Penn State @ Purdue
Tipoff: 2:32 p.m., Mackey Arena
Records: Penn State (12-11, 4-8); Purdue (9-14, 3-8)
Coaches:
Ed DeChellis is 28-53 in three seasons at Penn State and 133-146 in 10 seasons overall.
Matt Painter is 9-14 in his first season at Purdue and 34-19 in two seasons overall.
Series: Purdue leads, 16-8.
Last meeting: Penn State handled Purdue 74-54 at the Jordan Center Jan. 18.
TV: Local: WWCP Fox 8 (Craig Coshun play by play, Bob Ford color). ESPN-Plus: See the list.
Radio: Penn State Sports Network (Steve Jones play by play, Dick Jerardi color).
Next up: Penn State travels to Indiana for an 8 p.m. tip.
Probable starters:
Penn State
G Ben Luber, 6-0 Jr. (7.4)
G David Jackson, 6-1 Jr. (7.0)
F Geary Claxton, 6-5 So. (16.0)
F Travis Parker, 6-5 Sr. (11.3)
F Jamelle Cornley, 6-6 Fr. (12.2)
Purdue:
G Chris Hartley, 6-4 Jr. (2.0)
G Chris Lutz, 6-2 Fr. (9.9)
G Bryant Dillon, 6-6 Sr. (6.5)
F Gary Ware, 6-9 Sr. (5.9)
F Matt Kiefer, 6-10 Sr. (11.8)
Notes:
• A win today would give Penn State three conference road victories this season, tying a school record. The Lions came into the season having lost 32 straight league road tilts, dating back to the 2001 season.
• Cornley seems to be a lock for Big Ten Rookie of the Year honors. Lutz figures to give him the most competition for the award.
• Though the Boilermakers have had a tough go of it in the Big Ten, they are strong at home, where they've posted relatively easy wins over Wisconsin and Michigan. “The first thing that jumps out at you is they're 0-11 on the road and 8-3 at home,” DeChellis said.
• Speaking of which, the coach said he was disappointed his team only produced one win in its recent three-game home stand. The Lions finish Big Ten play with three of four away from home. “We had our chances at home,” DeChellis said. “Now we have to go make something happen on the road.”
FOS Prediction: Penn State 70, Purdue 66.
Comment: History tells us the Nittany Lions know how to take care of when business when the scent of an NIT bid wafts through the air.
FOS Record: 20-3.
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