LBU Week in Review, 5.7.11

In sports news, it was quite a light week. In real news, well... there was that little story from Sunday night. But overall for Penn State it was your typical early-summer week. We wrapped up the NFL Draft, saw PSU hoops bring on a new face, added a dash of fire to the quarterback controversy, and finished it all off with a red-headed smile.

Here's our weekly roundup of featured posts, in case you missed anything.

Report: Matt Glover to Penn State

According to Robin Washut of Huskersonline, Nebraska's Rivals affiliate, Junior College player Matt Glover will sign with Penn State today. Washut broke the news on twitter. The 6'4" combo guard will have picked Penn State over Nebraska, Iowa, Utah State, and Iona. The California native will come to PSU from Sheridan CC in Sheridan, Wyoming where he averaged 11.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 3.8 APG in his freshman season.

LBU Week in Review, 4.30.11

Alabama has been on many minds this week, unfortunately it's not due to football or other general SEC-country craziness. It's been a rough couple days for our neighbors to the south, and we're all doing what we can to help out.

You can, too, by clicking here to support the Red Cross in the Mid Alabama Region, through a group effort by all PSU bloggers, led by Ben at VBR.

In the sporting world, it's been a busy week.

We had four different sports covered in featured posts this week. Not too shabby considering two of the teams are currently in their off-seasons, and another doesn't even exist in terms of actually putting a roster on the ice.

We even had a brand spankin' new 10 Minutes or Less!

Here's our weekly roundup of featured posts, in case you missed anything.

The Juwan Staten Experiment

This is an unprecedented development in Nittany Lion hoops. I know I've never seen anything quite like this since I've been following the team the last decade. Penn State, for once, is actually adding a D-1 transfer and he is significantly better than Andrew Ott. In fact, he might be one of the most talented players the Lions ever had.

Meet Juwan Staten:



Mr. Staten, nicknamed 'The Blur', obviously has been blessed with some great athletic gifts. The 5'11" 190 lb PG just wrapped up his freshman season at the University of Dayton where he averaged 8.5 PPG and 5.4 APG in 29.1 MPG. He finished with the 10th highest assist rate in the land (39.8%). For the record, Tim Frazier's was a solid 33.3%, good for 43rd in the country. 

If Juwan committed to Penn State coming out of high school, he would've been by far this program's highest rated recruit ever, or at least since Pete Lisicky and definitely the highest since the rise of internet recruit rankings. He was a sure-fire top-100 prospect, coming in at #79 in RSCI's class of 2010. Taran Buie, the man who unofficially held the aforementioned title, didn't come close to cracking the top 100.

Now at this point you might be saying, come the hell on, what's the catch? If this kid is so good, why was he at Dayton? And then why did he leave and come here?

I've been trying to find all of this out myself when I first heard he was visiting for Blue-White weekend. All I came across was a bunch of rambling bitterness across Dayton message boards. Clearly The Blur and his decision to transfer was a touchy subject to these people. But in my search for the story, I came across a great Dayton basketball blog written by Tom Blackburn called the Blackburn Review. When Staten's transfer became official, I reached out to him to get his take on the controversy. Here's what he had to say:

Bon Voyage, Lewis Preston.

First it was Ernie Nestor walking through the revolving door to become an assistant at Missouri. Then, it was Taran Buie walking through that door to begin his playing career anew at another school. Now, it's Lewis Preston who is on the way out, accepting the head coaching vacancy at Kennesaw State after three seasons coaching up post players at Penn State.

Per GoPSUSports.com press release, Ed DeChellis had the following to say:

Bye-Bye, Buie! Taran Buie Granted Release, will Transfer

Taran Buie (Photo: The Collegian)

We now turn to the least surprising news since Tat-Gate segment of our program. Suspended Penn State guard Taran Buie has been officially released from his scholarship and will apparently seek to transfer from the program. Again, this is about as surprising as a rainy Blue-White Game. (too soon?) So I don't have much insight into this particular situation, but here is a bunch of links to people who do.

Week in Review at LBU: 2011 Blue-White Week

You won't see them this weekend, but this week
Penn State unveiled its "new" uniforms.

