Penn State Basketball: Media Day News And Notes

Penn State men\’s basketball held its annual team media day on Tuesday afternoon in preparation for the upcoming season. With the Nittany Lions hitting the practice courts for the first time on Wednesday there was plenty of anticipation in the air all through the Bryce Jordan Center hallways.

Facing an always difficult Big Ten schedule and a travel filled non conference slate, the Nittany Lions will look to build a bit more in the fifth year under head coach Patrick Chambers. Boasting perhaps the best recruiting class in the program\’s history Penn State has the size and talent to potentially do just that.

As always, it will be the long grind of a 30 game season that will determine the Nittany Lions\’ fate.

While nothing major came out of Tuesday\’s media availability, here are some bit of news and notes to digest prior to next month\’s season opener.

Blue White Scrimmage in Altoona:

Always looking to widen the appeal in the centre county region, Penn State will host its public scrimmage in Altoona on Oct. 24th. More information on that event will be released down the road. Penn State football will be in Maryland that weekend.

Josh Reaves is good at basketball. Is dealing with the pressure well.

\”He\’s gotta earn being a starter,\” Chambers said. \”I\’ve never told a recruit they\’d start if they come here. Josh and the team respect that. He\’s done very well and has been here both summer sessions, which has put him farther ahead. He\’s put on weight and looks terrific. Same for Shep Garner, Brandon Taylor and Jordan Dickerson. Will put the best guys out there to earn minutes.\”

\”Don\’t hit the ball and run to third. It\’s going to be a learning process. We will develop him and get him better. But freshman year will be up and down. Just try to be consistent every day and be coachable. Don\’t listen to the noise.\”

Practicing with a 20 second shot clock:

Penn State is dealing with the new rule of a 30 second shot clock by practicing with 20 seconds left on the clock. The idea, according to Chambers, is that most teams will bring pressure as they work the ball up the floor. By the time Penn State breaks the press there will be less time to run the offense. So in turn, Penn State is practicing with that in mind.

Leaders:

Among others, Chambers is leaning on Shep Garner to be a figure of consistency for the team. That focus has less to do with how Shep shoots the ball and more how he plays regardless of how the ball is falling. Chambers wants to see Shep play the same on both ends of the floor no matter how his statistical night is going. Chambers also notes that guys like Donovon Jack and Brandon Taylor bring a lot of experience to the table.

Mike Watkins:

A big body, Watkins has still only been playing basketball for a few years. As such he is a player Penn State will have to develop and ease into his ever growing role. Even with that in mind, Chambers is happy with what he already brings to the table. Especially with one of Penn State\’s all-time leading rebounders in Ross Travis out of the equation.

\”He definitely has some development to go through during the preseason and nonconference and into the season. He competes, and has a nose for the basketball. If you can anchor defense and own the paint, you have a chance to get significant minutes. Have to make up rebounds lost of Ross Travis which we\’ll do by committee. Whoever defends and rebounds will be on the floor.\”

Share The Ball:

For obvious reasons Chambers doesn\’t know who the leading scorer will be, but he expects this team to rely more on sharing the ball than a single player being the go-to at every juncture. Believes there are genuine scoring options across the roster and wants balance to show it.

Other notes:

Chambers wants to use Brandon Taylor on the wing more to take advantage of his size. Putting Garner at the point and Reaves at the two.

The hope is to be able to play Julian Moore and Jordan Dickerson both at the same time. Less likely to see Moore and Watkins on the floor together.

Josh Reaves is soft spoken but well spoken. Shep Garner seems more mature and prepared than he did this time last season.

Chambers wants/thinks that Jordan Dickerson can be one of the best shot blockers in the country and has the body and offseason to do it.