Penn State Basketball Opening Eyes With Strong Start

By seanmeyers
DJ Newbill
Getty Images

The Penn State men’s basketball team has rarely created much excitement around State College, let alone the college basketball landscape. This season, though, the Nittany Lions are off to a hot start, and the program could be quickly rising up the ranks in the ultra-competitive Big Ten Conference.

Heading into conference action, Penn State currently boasts a 12-1 mark, with the only loss coming in double overtime to Charlotte. Since that setback, the Nittany Lions have rattled off 10 consecutive wins, setting the stage for possibly their most successful season in years.

Although Penn State’s non-conference schedule was admittedly soft, the Nittany Lions managed to triumph in the games they were expected to win. Although that seems simple, the struggles of teams like Michigan and Nebraska in non-conference action prove that capturing 12 of 13 games, regardless of the level of competition, is an impressive feat.

In the process of their early-season run, the Nittany Lions displayed a penchant for winning tight contests. Seven of their victories came by margins of six points or less. While Penn State should’ve won some of those games more convincingly, the fact that they are finding ways to close out games comes is a contrast to last year, when the team dropped several heartbreaking decisions in the closing seconds.

Senior guard DJ Newbill has led the way and established himself as one of the best players in the nation. Newbill has averaged more than 21 points per contest and also chipped in with nearly five rebounds and more than three assists per game.

Additionally, the Lions boast improved depth, as eight players behind Newbill make regular contributions. Junior forward Brandon Taylor has developed into a legitimate power forward, while Ross Travis, Jordan Dickerson and Donovan Jack all bring unique attributes to the frontcourt. The strength of the team is at the guard position, though, as Newbill is joined by impressive freshman point guard Shep Garner, as well as key reserves Geno Thorpe and John Johnson.

The Lions will need almost all of those players to perform at a high level in order to succeed during their conference slate, though. Penn State opens Big Ten play with perhaps their toughest test, a road contest against Wisconsin, a national title contender. Other top teams like Michigan State, Maryland and Ohio State will present significant hurdles in the Nittany Lions’ hopes of finishing in the upper echelon of the Big Ten.

Although the Nittany Lions don’t yet possess the skill or athleticism to match up against the elite teams in the conference, they should improve upon last year’s 6-12 mark. In 2012-13, the Lions won only two contests against conference foes, so they are definitely headed in the right direction. A 9-9 mark could be a realistic possibility, especially if Penn State continues to find success in games decided in the final minutes.

Head coach Patrick Chambers, now in his fourth season with Penn State, has a chance to reach new heights with the program over the next few seasons. Next year, the Nittany Lions will welcome arguably their greatest recruiting class ever, headlined by standouts Josh Reaves and Michael Watkins. Chambers also already secured a commitment from highly-touted Joe Hampton in 2016, and it’s likely he will gain even more momentum on the recruiting trail if Penn State continues to win games this year.

Subsequently, 2014-15 could serve as a launching pad to taking the men’s basketball program to new heights. If nothing else, the Lions’ tremendous start will bring excitement and enthusiasm to a program that sorely needs the support of a dormant fanbase.

Ultimately, this season could be one of the most successful and most important years in the history of Penn State basketball.

Sean Meyers is a professional wrestling writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and “Like” him on Facebook.

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