Way more of you are probably staying home today from the Blue-White Game due to the atrocious weather forecast for State College and most of the Northeast. Well, you're not alone, as I'll be home recovering from a fever last night. It sucks, but I'd rather not sit out in 40-degree rainy windy weather for a few hours. Not sure that will help me trying to get better. Of course I'd rather be there today. I've braved the elements so many times before. But it isn't like this is Nebraska or Iowa week we're talking about. If there are 10 total completed passes today, I'll be surprised.

Anyway, on to this week's roundup, in case you missed anything.

Blue-White Week

Blue-White Game Previews, by Mike
Part 1: Offensive Backfield
Part 2: Receivers & Tight Ends
Part 3: Offensive & Defensive Lines
Part 4: Linebackers
Part 5: Secondary & Special Teams

Poll Results: 2011 Blue-White Game - What Do You Want To See This Saturday in Beaver Stadium?, by Mike

Clear the Bench: 11 Starters Likely to Miss the Blue-White Game, by Mike

Penn State's 'New' Uniforms Are Official, by Mike

Hoops

Ernie Nestor off to Missouri, Spring Basketball Recruiting Blurbs, by Eric

Recruiting

Friday Recruitin' Penn State Recruiting Update 4/15, by Mike

GOO PUNCH! NY DT Jarron Jones Commits to Penn State, by Mike

New Jersey DL Jamil Pollard commits to Penn State, by Mike

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Ernie Nestor off to Missouri, Spring Basketball Recruiting Blurbs

Coach Nestor was
unofficially the oldest
DOBO ever.
(Photo: PSU)

There were rumblings about this the past few days, but it is now official. Director of Basketball Operations Ernie Nestor is leaving his post at Penn State to become a member of Frank Haith's new staff at Missouri. Quite frankly, we hardly got to know the guy as he didn't even stay one full year, but this move shouldn't be too surprising. DOBOs are usually stepping stone positions for young guys looking to get into the coaching profession. Ernie, however, was a former head coach and had 42 years of coaching experience before replacing former DOBO Jon Perry last year. With all due respect to coach Nestor, DOBOs aren't suppose to be 64 years old. I would hope DeChellis didn't expect Nestor to stay for the long term when he was hired last summer.

College Basketball Scheduling: Kinda like a Big Deal

Penn State fans should know firsthand how important scheduling is in college basketball. For a program like this one, which usually needs all the help it can get to make the NCAA Tournament, your schedule can make the difference between the NCAAs and the NIT. The NCAA tournament committee dwells on many criteria when selecting the brackets, but two of the more important figures are the Ratings Percentage Index and Strength Of Schedule. They're calculated as follows:

• SOS = (2/3 * Opponents' Winning %) + (1/3 * Opponents' Opponents' Winning %)
• RPI = (1/4 * Winning %) + (1/2 * OW%) + (1/4 * OOW%)
• Each team's winning % is weighted to where you won. Road wins/home losses are worth 1.4, road losses/home wins are worth 0.6, and neutral site wins/losses are worth 1.0. 

One big reason why the 2010-2011 Lions were in the tournament was the fact they had played the 5th toughest schedule in the land, according to the SOS calculation. This number drew criticism from the dreadful CBS announcing duo of Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg during the Big Ten tournament. Their claim: "How did PSU play a schedule that tough when they didn't even play one RPI top50 opponent in their non-conference schedule?" Nantz and Kellogg then proceeded to criticize the system and basically called PSU's SOS a fluke. While they might have a point, it doesn't matter because the numbers are calculated and used by the NCAA as criteria for making the tournament.

LBU Bracket Challenge 2011: The WINNERS!

Tonight is the title game in Houston, but as is probably the case with 99 percent of the brackets out there this year, it's game over. For our 2011 LBU Bracket Challenge--yes, we will surely have another next year--prizes were to be awarded to the top three brackets in our challenge. And this morning, we're happy to announce our winners!

