No 22 Wisconsin holds off Penn State 63-60 (The Associated Press)
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Maybe Traevon Jackson made his buzzer-beating 3-pointer because Penn State forgot he was left-handed. Or maybe it’s because of the free run Jackson had to his spot on the left wing. What the Wisconsin guard cared about most was that the bucket allowed the 22nd-ranked Badgers to survive an upset scare from Penn State and win its regular-season finale 63-60 Sunday. ”It felt good. When the shot comes off your hand like that … I just kind of knew it was going to go in,” the sophomore said coolly after the game, headphones draped around his neck. The Badgers (21-10, 12-6) escaped Happy Valley with a hard-fought victory against the Big Ten’s last-place team and stopped a two-game losing streak that dropped them out of contention for the conference title. Jackson’s shot may be the break the Badgers were looking for heading into this week’s Big Ten tournament. In the…
Season shows PSU is still a top program
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Michael Mauti bowed his head slightly and choked back tears before Saturday’s game. Jordan Hill embraced a line of fans once he stepped off the blue bus. Seniors lingered…
O’Brien’s influence evident on 2012 Lions
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Offensive guard John Urschel rubbed his chin and just smiled at the questions Saturday afternoon. How could Penn State lose 10 offensive starters in one offseason and somehow average…
Instant analysis: Penn State 45, Indiana 22
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — It was a record-breaking day for Penn State. Allen Robinson set the Nittany Lions’ single-season receptions record in the first quarter, and Matt McGloin set a school record for…
Penn State offense looks for better communication
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Playing at Beaver Stadium in front of loyal blue-and-white fans would seem to be the last place where Penn State would have a problem with noise. It turns out that support was louder than even the Nittany Lions offense expected, leading to problems for the up-tempo offense against Ohio State’s front seven. So quarterback Matt McGloin and the offensive line are focusing in part this week on improving communications when things get rough as Penn State (5-3, 3-1 Big Ten) looks to get back on track with a visit Saturday to struggling Purdue. ”We’ve tried to really work on that with the music, and with the loud noise during practice,” O’Brien said Wednesday at Beaver Stadium. ”It really starts with me and coaching … we’ve tried to coach it better and be more detailed with it this week.” Some perspective might be in order first, though, between Penn State, Purdue and their respective venues. Until Saturday’s sellout…
Loss carries big sting for Penn State
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Bill O’Brien folded his arms after the game and furiously chewed a white piece of gum as the alma mater played. Some players declined to remove their helmets. Center…
Ohio St LB Ryan Shazier honors late friend with number switch
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier changed his number this week from 10 to 48 as a tribute to a high school friend who died earlier this year. Shazier then went out and played one of his best games of the season, finishing with seven tackles, two sacks and an interception return for a touchdown in the Buckeyes’ 35-23 victory at Penn State on Saturday night. Gary Curtis, the manager of Shazier’s team at Plantation (Fla.) High School, had muscular dystrophy and was wheelchair bound. He managed the team for two years after he graduated. Shazier says: ”I wanted to wear it sometime this year and this was the best game to wear it. It was one of the biggest games. I just felt like he was with me this game.”
Mauti, Hodges uphold PSU’s ‘Linebacker U’ image
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Michael Mauti seemed antsy the way he leaned back and forth in his chair, fidgeted with his fingers and checked his phone. And that was Mauti just having a conversation in a classroom. Now imagine the taut, 232-pound package of boundless energy wearing shoulder pads and a helmet and sporting a glare as if he were a bull ready to pounce on a matador. Yup, Penn State’s star linebacker is ready to go for Saturday night’s showdown with No. 9 Ohio State (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten). ”To me, it’s either you’re all in or … I don’t really see any other way,” Mauti said this week. ”They say, ‘Don’t get too high, don’t get too low. To me you don’t get low – you just stay high.” For added emphasis, Mauti motioned his hand above his head. It was only fitting for one of the most respected leaders on a defense that’s getting better each week…
It’s back to work for O’Brien, surging Penn State
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Bill O’Brien allowed himself to relax a little for his first weekend without a football game in nearly two months – but only briefly. So after taking his wife out for a nice dinner, it was back to the work – bright and early – the next day for Penn State’s coach. Following a well-earned off week, the Nittany Lions want to keep the momentum of a four-game winning streak rolling into this weekend’s tough trip to Iowa. ”Our team needs to understand that, that it’s one thing to have a bye week,” O’Brien said Tuesday. ”But it’s a whole other thing to be playing a team like Iowa, and we’ve got to try to go out here and practice and be precise and practice hard with great effort every day.” His players seemed to have heeded …
McGloin welcomes pressure in comeback
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Matt McGloin gathered his teammates into a tight huddle, while many in the crowd stared at the scoreboard — Northwestern 28, Penn State 17 — and figured the game…
