1/17/2025
Olympic sprint champion Wilma Rudolph (look her up, kids) once said, "Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose." Well, I'm here to tell you that Wilma was wrong.
Penn State tipped off against 2 ranked opponents this week, beginning with a home encounter with then-#15 Oregon. In a game that saw the home team storm back from a 14-point first-half deficit to take a 68-59 lead with just over 6 minutes to play, and also maintain leads of 74-68 lead with 3:43 remaining and 78-76 with 2:24 remaining, the Nittany Lions made only 1 of their last 5 shots from the field as the Ducks flapped their way to an 82-81 victory. PSU played the game without a full deck, as their Ace (Baldwin Jr.) in the hole was sidelined due to injury.
Penn State then travelled to Michigan State to take on the then-#12 Spartans, who entered the game as winners of 9 games in a row. Let's cut to the chase--MSU has now won 10 games in a row. Despite shooting over 65% from the field in the second half, the Nittany Lions never had the lead as they lost a close 90-85 battle in front of a Full House at the Breslin Events Center. The loss drops PSU to 16th place in the over-saturated 18 team B1G Conference.
And so it seems now that Penn State has learned to lose. Full disclosure: Wilma's quote actually ended with, "If you can pick up after a crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday." From your lips to God's ears, Wilma.
GO LIONS!
1/12/2025
In its only (basketball) game this week, Penn State opened up an 11-5 lead over Illinois at the 14:29 mark of the first half. I should have taken a picture then and there, because they got drubbed the rest of the game, beginning with a 15-0 Illini run that led to a 45-21 halftime deficit. While the Nittany Lions scored 31 points in the second half, alas, they gave up 46. Do the math, and that’s a 91-52 beat down.
Although do it all guard Ace Baldwin Jr. did not play the final 25 minutes of the game following a first-half injury, well, do it all guard Ace Baldwin Jr. did not play the final 25 minutes of the game following a first-half injury.
And, in its only (football) game this week, Penn State was clearly the better team by at least a touchdown against Notre Dame in the CFP Semifinals at the Orange Bowl in Miami. What’s that? Scoreboard, you say? Well, yeah, ok, scoreboard. Here’s this contributor’s post-mortem breakdown of the top 5 reasons in ascending order as to how and why I think I think PSU lost to the Fighting Irish 27-24 on a last second field goal (subject to review and modification after tonite’s bourbon):
5. No Beau. Sure it was only a few plays a game, but not having backup QB Beau Pribula (who left the team in December after entering the transfer portal—where he would eventually sign with the University of Missouri for a cool, ahem, $1.5 million) meant something. Not having Beau meant not forcing opposing defenses to practice against the 1 and 2 QB looks with Beau in the game, plus not affording PSU the successful chunk yardage gadget and QB runs from those formations.
4. Angeli—who’s Angeli? I said out loud (in an otherwise empty room, mind you) that, based on the flow of the game, Riley Leonard had NO CHANCE, so ND’s backup QB Steve Angeli insertion into the game late in the first half after Leonard had to leave the game due to a possible injury seemed to give ND a lift (not to mention 3 points heading into halftime).
3. No WR’s. Seems pretty amazing that you (assuming you are not one of PSU’s wide receiving corps) and I combined for as many receptions as PSU’s WRs did in that game—yes, that would be zero. Although there seemed to be some improvement as the season progressed, they had zero impact in the game (case in point: on the final minute INT, there was no one even close to being open).
2. Allar; Drew Allar. He just did not play well (really in any of the playoff games); not trusting his first look, wild and/or high early and often, and probably got bailed out by DPI calls or could have had 2 other end zone INTs against the Irish.
1. 3 Nots. Not Franklin, not Kotelnicki, not play calling—you can’t not have your highly touted star QB throw the ball (e.g. to a—insert voice of Kevin Burkhardt here—WIDE OPEN Nick Singleton in the flat prior to the first FG, or not trust that he’ll make the smart play in the ill-fated INT); and yes, run the ball, but surely you can—insert voice of Herman Edwards here—PLAY TO WIN THE GAME and try to get enough yards on that final drive to kick a potential game-winning FG.
That’s all for now. And if you got all the way through this post, well, I salute you.
GO LIONS!
1/5/2025
It was a tale of two cities--and it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
Penn State opened the week at home with a gutsy 84-80 win over Northwestern. The Nittany Lions held the Wildcats to just 5 points over the final five minutes, while moving their unblemished record at home to 9-0. With a stat that would make even the most ardent Northwestern hater (Q: Is there such a thing?) question the zebras, Penn State went an eye-popping 36 for 45 at the free throw line. And in an odd, last minute sequence that made even this proud PSU alumnus smirk, Northwestern saw (a) a potential game-tying tip-in with less than 10 seconds left in the game, then (2) an official call goaltending by senior guard D'Marco Dunn on the original layup attempt, which took away the tip-in, then (III) the officials reverse the goaltending call upon review, which gave Northwestern the ball but denied the tip-in due to what amounted to an inadvertent whistle, then (D) a missed potential game-tying shot by Northwestern that led to 2 made free throws by Ace Baldwin Jr. to seal the victory. Got it? Good!