Taran Buie Transfers to Iowa State

Well, this news certainly doesn't come across as shocking. Taran Buie had already used up his "Get Out Of Jail Free" cards with Ed DeChellis before getting indicted for his involvement in a brawl on State Patty's Day. Realizing the writing on the wall, Buie decided to bolt for greener pastures at Iowa State, where he will join former Nittany Lion Chris Babb and fellow Big Ten exiles Korie Lucious and Chris Allen (whom are both Michigan State transfers), leaving Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg one former Big Ten player short of fielding an entire starting lineup.

The Ames Tribune has further details on this recent development. We here at LBU wish Taran all the best and hope for his own sake, he is able to turn things around in Ames on the court and most importantly, off of it.

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PSU Basketball 2011-12: We've Been Here Before

Open your eyes, Tim. Because
it's about to get real, and you're right
in the center of it all next season.
(Photo: CDT)

*This is the last of three posts that will wrap-up the 2010-2011 basketball season and take a look at the state of the program. The 1st/2nd posts can be found here and here. 

---

Penn State does not regularly make the NCAA tournament, as evidenced by their 4 appearances in 46 years. Before this season, the last time this program made it was 10 years ago behind the backs of a group of battered but determined seniors, trying to salvage their careers with an NCAA berth. Everyone uses this fact to be quick to compare this year's team to that 00-01 squad. There are just two similarities between the two teams that I can come up with:

LBU Bracket Challenge 2011: Elite Eight Update

Image: Copyright NCAA

After three full rounds (no, we're not including the play-in round) complete in the 2011 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, we're already looking at some pretty rough brackets in our LBU Bracket Challenge. But a few have really broken away from the pack, while others can still make up ground and push to place after all is said and done.

The Elite Eight games start today and finish tomorrow. Here's the schedule:

26 March
(8)Butler vs (2)Florida - 4:30 p.m. on CBS
(5)Arizona vs (3)UConn - 7:05 p.m. on CBS
27 March
(11)Virginia Commonwealth vs. (1)Kansas - 2:20 p.m. on CBS
(4)Kentucky vs. (2)North Carolina - 5:05 p.m. on CBS

Lastly, here are the updated LBU Bracket Challenge standings, heading into the Elite Eight:

Ed DeChellis's Second Chance

*This is the second of three posts that will wrap-up the 2010-2011 basketball season and take a look at the state of the program. The first post can be found here. The third and final post will be released on Monday.

---

Tim Curley reared his head the other day, unleashing another hate-storm due to what is being termed as 'his vote of confidence' in Ed DeChellis. This isn't (or at least, shouldn't) be a surprise to anyone, since there really isn't as much of a reason to fire him this year as there was last.

And So It Begins: Life Without Talor

*This is the first of three posts that will wrap-up the 2010-2011 basketball season and take a look at the state of the program. The second post will be released on Thursday.

---

That was a fairly cruel, undeserved ending to the brilliant career of Talor Battle, but I was proud of the effort of everyone involved. That includes Fran Dunphy, a classy coach who has long deserved to win an NCAA game. That was one hell of a performance and a perfect example of the magnificence of March Madness. Penn State played very well despite a physically and mentally draining BTT run last week, Jeff Brooks re-injury, and their first NCAA tournament action ever. They gave it their all, and I have no doubt the outcome would've been different if Fernandez's miracle was just a brick. It sounded like Talor was ready to go into Seton Hall mode in the potential overtime period.

2011-12 Basketball Scholarship Matrix

Last Updated: 5/2/2011

This is how the 2011-2012 Nittany Lions' scholarship roster shakes down. I will update this throughout the year with the ever-changing turnover of transfers and recruits. The blank cells in the table represent open scholarships available to the respective year.

