The Penn State Nittany Lions will be seeking a monumental upset when they visit Ohio State on Wednesday, January 25. The Buckeyes are the class of the Big Ten and figure to be a Final Four contender. Meanwhile, Penn State is a work in progress that most assume will finish near the bottom of the league. As a Penn State alum, I always have faith that the team can win. I realize it is a tall order, but if everything falls into place Penn State could pull the shocker of the basketball season. Here are some things that need to happen.
Tim Frazier needs to be precise
Everyone knows that Frazier will be the main piece in the Penn State offense. He is among the points and assists leaders in the conference and is easily the best player on the team. But there is a serious issue regarding Frazier and shooting. At times it takes him way too many shots to make his usual points. That can't happen in this game. For Penn State to have any chance at all they need Frazier to be on point. He will need to take shots but more importantly he must maximize his chances.
Perfect defense
Ohio State is loaded with guys that can score. Jared Sullinger and William Buford are just two Buckeyes players that Penn State will have to contain. As a team, Ohio State scores 78 points per game. They have especially feasted against the bottom half of the conference. But Penn State is capable of playing strong defense. They will need to do that if they have any shot of this game. If Penn State keeps Ohio State around 64 point average that they allow, there is a chance.
Supporting players must step up
Frazier can't do it alone even if he is near perfect. He needs other players to step up their game. The most logical candidates are Cam Woodyard and Jermaine Marshall. Both players have been able to score in flashes but neither can yet be called a consistent performer. Marshall, Woodyard, and Billy Oliver are three guys that need to play to their max in this game. They need to treat it like the game of their life. If Penn State can adopt that mentality they might be able to surprise everyone.
* - Mark Paul is a Penn State alum.
Tim Frazier needs to be precise
Everyone knows that Frazier will be the main piece in the Penn State offense. He is among the points and assists leaders in the conference and is easily the best player on the team. But there is a serious issue regarding Frazier and shooting. At times it takes him way too many shots to make his usual points. That can't happen in this game. For Penn State to have any chance at all they need Frazier to be on point. He will need to take shots but more importantly he must maximize his chances.
Perfect defense
Ohio State is loaded with guys that can score. Jared Sullinger and William Buford are just two Buckeyes players that Penn State will have to contain. As a team, Ohio State scores 78 points per game. They have especially feasted against the bottom half of the conference. But Penn State is capable of playing strong defense. They will need to do that if they have any shot of this game. If Penn State keeps Ohio State around 64 point average that they allow, there is a chance.
Supporting players must step up
Frazier can't do it alone even if he is near perfect. He needs other players to step up their game. The most logical candidates are Cam Woodyard and Jermaine Marshall. Both players have been able to score in flashes but neither can yet be called a consistent performer. Marshall, Woodyard, and Billy Oliver are three guys that need to play to their max in this game. They need to treat it like the game of their life. If Penn State can adopt that mentality they might be able to surprise everyone.
* - Mark Paul is a Penn State alum.
