The Penn State Nittany Lions (0-6 Big Ten, 5-12 overall) are having a season like last, one that they would rather forget. After starting the season with six straight losses, they turned it around and began Big Ten play with a 5-6 record.
However, the cagers of College Park, Pennsylvania have dropped another six in a row, this time in conference. Now, a hungry Penn State team comes into Madison Saturday on the heels of a disappointing loss to the Minnesota Golden Gophers 76-75 Wednesday night.
\Any team is really dangerous in the Big Ten,"" Wisconsin sophomore guard Devin Harris said. ""We don't take anybody lightly coming in. We just need to be ready to jump on them early and take care of business.""
Even though the Nittany Lions have not won a game yet in the Big Ten, Penn State does offer a few challenges to the Wisconsin Badgers (4-2 Big Ten, 14-4 overall). Nittany Lions senior guard Brandon Watkins and junior guard Sharif Chambliss, a Racine, Wis. native, are the two top scorers on the team, both averaging over 14 points a game.
""Penn State has a bunch of guys that are capable scorers and, though they haven't been hot so far this year, they have been in the past,"" sophomore forward Mike Wilkinson said.
To compliment an outside game, Penn State has the size to take it to the Badgers in the paint. Seven-foot German sophomore forward Jan Jagla and 6'11"" freshman center Robert Summers offer a towering challenge for the undersized Badgers. Yet, nothing is going to change in the Badger game plan.
""We plan on doing what we've done in the past,"" Wilkinson said. ""Illinois has a few guys at 6'11""and 6'10"" so [a height disadvantage] is nothing new. We just need to get down in the post and battle it out down there.""
Penn State, much like Wisconsin, also has a freshman forward that is contributing greatly to the team right away. Aaron Johnson, a 6'9"", 250 lb. freshman forward, is beginning to come into his own. Johnson acquired his second double-double Wednesday with 18 points and 10 rebounds in his 32 minutes on the court against the Golden Gophers. He also was 10 for 14 from the free throw line in the loss.
""Aaron is improving every night out,"" Penn State Head Coach Jerry Dunn said of his freshman stud. ""He is a guy that can make shots that can take some pressure off of our guards, Watkins and Chambliss.""
With this size and talent, the Badgers may have difficulties to match up. However, Harris said that Wisconsin needs to still play a physical game against Penn State in order to get a win.
""We got to get the ball down to the post and attack them,"" Harris said. ""We also got to hit the offensive glass and get after them that way. We get that and we should come out of the game with a win.""
If the Badgers start the game strong like they have been recently, Wisconsin should be able to go into Purdue next Wednesday with the momentum of a five game winning streak. However, the Boilermakers are not on the minds of the Badgers ballers.
""We cannot look past anyone at all,"" Wilkinson said. ""Once you start doing that, you start to lose games. We just need to focus on the game at hand and take it one at a time.\
