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The Michigan Daily — Penn State next road test for ‘M’

“Over the next 15 days, the Michigan men’s basketball team might be embarking on its toughest stretch of the season. The Wolverines won’t be playing the toughest opponents of their Big Ten slate, but they will face one of their toughest challenges from last season: playing on the road.

“Michigan (2-0 Big Ten, 11-5 overall) plays four of its next five Big Ten games on the road, starting with a trip to State College for a game against Penn State (0-3, 6-10) tomorrow. The Wolverines have two road games in the next two weeks with a home game against Wisconsin sandwiched between them.

“Last season, Michigan went 2-6 on the road, with its two wins coming against Big Ten cellar-dwellers Northwestern and Penn State. Perhaps the most disappointing loss of the year came at Minnesota, where Michigan gave up 47 points in the second half en route to an 81-78 loss. …”

Michigan next on Lions’ slate:

“If there was ever a team that needed to suffer a case of short-term memory loss, the Penn State men’s basketball team is the perfect candidate for it.

“The Nittany Lions’ (6-10, 0-3 Big Ten) trip to the heart of Big Ten country was one they would like to soon forget.

“Penn State lost both games by more than 20 points and was completely outplayed in every aspect of the game. The Lions were outrebounded and out-scored in nauseatingly high numbers when the game was still in doubt. ….”

FightOnState.com: Marlon Smith Update:

“Penn State basketball coach Ed DeChellis met the media Thursday afternoon, but could only offer a few details about hospitalized guard Marlon Smith. Smith, who collapsed at practice last Friday, is still undergoing tests at the Hershey Medical Center.

“‘He’s resting comfortably,’ DeChellis said, noting that Smith and his family do not want the details of his illness to become public at this time. ‘He seems to be in pretty good spirits. We’re hoping to know more. They’re still undergoing some tests.’

“Smith, a sophomore starter, has missed Penn State’s last two games due to his illness. He was listed in serious condition at Hershey as of Tuesday, and will not play in this Saturday’s home tilt with Michigan. Beyond that, DeChellis had no idea when or if Smith might return.

‘It’s a game-by-game thing, it’s a day-to-day thing,’ the coach said. ‘He could be here for practice tomorrow. I just don’t know.’

In the meantime, Smith’s fellow Nittany Lions addressed the situation to the media for the first time Thursday.

‘It’s been pretty tough on me,’ said point guard Ben Luber, Smith’s roommate and classmate. ‘Going back to the room and not seeing him there at night and just wondering what’s wrong with him. When I saw what happened at practice, it scared me a lot. I couldn’t even practice from then on out because I couldn’t stop thinking if he was all right. I just hope he is well. Regardless of anything with basketball — if he gets to play again or anything — I just hope his health is well.’ “

STLtoday – Sports – Illini:

“CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Penn State lost 83-62 at Minnesota last week, and tonight the Nittany Lions are in for a tough assignment at No. 1-ranked Illinois (16-0 overall, 2-0 in Big Ten).

“The only thing that makes Penn State coach Ed DeChellis feel better is that his Nittany Lions (6-9, 0-2) will play the following game at home.

“At the unanimous urging of its men’s basketball coaches, the Big Ten has altered the league’s schedule this season so that no team will play three consecutive road games.

“‘I think three in a row was tough, so it’s a positive to have only two on the road in one stretch,’ said DeChellis, whose team has recorded four of its six victories at its Bryce Jordan Center. ‘It could help a young team like us.’ …”

Pantagraph.com – Sports – Illini’s Randle set to dress, not play — yet 01/12/05:

“CHAMPAIGN — Brian Randle will be in uniform for the first time this season tonight.

“Don’t get too excited.

“The University of Illinois sophomore forward, who suffered a broken hand on Nov. 11, still doesn’t know whether he will play this season or seek a medical redshirt. He definitely won’t play when the No. 1-ranked Illini try to match the best start in school history by entertaining struggling Penn State at 8 o’clock at the sold-out Assembly Hall.

