Here we are at the beginning of spring training, when all teams are equal with zero wins and zero losses. We all know that all teams are not equal though, especially the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are one season away from setting the mark with 17 straight losing seasons in a row. This team is a far cry from the glory days of Bonds, Bonilla and Drabek.

Pirates’ fans have become accustomed to the mediocrity that is this team year after year. Poor management decisions in personnel, coaching and free agency have ruled the headlines in Pittsburgh over the last decade and a half. It has been topped off with a 2008 season that saw the lone perennial all-star Jason Bay head off to Boston, proceeded by 41 losses in the last 60 games.

So what have the Pirates changed since the 2008 season that makes me cautiously optimistic about the upcoming campaign? Well, not much to be honest. The team has done little to nothing in the way of picking up free agents or signing new talent in the off-season. I actually don’t mind; there won’t be an over-the-hill Kenny Lofton-type guy for a one-year deal coming in and taking up roster space.

No, the Pirates are going in the opposite direction; building young talent. Most of the time, it takes three or four years to build a team from a farm system. However, I truly believe that the Pirates have what it takes to win this year with their current roster.

1. Freddy Sanchez is Healthy

The former National League Batting champ has been a steady performer for the Pirates over the last 3 years, but 2008 was his least productive after needing shoulder surgery before the season started. This is also a key year for Sanchez as he is in the last year of his contract, and needs to put up good number to trigger an option for 2010. He says that he is in “the best shape of his career.” Look for him to significantly improve on the .271 average from last year, and provide consistency for the middle infield.

2. Ryan Doumit is the real deal

If you want to talk about a guy who has statistically only gotten better year after year in his career, take a look at Doumit. Over the last 3 seasons, his average has risen over 110 points to a career high .318 last year. He also drove in 69 runs in just 116 games. With Doumit now the clear cut starter at Catcher, he can provide even more run support, and provide consistency behind the plate for a young, talented pitching staff. Which leads me to my next point ---

3. The pitching staff is young and talented

Now I know what you might say here; last years’ team had a 5.08 ERA, did not have a 10 game winner, and there have been no off-season changes. Valid point. However, many of the pitchers on this staff have seen success prior to last year, such as Zach Duke, Tom Gorzelanny and Ian Snell.

Also, the average age of the pitchers on this staff is around 25 years old or younger, meaning that this could be the year for the young, experienced guys to step up. Gorzelanny is 15 pounds lighter than last year, and has been working hard in the off-season to stay in shape, and Paul Maholm will look to build on his 9-9 season last year. There is also a lot of upside to pitchers such as Jeff Karstens, Phil Dumatrait, John Grabow, and Jesse Chavez, just to name a few.

I for one think that the biggest issue last year was inexperienced pitching coach Jeff Andrews, who was subsequently fired after the season. New pitching coach Joe Kerrigan brings experience and knowledge, having worked with such franchises as the Red Sox and Yankees.

4. Andy LaRoche will live up to the hype

I fully expect that the LaRoche brothers will be manning the corners with abandon as well as tearing it up at the plate in 2009. After coming over highly-touted from the Dodgers organization, Andy did not perform very well last year, playing in only 49 games and hitting .152. However, he has been working hard in the off-season with the Pirates’ hitting coach, and will return to form in 2009. Adam has been a consistent performer for the team, which means he can be counted on for around 80 RBIs and a steady glove at first base.

5. The team has a different feel.

I just feel like this team is different than in years past. Manager John Russell has a quiet confidence about him, and the assistant coaches provide a good leadership base for this team. Also, in addition to the names mentioned above, there is a wealth of talented names such as Nyjer Morgan, Brandon Moss, Andrew McCutchen, Ramon Vazquez, and Eric Hinske, who are all looking for ways to make an impact.

No matter how these predictions pan out for the upcoming season, baseball is back, and the Pirates are going to be better.

Penn State Receivers Entering a New Era in 2009

Geoffrey Ames — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:34:43 -0500

The 2009 football season will have a very noticeable change in the names being called for catching first downs and touchdowns for the Nittany Lions.

Since Penn State's trio of Deon Butler, Jordan Norwood, and Derrick Williams will have all moved on to life after college football, Penn State will be looking for guys to step up and become the new targets for quarterback Daryll Clark.

Butler, Norwood, and Williams were the top receivers respectively for the Lions in 2008, each with over 40 catches. They also accounted for 17 of the 24 receiving touchdowns for the team. The next most effective receiver was running back Stephfon Green, who had a mere 15 receptions and one touchdown.

There are three key receivers who will be returning for the 2009 season that have opportunities to be the go-to guys in the passing game. Graham Zug, Brett Brackett, and Andrew Quarless will try to build on the experience they gained during last season in key situations.

Zug took advantage of his time on the field by pulling down 11 receptions for 174 yards and a touchdown. He also hauled in a key 49-yard reception during the Ohio State game. He could be a decent downfield threat for Clark, as he averaged 15.8 yards per catch.

Similar to Zug's numbers, Brackett had 13 receptions for 160 yards and a touchdown in 2008. At 6'6" and 235 pounds, he provides a tight end-like target at the receiver position, which is a big advantage in a conference known for physical defense.

Tight end Andrew Quarless has an opportunity to be a big-play guy for Clark to go to if he can stay out of Paterno's doghouse. He didn't play in seven of the Lions' games last year, but he has a huge upside if he can stay on the straight and narrow. He has 46 career receptions for 610 yards and five touchdowns. He should be able to be the guy next year.

In addition to these standouts, there are three wide receivers in the 2009 recruiting class.

The most outstanding of the group is four-star recruit Justin Brown from Concorde High School in Wilmington, DE. At 6'3", he provides good size, and his evaluations say he has good speed and great hands. He may have an opportunity to make an impact as soon as this year.

The upcoming football season is going to be a new era for wide receivers in Happy Valley. Let's hope they can live up to the standards of their predecessors.

Is This Real Nittany Lions Basketball?

Geoffrey Ames — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:03:05 -0500

For all you Penn State fans out there who are watching your hopes of an NCAA Tournament bid fly out the window, I sympathize with you.

After an amazing non-conference season, followed by a great start in the Big Ten with key wins over Purdue, Michigan, and Michigan State, the Nittany Lions have lost three straight—and these games weren't even close. The Lions have lost by an average of 14.7 points a game during the skid.

Talor Battle, the number one scorer in the Big Ten, has averaged just 6.3 points a game, including a goose egg in the latest loss at Purdue. Stanley Pringle and Jamelle Cornley have also had problems.

So is this the real Nittany Lions team? Were we playing above our means prior to this, or are we just in a slump? Is this the type of play we can expect for the rest of this season?

In our first nine conference games this year, the big three of Cornley, Pringle, and Battle were averaging 48.7 points per game. In the three losses since, they are averaging just 29 points per game. That's a significant drop-off for three players who account for approximately 75 percent of the Lions' offense. As they go, so does the team.

In all fairness, the level of competition has been tough. However, the remaining schedule only has one team with a losing record on it: Indiana. Iowa also has a worse conference record than the Lions.

However, Minnesota, Ohio State, and Illinois are each looking to make statements for getting bids to the big dance, and each of them is currently ahead of Penn State in the conference standings. The Lions' success this year has made them a target for a "statement" game for these teams.

Basically, there are no "easy" games left, especially if the team continues to play like they have.

To get into the tournament, the Lions will need to finish with a winning record in Big Ten play. Wins over Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio State are the most likely, but still not a sure thing. At least a split with the Illini would bolster their RPI, but they will need to get back to the formula that helped them beat teams like Michigan State and Purdue.