Basketball GAMEDAY THREAD: Penn State versus Minnesota

[Richie O]

Happy Valley Insider - Penn State closes out Big Ten road slate with trip to Minnesota

Penn State looks to bounce back on Saturday afternoon against Minnesota.

pennstate.rivals.com

WHEN: March 2nd, 2024 - 3:15 p.m. ET
WHERE: Williams Arena -- Minneapolis, Minnesota
SPREAD: Minnesota -6 / Over/Under: 151
TV/STREAM: BTN

 

[NC2017]

If we can take the next two to end the regular season, we'll be 10/10 in conference. Given what he had to overcome, that will be a very successful season for coach Rhoades and the team.

 

[cyrizzle]

This game is big when it comes to our postseason (NIT) hopes.

 

[Erial_Lion]

This game is big when it comes to our postseason (NIT) hopes.

Takes it from a .5% to 1% chance Id guess.

My primary concerns now are a) avoiding Wednesday, and b) finding our way into the 7-10 game.

 

[ryoder1]

Takes it from a .5% to 1% chance Id guess.

My primary concerns now are a) avoiding Wednesday, and b) finding our way into the 7-10 game.

Losing this game then beating Maryland may be the route to the 10 seed. OSU has Michigan at home and Rutgers on the road. If they win both and we split our last two then OSU and us are 9-11 and they win the tiebreaker by beating Purdue.

 

[Erial_Lion]

Like seeing us sending these doubles at Garcia...can't let him beat us again.

 

[ryoder1]

Too many easy paths to the basket for Minny. Let's try not to fall behind by 15 in the next 10 minutes.

 

[ryoder1]

Great start, keep it up.

 

[Erial_Lion]

5-5 from 3. Don't fall in love with those...keep attacking the paint and giving touches to Wahab.

 

[Erial_Lion]

Those 2 quick ones on Garcia could be huge.

 

[AWS1022]

5-5 from 3. Don't fall in love with those...keep attacking the paint and giving touches to Wahab.

Even O’Boyle is 2-2…something in the water?

 

[Erial_Lion]

Even O’Boyle is 2-2…something in the water?

He is still the guy with the highest career 3 point % on the team...he's struggled, but he has the ability to make them. Really that Mike has continued to give him the green light all year.

 

[AWS1022]

He is still the guy with the highest career 3 point % on the team...he's struggled, but he has the ability to make them. Really that Mike has continued to give him the green light all year.

And a lot of guys were crazy high scorers in high school and never pan out in college. What he did at Lafayette has little to do with what he’s able to do in the Big Ten.

 

[Erial_Lion]

Really surprised that Johnson has let this one go this far without going back to Garcia.

 

[Erial_Lion]

And a lot of guys were crazy high scorers in high school and never pan out in college. What he did at Lafayette has little to do with what he’s able to do in the Big Ten.

What it comes to making open 3's (or something like shooting FTs), I'd disagree. We haven't been looking for him to create his own offense or shoot contested shots...he's likely getting better looks today than he did the last few years when opponents game-planned for him in the Patriot League.

 

[Erial_Lion]

10 to 2 for us on the defensive boards...keep it up!!!

 

[Erial_Lion]

Getting sloppy with the ball leads to quick points the other way...good TO to settle things down.

 

[ryoder1]

First 5 minutes of 2nd half are huge. We can maintain or ideally extend lead or let Minny right back into it.

 

[AWS1022]

What it comes to making open 3's (or something like shooting FTs), I'd disagree. We haven't been looking for him to create his own offense or shoot contested shots...he's likely getting better looks today than he did the last few years when opponents game-planned for him in the Patriot League.

Andrew Funk came from the Patriot League as well and he lit it up for us. O’Boyle has been really bad for us.

 

[87 Penn St8]

Small things can lead to big runs- Ace missed 1:1, Michell missed FT and some ill advised ballhandlimg and drives to the hoop. We were in bonus early and didn't great contact for Free Throws ( at least 3 Minny blocks). They have and got back into the game there.

All of us would've taken +12 at the half...but somehow this doesn't feel as good as one would hope...

 

[Erial_Lion]

3rd on Garcia going to break. He and Payne both with 3. Love it.

 

[bdgan]

Small things can lead to big runs- Ace missed 1:1, Michell missed FT and some ill advised ballhandlimg and drives to the hoop. We were in bonus early and didn't great contact for Free Throws ( at least 3 Minny blocks). They have and got back into the game there.

All of us would've taken +12 at the half...but somehow this doesn't feel as good as one would hope...

We've had big leads over Minnesota before.

 

[ryoder1]

Gotta withstand this run you knew was coming and get it back to double digits.

 

[YYZ86]

Small things can lead to big runs- Ace missed 1:1, Michell missed FT and some ill advised ballhandlimg and drives to the hoop. We were in bonus early and didn't great contact for Free Throws ( at least 3 Minny blocks). They have and got back into the game there.

All of us would've taken +12 at the half...but somehow this doesn't feel as good as one would hope...

Law of averages. PSU shot incredibly from the arc for most of first half while Minny did not. Now the numbers are coming back to normal. Defense will decide it.

 

[bdgan]

Inexcusable. Gotta stop the ball.

 

[ryoder1]

This is what I was afraid of. Look terrible on offense. Minny outscored us by 21 in last 15 minutes. We always seem to have these horrendous spurts on the road.

 

[Erial_Lion]

So little ball movement on offense over the last several minutes, and don't have the guys that can create their own shot late in the clock. Need to get back to getting those paint touches for Wahab.

 

[Erial_Lion]

When we go with this 5 out offense when Wahab is getting a break, we really need to take advantage of the backdoor cuts...Minnesota has turned up the D and is overplaying all of the passing lanes at this point.

 

[bdgan]

Stupid 4th foul by Wahab. O'Boyle back in but he can't defend.

Foolish forced 3 by Baldwin who is now trying to do it all by himself.

 

[johnmpsu]

Pass the damn ball.

 

[Nittany1997]

Dafuq?

 

[87 Penn St8]

9-0 Gopher run stopped by Puff out of TO so credit Rhodes.

We were really impotent on O prior to that

 

[87 Penn St8]

Kern shitting bed w walk/turnover

 

[87 Penn St8]

Wow....terrible possession

 

[Erial_Lion]

I wonder how much better Ace could be going 34-35/night vs all 40...guess we just don't have anyone else that Rhoades trusts at the 1.

 

[bdgan]

Baldwin throws it away and Wahab fouls out.

 

[nitlion93]

I keep watching updates saying turn over by PSU with most on Kern. What’s happening?

 

[bdgan]

Law of averages. PSU shot incredibly from the arc for most of first half while Minny did not. Now the numbers are coming back to normal. Defense will decide it.

Law of averages caught up to PSU wrt 3 pt shooting but that doesn't excuse Wahab's careless fouls, Ace forcing shots & passes, etc.

 

[AWS1022]

Good thing Clary is gone. We’re so much better without him.

 

[bdgan]

Forced shot by O'Boyle then horrible shot by Brown. Wow!