” ‘I’m still very hopeful. I’m not going to stop being optimistic about the situation,’ said the 6-foot-8 Randle. ‘I hope to come back. That’s what we’re shooting for.’ … “

ChicagoSports.com – Illini want to avoid lull:

“CHAMPAIGN — Illinois basketball players excitedly talked up their dates with Wake Forest and Cincinnati months before tipoff. A fraction of that enthusiasm could be enough Wednesday night to defeat floundering Penn State.

“But will the top-ranked Illini (16-0, 2-0) muster any eagerness for this Big Ten game against the Nittany Lions (6-9, 0-2), who have lost seven of their last eight games?

“Illinois coach Bruce Weber wants to stir up his team’s intensity, like previous attempts before playing Longwood and Northwestern State two weeks ago in the Las Vegas Classic. His success rate has been 50-50.

” ‘It’s the first time in my career I’ve actually told them before games if they don’t win by 30, it’s disappointing,’ Weber said Monday. ‘You’re not living up to your potential. I already know they’re mentally complacent. I’m trying to give them a challenge.’ …”

FightOnState.com: Hoop Preview ? @ Illinois:

• “DeChellis, on the prospect of facing No. 1: ‘We should be loose. No one thinks we’re supposed to win. Why not go in and have some fun? … Let’s go take our shot.’ “

PSU’s Smith in hospital:

“Marlon Smith was in serious condition last night at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center with an illness that school officials declined to disclose.

“A spokeswoman at the medical center said late yesterday that the Penn State basketball player’s condition was listed as serious and that he was admitted on Friday night. She refused to elaborate on any diagnosis or prognosis, citing patient confidentiality regulations.

“According to the center’s guidebook definition, serious condition means: ‘Vital signs may be unstable and not within normal limits. The patient is acutely ill. Indicators are questionable.’

“Sources close to the PSU basketball team said Smith, the Lions’ leading scorer a year ago and a two-year starter, fainted on Friday at practice, hours before the Nittany Lions’ flight to Minneapolis.

“Initially, it was suspected Smith was suffering from a flu bug that has attacked the team for a month. Smith’s backcourt teammate Mike Walker was knocked into the hospital by the flu two weeks ago during the team’s holiday tournament trip to Arizona State.”

PennStateHoops.com | Penn State Basketball Message Board for News, Nittany Lion Basketball Recruiting, PSU talk:

TJM78 writes,

“They got us!!!

“Got this e-mail from Brad Rinehart of WFMZ:

“______________________________________________________

“Well, who says one person can’t make a difference?

“Barring any unforseen circumstances, we will be carrying the following games:

“Wednesday, Jan. 26 at Ohio State

“Wednesday, February 9 at Purdue

“Wednesday, Feb. 16 Illinois

“Wednesday, Feb. 23 at Michigan

“Saturday, March 5 Michigan State

“Thanks for giving me the heads up on this.

“Brad Rinehart

“WFMZ

“______________________________________________________

“My Comcast in Delaware County gets WFMZ, and I imaging most, if not all, of the Comcast cable systems in Philly carry it.

“You can e-mail a thank you to Brad at: bradr@wfmz.com“

FightOnState.com: Smooth Transition:

“He is asked the question all the time. And for the record, yes, Cilk — pronounced ‘Silk’ — is his actual first name.

‘Nobody believes me,’ Cilk McSweeney said with a smile before Penn State practiced at the Jordan Center last week. ‘They say, what’s your name? I say Cilk. … But most of the time, since it’s spelled C-i-l-k, they call me Click.’

Which is fitting, in a way, because after spending the last few years traveling around the country in search of a basketball home, McSweeney believes his career is finally clicking with the Nittany Lions.

The 6-foot-6, 205-pound shooting guard transferred into the program for the fall semester after spending a season and a half on scholarship at Towson University, and the spring of 2004 working out at San Diego City College. Under NCAA transfer rules, McSweeney is not eligible to play for the Nittany Lions until the 2005-06 season, at which time he will have two years of competition remaining.

McSweeney is not on scholarship. But he is practicing with the team every day and offering moral support from the bench during home games.

‘He’s working hard,’ forward Aaron Johnson said. ‘If we had him this year, he’d be a huge help.’ …”