	2011-2012	2012-2013	2013-2014	2014-2015
1.	C. Woodyard	T. Frazier	B. Oliver	J. Staten
2.	T. Frazier	B. Oliver	J. Marshall	J. Graham
3.	B. Oliver	J. Marshall	S. Borovnjak	P. Alexis
4.	J. Marshall	S. Borovnjak	T. Bowman	P. Ackerman
5.	S. Borovnjak	T. Bowman	M. Glover	T. Lewis
6.	T. Bowman	M. Glover	J. Staten	R. Travis
7.	J. Staten	J. Staten	J. Graham
8.	M. Glover	J. Graham	P. Alexis
9.	J. Graham	P. Alexis	P. Ackerman
10.	P. Alexis	P. Ackerman	T. Lewis
11.	P. Ackerman	T. Lewis	R. Travis
12.	T. Lewis	R. Travis
13.	R. Travis
Key	Senior	Junior	Sophomore	Freshman

NOTES:

• Billy Oliver, according to GoPSUSports, redshirted in 08-09 and medically red-shirted in 09-10. He will have to apply for a 6th year of eligibility in 2013-2014. PSU listed him as freshman eligibility in 2010-2011, so this matrix is under the assumption that he will qualify for a 6th year. 
• Jermaine Marshall red-shirted in 2009-2010. 
• Sasa Borovnjak medically red-shirted in 2010-2011 with a torn ACL. 
• Jonathan Graham red-shirted in 2010-2011. 
• Juwan Staten is a transfer from Dayton who will have to sit out 2011-2012 because of transfer rules.

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Annnd...It's Gone - Penn State Loses a Heartbreaker To Temple, 66-64

Margaritaville
Tags: SOUTH
PARKmore...

You know, for all the celebrating, hootin', and hollerin' we had been doing since the Fighting DeChellises beat Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals last weekend to seal an NCAA bid, it sure felt like this magical ride was over before it even had a chance to really get going. I guess this is what feels like to be the fan of a Louisville, Kansas, or any other school that is a yearly fixture in the NCAA Tournament, and seeing your team get knocked out after just one game...

Penn St vs Temple: Survive & Advance, or Go Home

So after a roller coaster season with a buzzer beater against Mt. St. Mary's, a loss to Maine, two big wins over Wisconsin, and two tough losses to Michigan, Battle and the Lions are a #10 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Now the 1st round test comes against old foe Temple. But this time, rather than the usual 200-mile trip to one arena or the other, it's a 2500-mile ride to Tuscon. Well Ed DeChellis have his team ready to go? Let's take a look.

For those who know nothing about Temple:

Joe Lunardi Likes Penn State...As a One-And-Done

I realize Joe Lunardi does not own a monopoly on the title of 'bracketologist', which is a moniker more fitting for a Daily Show correspondent as opposed to an ESPN writer, but we figured you may be interested to hear what his thoughts are on the Fighting DeChellises' chances of winning a game or two in the NCAA Tournament. According to Lunardi, Temple's "smothering defense" and PSU having tired legs from playing four straight days in the Big Ten Tournament will be a lethal combination, sinking PSU's dreams of avoiding "one-and-done" status.

It's hard to have any qualms with Lunardi's observations, though I can't help but get the feeling he's slightly overlooking the newfound scoring ability of Tim Frazier and for DJ Jackson and Jeff Brooks to step up and carry some of the load off Talor Battle's shoulders as well. Not to mention the fact that Temple's key starter Scootie Randall will be seeing his first dose of game action since fracturing his foot a month ago, presuming that he actually does play. In essence, we might see a full-strength PSU take on a 3/4-strength Temple squad, and given how full-strength PSU has fared against some of the tougher competition in the Big Ten, it's hard not to like PSU's chances a little more.

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The Past 80 hours in Penn State Basketball

Ten steps forward, one step back, another five forward. That pretty much sums up the past four days in Penn State men's basketball. In case you missed any of it, here's the rundown of what happened since Thursday night's win over Indiana in the Big Ten first round.

It's "Just Win the Big Ten Tourney Time... or Is It?" (Eric)

Big Ten Tournament Bracket

Penn State downs Wisconsin, Battle sets Career Record (Ryan)

Poll: MSU(-1) vs PSU

This Week is Actually a Repeat of 2001 (Tim)

Penn State vs Michigan State In-Game Blog (Ryan)

March is a Beautiful Thing (Eric)

Live Blog: Big Ten Tourney Final, OSU vs PSU

THEY'RE IN: Penn State a 10-Seed in the NCAA Tournament, will face Temple

Stay tuned for more this week as Penn State gears up for Thursday!

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