Centre Daily Times | 12/28/2004 | Penn State faces Valpo in holiday tournament:
“Ed DeChellis likes that a two-day holiday tournament some 2,300 miles from home gives his young Penn State men’s basketball team a chance to bond, to spend some time together off the court.
“He doesn’t like that it gives his Nittany Lions the chance to pass a stomach virus around.
“Less-than-healthy Penn State (5-5) will face Valparaiso (2-6) at 6:30 p.m. today in the first round of the ASU/azcentral.com Hoops Classic at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Ariz.
“DeChellis said freshman point guard Mike Walker, a starter in Penn State’s last seven games, picked up the virus, which was also contracted by sophomore walk-on Dan Adler, on Christmas Day and has struggled through practices since. DeChellis said Walker would try to go today against the Crusaders, adding that a number of other Nittany Lions were suffering from common cold and flu symptoms.
“Breaking down tape of his team during the past few games is what has made DeChellis’ stomach turn. In their last three games, all losses, the Nittany Lions have surrendered 74.0 points per game while allowing opponents to shoot an average of 50.4 percent from the field.”