#256 R.P.I. Virginia Tech @ #133 R.P.I. Penn State:
I don’t know if Penn State is a great basketball team?
I do however know that they are good enough for somebodies post-season tournament on some level or another.
I also know that they employ one of the better one-man-shows -que: a younger Laurence Fishburne from Boyz ‘n the Hood, I mean que Mr. D.J. Newbill- that we will face this year.
Penn State was picked as high as 11th in the Big-10 and as low as next to last. So this is a pretty fast start in Nittany Lion terms.
That means that this one is a lot of things and a gimmie is not among them, not by a long-shot Vegas and hoops pun mutually intended at VT+8 as an opening visiting line goes.
Penn State at a Glance:
- 62nd in scoring offense (76 points per game)
- 56th in FG percentage defense (37.7% allowed)
- 79th in 3-point makes per game (7.4)
- 83rd in offensive rebounding
- no injuries reported
Penn State Backcourt: (returning starters=1)
Shep Garner: Garner is a transfer baller and the book on him says he is college ready as a combo-Guard goes. 6’1” 185 lb. rookie year baller, whose high school numbers were said to be limited (truncated) by his high school system itself. Known more for an all-around game which makes his second-best tally in points (10.9 ppg) and a team leading 46% from downtown all the more remarkable for a kid who has played precisely seven more games of college basketball than most of us. P.s.u. may have found a emerald in the rough as Garner goes.
#2 D.J. Newbill: 6’4”210 lb. final year Philly lead-G star of the show! 25 ppg on 50% and 50% again (floor and range) shooting says so. D.J. is the show up in Pennsylvanian State University and he can flat light you up on offense at this stage of his career. A physically strong player upstairs, despite a history of off (left) shoulder injuries. As this D.J. spins his way to the hoop. 50 FTA’s already on the season does not suck, neither does netting 82% of those 50 FTA’s thus far.
Devonte Jerrell (D.J.) is a Southern Miss’ transfer who -if he’s not careful- may be playing his way into an N.b.a. camp this time next year. And if he’s not a Association pro, surely someone overseas can use a 25 ppg scorer.
P.S.U. Frontcourt: (starters back=2 of 3)
Brandon Taylor: Bee.Tee is a 6 and a 1/2 foot 22o lb. sophomore Three or small-forward, with Predator hair. Taylor is third in scoring at 10.4 ppg and second in boards at 6.7 swipes of the glass. Taylor is (surprisingly) leading P.s.u. in swats at 1.6 per contest. Such is most intriguing for a kid who has remade or should I type reshaped himself into a pick-n-pop undersized Four, after having cut a staggering 44 lbs. of bad-mas since entering P.s.u. Taylor is the nephew of former bad-azz dunk-artist Terence Stansbury of Indy Pacer fame. Taylor was also known as an outburst scorer in high school and it would appear that he is on his way to upping his game as I type.
Donovon Jack: Jack is a 6’9” 210 lb. junior year thinking man’s Four (power-forward) who is defending when he’s not thinking. Top-5 last year in the Big-10 in blocks, currently however a good deal diminished with just 1 bpg, on 3.4 ppg and 3.6 rebounds on 43% from the field. This leaves one thinking something is ‘rong with Jack’s game up in Happy Valley. The book on Jack reads that he is an explosive leaper and a Koufax or natural southpaw or lefty. This makes his jump side altruistically the same say as any orthodox or right side shooter. Jack has been troubled by stress-fractures in his feets in the past; and one can only wonder where his base is at this moment, as he’s been a good deal more productive for Penn.State in the past than this contemporary effort would suggest.
Ross Travis: 6’7” 235 lb. senior year enforcer from the Small(er)/Forward spot who brings me back to Maurice Lucas just a little bit; albeit a thinking mans Mo’Lucas as a Academic All-Big Ten honoree. Surprisingly quick and explosive Three despite being just a shade undersized. Range is limited to 12-15′, although he does lead P.s.u. with 7.4 rebounds and he does manufacture 6.6 ppg as well. One of the few Musician majors I’ve seen, which is to say the only one I’ve ever seen, and yet there is something a bit underwhelming (on-court) regarding this former Mr. Minnesota basketball winner. No word yet on his game in-studio.
Nittany Lion Bench: (depth=2)
Geno Thorpe: 6’3” 180 lb. second-year Pittsburgh baller from my hometown. Combo-G with almost Point like handles. Will attack the basket in the open floor, has just enough range on his J (33% on 3’s) to keep you honest. Forth in scoring in relief at 9.9 ppg with 2.9 boards on 86% from the FT-line. More of a scoring lead-G in high school (27 ppg) as you have to expect his numbers will only increase once he breaks into the starting line-up; likely next year.
Jordan Dickerson: 7’1” 245 legit back to the basket transfer (S.m.u.) Center. Jordan is basically a defensive Five in need of offensive enrichment. A shot blocker, with a very credible body who is athletic enough and yet quite limited with the ball in his hands. Right now Jordan only gets you 2.1 ppg with 2.7 rebounds and 1 block on a clankly looking 33% from the field and a bricky 55% from the FT-stripe. Offense is not this mans game; although he will clog the key in defense.
Loading ...Illation, conclusion (s) and OPT digits:
Every single preview I read said that this P.s.u. team was tilted in favor the the favor of the Nittany Lion backcourt more than a little bit. As the frontcourt does not want for experience so much as it does want for talent. Whereas the backcourt is less experienced; although it appears to have a unforeseen break-out star in the making in one #2 Mister D.J. Newbill. Who does indeed appear to have the skillz to play the bills and is easily the most lethal offensive player on the court the instant he steps onto the same for the Big-10 A.c.c. made for TV challenge contest this Wednesday night.
Penn State is +2 in rest for this one, and they have been pretty tight at home. 58 ppg allowed on a paltry 36% shooting overall is pretty dang tight indeed.
That said our Hokies do field noticeable shooting advantages, both from the floor and from range. 6% better shooting overall and 9% from downtown are not to be ignored.
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And oddly enough, our handy-dandy friend the so-called Forum Guide of Graham Houston fame is O.O.C. (out of conference) back in play as each side has already faced Morgan State. The Forum Guide hints that Virginia Tech is actually the better team and should win by 7.oo points, believe it or not.
This being said, and all other things being equal, I’ma normally gonna simply side with the best player on the court (D.J. Newbil) at home. Though do be clear, Virginia Tech does have a shot in this one, as the confidence internal indicates below.
And I do like the recent uptick in offensive output with my boys J.V.Z. and Smitty subbing in off the Hokie bench. Virginia Tech should not, although Virginia Tech is gonna steal this one and catch a nice buzz on the way home Wednesday night.
(55% confidence interval)
Virginia Tech=7o, Penn State =66
“LETS GO!”
“Hokies!”
bourbonstreet**