Penn State then traveled to the City of Brotherly Love to take on Indiana in what has become an annual trek to Philadelphia to play a "home" game in the famed Palestra. Despite falling behind to the Hoosiers in the second half by 16 points, the Lions battled back to trail by only 2 with less than a minute to go in the "White Out" game, before a Zach Hicks 3-point attempt went for naught. IU then made 4 free throws down the stretch to close out the scoring and win the game 77-71 and hand the Lions only their third loss of the season. Got it? Bad!
Two quick "shout outs" from the past week:
1. Penn State's women's volleyball team defeated the University of Louisville in 4 sets to win the NCAA title. The national title was the first for Head Coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley--and the first in the sport won by a woman head coach--and the 8th national title overall. And what happens when you win a bet against 4 U of L fans? You get them to make this video: (see attached)
2. Penn State's football team corralled Boise State in the CFP quarterfinals at the Fiesta Bowl by the score of 31-14. The win sends the Lions on to the CFP semi-finals, where they will take on Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. We Are!!!
12/29/2024
Penn State was victorious in its only game this week, defeating the Penn Quakers 86-66 at home. The Nittany Lions led 34-31 at halftime before pulling away in the second half to secure head coach Mike Rhoades his 400th career win in his 21st year as a head coach. Ace Baldwin Jr. notched his fifth double-double of the season (23 & 10), while Yanic Konan Neiderhauser also doubled up with 19 points and a career high 15 boards.
PSU moved to 11-2 on the season and wrapped up non-conference play with a 10-1 record as it heads back into B1G Conference play. Interestingly, the Nittany Lions have played the same starting lineup all 13 games this year: Baldwin Jr. - Dillon V - Hicks - Johnson - Neiderhauser. If I were a TV commentator, that statement would no doubt cause one of those players to tear an Achilles tendon this coming week in practice. But I’m not.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
12/22/2024
Greetings from Championship U—on a weekend where Penn State’s football team won their CFP First Round playoff game against SMU 38-10 on Saturday, December 21 that was witnessed in person by this intrepid correspondent, and where the Lady Lions volleyball team advanced to the Championship Game in Louisville, KY on Sunday, December 22 against the home-standing University of Louisville after a thrilling “reverse sweep” in the semi-finals against Nebraska that saw the Nittany Lions rally from 2 sets down to win the final 3 sets in thrilling fashion.
Oh, yeah—and the PSU basketball team won, too!
Penn State defeated the Drexel Dragons 75-64 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia in their only game this week, boosting their record to 10-2 on the season. Junior forward Yanic Konan Neiderhauser led four Nittany Lions in double figures with 18 points and 6 rebounds. While Konan Neiderhauser is the most famous Penn State hoops player named Yanic—ok sure, he’s the only Yanic ever—other famous people named Yanic (which translates to “little John”) include Canadian actor Yanic Truesdale, Mexican sailor Yanic Gentry, French-Canadian hockey player Yanic Perreault, Canadian musician Yanic Bercier, Dutch soccer player Yanic Wildschut, and, of course, tennis star Yannick Noah (close enough).
12/14/2024
Penn State’s first away contest in the B1G Conference ended in a 80-76 loss at Rutgers. The Nittany Lions trailed the Scarlet Knights early, at halftime, and late, but still trimmed a 17-point second half deficit to trail by just 3 with 3:27 left —but alas, could get no closer. The defeat spoiled a chance for PSU to start Big Ten play 2-0 for the first time since the 2007-08 season and, perhaps somewhat incredibly, for what would have been just the fourth time in 32 Big Ten campaigns.
And this is why we can’t have nice things. Or can we?
Penn State responded by doing what all good teams do—head back home to play a lesser team from a lesser conference. In this case, it was an 0-11 Coppin State team from the MEAC. And, well, it went about as well as one might expect, with the Nittany Lions cruising to a 99-51 blowout. PSU led 52-22 at the half, and just missed cracking the century mark for the 5th time this year while moving to an unblemished 7-0 record at home. Ace Baldwin Jr. set a new school record with 16 assists, while Penn State’s staff wore green wristbands and lapel pins on the sidelines in support of Fight For Literacy Saturday. So do yourself a favor and go read a book!
12/8/2024
Dateline: Indianapolis.
Humble greetings from Lucas Oil Stadium, where the Penn State football team got drilled in the B1G Championship by a talented Oregon squad 45-37, in a game that was never really as close as the final score indicated. On the bright side, the Nittany Lions now get to host a home playoff game against SMU in two weeks in the first-ever 12 team College Football Playoff—and this intrepid contributor plans on being there in person—so stay tuned!
