SB Nation Pittsburgh - Penn State vs. Michigan: Nittany Lions Beaten In First Conference Gamehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48827/pitt-fv.png2011-12-29T21:32:15-05:00http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24328712011-12-29T21:32:15-05:002011-12-29T21:32:15-05:00Penn State vs. Michigan: Nittany Lions Rolled In Big Ten Opener
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<p>In what could be the first of many tough nights for a young Penn State team in the Big Ten this season, Michigan rolled Patrick Chambers' squad 71-53 in its conference opener by a score on Thursday night in Ann Arbor.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123897/tim-hardaway-jr">Tim Hardaway Jr</a>. scored 26 points on 11-18 shooting, far and away stealing the show for the Wolverines. His teammates we not to be out done, though. Freshman and former Penn State commit <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145685/trey-burke">Trey Burke</a>, though he struggled from the field, was money from the free throw line, finishing a perfect 7-7 to give him 13 points on the evening. Couple that with the 17-rebound and 23 points on 8-14 shooting combined line of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99901/matt-vogrich">Matt Vogrich</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52342/zack-novak">Zack Novak</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123899/evan-smotrycz">Evan Smotrycz</a> and it's clear Michigan broke the Nittany Lions down with a real team effort.</p>
<p>The Wolverines used nine Penn State turnovers in the first half to take eight more shots than the Lions, plenty to stake them to a 14-point halftime advantage. From there, the Lions narrowed the margin, but it didn't matter. Michigan had already put the game out of reach.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99917/tim-frazier">Tim Frazier</a> paced a Penn State offense that shot a paltry 39.6 percent for the game with 20 points, five rebounds and four assists. He also had five turnovers, however, in some ill-fated attempts to make things happen on offense for the Lions. Jermaine Marshall came on late to score nine points, good for second on the team, but he racked up four fouls before taking a shot and didn't get on the board until well into the second half, once the Wolverines had already put things away.</p>
<p>Penn State is now 8-6 and 0-1 in Big Ten play. Next up for the Lions is a 7:00 p.m. tip at Northwestern on New Year's Day before hosting Purdue next Thursday.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2011/12/29/2669512/penn-state-vs-michigan-basketball-score-tim-hardaway-tim-frazierFTG18552011-12-29T20:30:48-05:002011-12-29T20:30:48-05:00Penn State Vs. Michigan: Wolverines Cruise To 36-22 Halftime Lead
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<p>The first half of Penn State's Big Ten opener against Michigan in Ann Arbor was tough sledding for the Nittany Lions as they took a 36-22 deficit into the halftime break.</p>
<p>Nine first half turnovers and a 6-3 deficit on the offensive glass gave Michigan eight more shot attempts than Penn State in the first period. Factor in the Wolverines' shooting 43.8 percent to the Lions' 33.3 percent and a double-digit halftime spread was a near certainty.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123897/tim-hardaway-jr">Tim Hardaway Jr</a>. led Michigan with 12 points in the first half on 6-10 shooting. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123899/evan-smotrycz">Evan Smotrycz</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145685/trey-burke">Trey Burke</a> weren't far behind with seven points each. Smotrycz also had a game-high seven rebounds.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99917/tim-frazier">Tim Frazier</a> was Penn State's big scorer with 10 points to go with three rebounds and two assists. He also had three turnovers, though, so the first 20 minutes were hardly his best. Penn State's second-leading scorer, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99913/jermaine-marshall">Jermaine Marshall</a>, did not attempt a shot in the half and racked up three fouls.</p>
<p>Michigan enjoyed a +5 rebounding margin in the first half, pulling down 19 boards to Penn State's 15.</p>
<p><i>For an update on this game when it goes final, stay tuned to SB Nation Pittsburgh. </i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2011/12/29/2669425/penn-state-vs-michigan-score-basketball-tim-frazier-tim-hardaway-jrFTG18552011-12-29T15:48:53-05:002011-12-29T15:48:53-05:00Penn State Vs. Michigan: Nittany Lions Open Conference Play
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<p>Penn State's Patrick Chambers will coach in his first Big Ten game. </p> <p>First-year Penn State coach Patrick Chambers will get his Big Ten baptism by fire on Wednesday night when his Nittany Lions travel to face No. 16 Michigan at 7:30 p.m. in Ann Arbor in the first game of their conference schedule.</p>
<p>The Wolverines are off to a hot 10-2 start and own wins against then-No. 8 Memphis and UCLA. Last time out on Dec. 22, they beat Bradley 77-66. Led by guard Tim Hardaway junior (15.4 points per game) and freshman sensation and former Penn State commit <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145685/trey-burke">Trey Burke</a> (13.0 points), Michigan boasts five players averaging at least 7.8 points per game. Their 49.0 percent field goal percentage for the season is ranked No. 17 nationally.</p>
<p>Needless to say, the Wolverines will be a tough assignment for a Penn State team that has dropped four of its last seven games. The Lions do have a bit of momentum entering, however, earning wins against Mount St. Mary's and Cornell to close out conference play, so it will be interesting to see if the players can stay on a roll, or come out flat on the road.</p>
<p>Below are some things to watch for in the game.</p>
<p><b>When Penn State has the ball...</b></p>
<p>-Penn State has one big advantage in this game, and that's rebounding. Averaging 37.5 rebounds per game, the Lions grab 3.6 more on average than the Wolverines. Penn State is ranked No. 82 in the country in rebounding compared to Michigan's No. 238 slot, so the Lions must do their best to exploit this mismatch at both ends of the court, but especially on offense where there might be some second-chance points available.</p>
<p>-Point guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99917/tim-frazier">Tim Frazier</a> has done a nice job running the Penn State offense and distributing the ball to his teammates this season. He needs to avoid the temptation to take over and do too much as conference play begins. If he tries to carry to much of the burden, Penn State will be in big trouble, but if he sticks to his game of getting everyone involved, the Lions will give the Wolverines a fight.</p>
<p>-Senior guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52374/cammeron-woodyard">Cammeron Woodyard</a> has quietly finished with double figures in scoring in four of Penn State's last five games. If he can keep that going, it'll be a nice boost for the offense.</p>
<p><b>When Michigan has the ball...</b></p>
<p>-As mentioned above, Penn State has a big rebounding advantage on paper. The Lions have to make that translate to the court, because Michigan has the talent in other areas to make sure this game is over by halftime.</p>
<p>-Burke and Hardaway are going to get their points in this one. They'll be the best two players on the floor next to Frazier and the best Penn State can hope for is to slow them down. The real stress defensively needs to be on <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123899/evan-smotrycz">Evan Smotrycz</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52342/zack-novak">Zack Novak</a>, 57.9 percent and 41.5 percent 3-point shooters, respectively. Both have tortured Penn State with deep balls in the past, and keeping hands in their face will be the difference between the Lions staying in the game, or the superior talent of Michigan running away with this thing.</p>
<p>-At 6-foot-8, 240 pounds, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99677/jordan-morgan">Jordan Morgan</a> is a big dude. His 7.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game don't say he'll be a big threat in this one, but if he's given room, he'll present problems for Penn State. The Lions have to keep an eye on him.</p>
<p><b>Overall</b></p>
<p>It's hard to see Penn State having much of a chance in this one. Michigan is talented and experienced, a lethal combination against a team as young as Chambers' Lions. If Penn State hits the boards as hard as it has all season and manages to limit turnovers, then this will probably stay withing 10 points for most of the evening. The Wolverines have the depth of talent to just wear the Lions down, though.</p>
<p><b>Pick: Michigan, 70-61</b></p>
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