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Jonesy on media day:

It’s been written and spoken that Penn State may deploy the best backcourt in the Big Ten this year and that could be true enough. Tim Frazier’s ruptured right Achilles tendon very early last season forced off-guard D.J. Newbill to learn the point.

Now Frazier is back for his fifth year as a senior and from the looks of this afternoon’s practice is fully recovered. And the Philadelphia-bred junior Newbill is a more well-rounded guard than he ever would have been had Frazier not been hurt.

It looks like a potent duo, especially considering a new NCAA initiative to call fouls on any continuous hand-checking. Both guards can go to the rack with alacrity.

But two major questions remain for a Nittany Lion men’s basketball team that struggled without Frazier to 10-21, 2-16 in the Big Ten:

1. Who can consistently make a wing 3-pointer and potentially open up the floor further?

2. Is it realistic to expect that anyone among of a gang of thin and gangly forwards and centers can merely stay competitive once the Big Ten grind rolls around?

via Penn State needs a 3-point sniper to help Tim Frazier and D.J. Newbill excel | PennLive.com.

Black Shoes Diaries weighs in on the upcoming season:

The calendar has finally hit autumn. Obviously football is fully-engaged on the networks, but fall also signals the start of production for the cagers on the hardwood. Season 3 of the underrated series, #ATTITUDE, is expected to draw its biggest ratings yet with a promising cast of new characters. Official practice starts tomorrow for the Lions while today is the start for many other colleges, so heres a behind-the-scenes look at what has transpired the last six months to set the stage for Pat Chambers biggest season yet.

via Penn State Basketball: Offseason Synopsis – Black Shoe Diaries.

From Penn State:

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State ranks No. 8 among all public national universities in the U.S. News & World Report “2014 Best Colleges Rankings,” released today Sept. 10 — up five places from last years results.

In the overall “National Universities” category, which includes both public and private institutions, Penn State has risen to No. 37 overall, up nine places from last year. According to U.S. News methodology, schools in the “National Universities” category emphasize faculty research and offer a full range of undergraduate majors, plus masters and Ph.D. programs.

“While Penn State’s ranking may have shifted partially based on U.S. News changes in methodology, our university consistently delivers the highest-quality education to our students and helps prepare them to succeed in their careers and in life beyond the classroom,” said University President Rodney Erickson. “We are proud of our students, faculty, staff and alumni, and their positive impact on the world speaks loudest and best for Penn State.”

In the Big Ten, Penn State ranks No. 2 among public nationals, and No. 3 in the overall nationals.

via Penn State rises in 2014 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings | Penn State University.

Graham Woodward

Jordan Dickerson

Allen Roberts

Julian Moore

Payton Banks

Geno Thorpe

 

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Dave Jones on the release today of the non-con:

Considering what’s passed for a non-conference schedule the past decade or so, this will do.

Penn State released its non-con men’s basketball slate this afternoon, most of it known for months. Lined up and taken as a whole you can say two things about it right away: It’s better than usual. And it’s probably good enough to give the Lions a base for NCAA tournament consideration should they perform well against it.

There’s an art to scheduling with the NCAAs in mind that’s something like good cooking. Many ingredients are required and not all are available to a kitchen like Penn State’s. Sometimes you just have to use what’s available. It’s not always easy to get the games you want when you want them.

Patrick Chambers’ third season is his first one where he can legitimately consider the NCAAs as a possibility though probably not great one. The thing is, though, if you judge your team as having a 25-percent chance at the Dance or better, you owe it to them to assemble non-con games with that goal in mind….

via Penn State men’s basketball schedule has flaws but is smart, NCAA-ready overall | PennLive.com.

Dave Jones:

Dwayne Anderson is 27 years old and has never been a coach at any level. Patrick Chambers just hired him to be his third assistant at Penn State.

But if you can teach kids how to be winners by simply having been one, Anderson knows the method. He was never much about stats but all about winning during an exemplary career at Villanova while Chambers was Jay Wright’s top assistant there.

It was smack in the prime of what could now be described as the golden age of Villanova hoops – 2006-09. The Wildcats went 102-37 during that span with four straight NCAA tournaments and an overachieving Final Four appearance and 30-8 record in Anderson’s senior year when he was team captain. Not a coincidence.

“I think that’s why I’m coming aboard,” said the D.C.-area native this afternoon when I spoke with him. “It’s because I’ve been there, done that. Everything that these kids are about to experience, on the court, off the court, I think that’s what I bring to the table.”

It was that 4-year run that ultimately got Chambers his first head coaching gig at Boston University. There were valleys amid the peaks where both fought through and he and Anderson became close. Chambers didn’t forget.

via Former Villanova captain Dwayne Anderson brings winning heritage as newest Penn State assistant | PennLive.com.

From Sports Info, it’s official:

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA.; JULY 16, 2013 – Penn State coach Patrick Chambers announced today the appointment of Dwayne Anderson, a standout leader of Villanovas 2009 NCAA Final Four team, as an assistant coach on the Nittany Lion basketball staff.

Anderson will take on his first collegiate coaching position after four highly successful seasons playing professionally in Europe. A 2009 graduate of Villanova University with a degree in sociology, Anderson was coached by Chambers, a former Associate Head Coach in the Villanova program, on highly successful Wildcat teams that made four straight NCAA appearances and reached the Sweet 16 three times.

“Dwayne is an absolute winner and a leader, and we are fortunate to have someone of his caliber joining our staff,” Chambers said. “He is fresh off a very successful playing career both in college and professionally in Europe and will be terrific connecting and communicating with the current and future players in our program.”

Continue reading “Official: Dwayne Anderson Named Penn State Assistant Coach”

Because the Nits have a European tour this year, they can practice in earnest this summer in preparation. Ben Jones has a bit about it (with video at the link destination):

For senior guard Tim Frazier, Monday marked the first day in almost a year that the Big Ten First-Team  member was cleared 100 percent for contact play. Frazier suffered a torn achilles only a handful of games into the 2012 season. Frazier looked his usually speedy self on Monday, taking over his normal role as floor general, directing drills and teaching younger players the ins and outs of the program.Check out some video and photo highlights of Mondays practice session.

via State College, PA – Penn State Basketball: Nittany Lions Open Practice With Healthy Tim Frazier.