Tag Archives: Talor Battle

>Ohio State-Penn State

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>Ohio State at Penn State

   The Buckeyes can secure at least a share of the conference crown with a 15th straight win over the Nittany Lions on Tuesday night at the Bryce Jordan Center.  Although the Buckeyes have won five straight on the road over Penn State and 14 consecutive overall matchups, they have lost their last two games outside of Columbus. Penn State has also knocked off three ranked teams at home this season and if it wasn’t for a Jared Sullinger three-point play with 13 seconds left, they would have defeated the Buckeyes in their first meeting.

   After setting the college basketball world afire, Sullinger has slowed down in the past four games, scoring 12 or fewer points in three of the past four.  Those 12 points are five below his season average of 17.4.  He failed to make a field goal for the first time in his collegiate career Sunday against Indiana.  Luckily for Ohio State, Sullinger is not the only big contributor on the team.  William Buford (14 ppg, 4 rpg), David Lighty (13 ppg, 4 rpg), Jon Dielbler (11 ppg) and Aaron Craft (7 ppg, 4.6 apg) all play huge roles for the Buckeyes.

    Penn State is looking for a way to build its NCAA Tournament resume and a win against the top-ranked team in the nation would do wonders.  The team is led by sensational senior guard Talor Battle, who is putting up 20.5 ppg, 4 rpg and three apg.  He has been outstanding at home recently, averaging 24.8 points and shooting 44.4 percent from 3-point range in his last six at the Bryce Jordan Center.

   But like Ohio State and Sullinger, Penn State has multiple options.  Jeff Brooks is averaging 13.6 ppg and  a team high 6.6 rpg, while David Jackson is putting up 10 ppg and nearly five rpg.  Prediction: Penn State keeps it close, but Ohio State wins 70-67

>Minnesota vs. Penn State

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>Two weeks ago, Minnesota was looking pretty ranked in the top 20 at 16-4.  Fast forward two weeks and the Gophers may ow be on the bubble after losing four of five and dropping to 17-8. 

Trevor Mbakwe scored a season-high 24 points in Sunday’s win over Iowa and the Gophers will need more of this to help Minnesota get back on track.  They are going to have get their frontcourt to lead the way, as the health of point guard Blake Hoffarber will be in question as soreness and pain in a knee doesn’t just go away like that.  Ralph Sampson III, the other main clog in the middle, is coming off of his worst game of the year, one which saw him score only two points, will be looking to get back to the form that saw him score in double digits in the seven games prior to that.

Penn State, in its own right, might be playing for an NCAA bid.  It’s record (13-10) isn’t too flashy, but if the Nittany Lions manage to win two or three of their remaining five games, possibly upset Wisconsin or Ohio State and win a game in the conference tourney, who knows what might happen?  As they have been all year, Penn State is led by Talor Battle, who is still averaging over 20 ppg.  Prediction: The Nittany Lions are 16-4 at home, but lose a squeaker, 75-73