Back on the hard court, PSU made up for almost ten years of ineptitude against then-#8 Purdue by capturing a home victory by the score of 81-70, in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score indicated, ending a streak of 8 straight losses against the Boilermakers and marking the team’s first win over a top-10 opponent since December of 2019, while also improving to 8-1 on the season for the first time since 2014-15. Ace Baldwin Jr. continues to be a PLAYAAH—tallying a game high 17 points and 6 assists, while adding to his stat stuffing totals with 1000+ career points, 600+ assists and 250+ steals. Penn State won its B1G opener despite having been picked to finish 17th and next-to-last in the now bloated 18 team conference. So, you know, eat it.
11/30/2024
It was a case of good news, bad news, better news for Penn State this week. After opening with an 85-66 win over Fordham in the Sunshine Slam in Daytona Beach, which secured Penn State’s best start in 25 years at 6-0, the Nittany Lions lost to Clemson in the tourney’s championship game by the score of 75-67. Penn State then returned home to face the Buffalo Bulls—no, not the Buffalo Bills, but the University of Buffalo Bulls—on Schuylkill County Day, where they returned to their winning ways for an 87-64 victory. Junior F Yanic Konan Niederhauser, the mobile 7-footer from Switzerland who transferred in this year from Northern Illinois, led the way against Buffalo with a career-best tying 27 points that included 7 dunks—at least 2 of which were worthy of a poster. And he has way cool hair, too. Oh yeah, and it’s pronounced “SKOO-kill” for all of you Pennsylvania newbies. Oh yeah, and GO PSU FOOTBALL—BEAT OREGON!!!
11/22/2024
With only one game scheduled this week, Penn State looked to continue their winning ways with an on-campus matchup against Purdue Fort Wayne in the Sunshine Slam before heading South to Daytona Beach for the remainder of the tournament next week. Pop Q: What’s the mascot of Purdue Fort Wayne? Answer below!
Although the Nittany Lions trailed the Horizon League preseason co-favorite 47-41 at halftime, they erupted for 61 second half points to pull away for the 102-89 victory. The win marked the third game they have exceeded the century mark this season while running their unbeaten record to 5-0. Ace Baldwin Jr. led the squad with a stat-stuffing 25 points, 11 assists, 7 rebounds and 2 steals. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that is the first 25-11-7-2 line in PSU hoops history. Go ahead…try to prove me wrong.
Answer: The Mastodons! In 1968, four years after the university was founded, the school’s geology department chair led a team of faculty and students to unearth an entire mastodon skeleton—along with the skull of a baby mastodon—after a large bone was discovered on a farm located 40 miles up the road in Angola, IN. In the midst of deciding on a mascot the following year, the School Government committee selected the Mastadon. Who knew?!?!
11/17/2024
Penn State continued their WICKED fast start while improving to an unbeaten 4-0 record with a 92-62 home win over St. Francis, followed by an 86-64 victory over Virginia Tech in the Hall of Fame Series Baltimore that was played in, well, Baltimore. The Nittany Lions keep DEFYING GRAVITY by averaging 97-plus points per game, good for 7th in Men’s Div. 1, while their average margin of victory of +35.8 ranks 4th in the nation. But enough about this year…
In ONE SHORT DAY earlier this month PSU landed 2025 class Top-50 recruit Kayden Mingo, becoming the program’s highest ranked recruit in the modern recruiting era. The WONDERFUL 6-1 four-star combo guard out of Long Island Lutheran had also considered Wake Forest, Georgia and the Hokies, leaving excited Nittany Lion supporters wondering WHAT IS THIS FEELING? Sure, NO GOOD DEED goes unpunished and Mingo can always de-commit until he’s officially here FOR GOOD, but AS LONG AS YOU’RE MINE we can still celebrate until SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS. But enough about hoops…
Penn State football fans continue to say THANK GOODNESS for TE Tyler Warren, who has been DANCING THROUGH LIFE and opposing defenders while absolutely balling out the past few weeks. He’s already been named as one of 3 finalists for the Paul Hornung Award—yeah, yeah, Travis Hunter, I know—and as A SENTIMENTAL MAN here’s hoping he also gets a ticket to NYC for the Heisman Trophy award—yeah, yeah, Travis Hunter, I know. That said, it does appear that both of those POPULAR award ceremonies may turn out to be nothing more than a MARCH OF THE WITCH HUNTERS for Travis.
And, scene.
11/9/2024
Bon jour from Carcassonne, France! Penn State began the season with 2 wins that each cracked the century mark, beating Binghamton University (nee SUNY Binghamton, located in Vestal, NY—shout out to all the fellow Golden Bears out there!) 108-66 and UMBC 103-64. The 108 points scored against Binghamton were the 4th most in team history, while the back-to-back 100-plus points scored was accomplished for the first time in program history. The Nittany Lions have petitioned the B1G Conference head honchos to continue to play America East teams for the duration of November, at a minimum. Well, maybe all except Vermont, UMass Lowell, and Bryant, who are pretty decent. Mais oui!
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