“STATE COLLEGE – To describe the Penn State Nittany Lions’ 83-63 loss to No. 1-ranked Illinois last night requires some thought.
“Hard to call it disappointing, for what PSU fans there are out there. Of a team that’s been trudging through the last month winless, you couldn’t have much expectation to begin with.
“The overriding feeling was one of a marquee act come to a tiny stage. The Illini were Tom Hanks visiting summer stock and playing with the wide-eyed community theater. Ali boxing a 4-round exhibition against the local toughman winner for charity.
“As an awed PSU coach Ed DeChellis said of the Illini: ‘Everybody can do everything.’
Well put. This was a 30-point game (74-44) by the time Illinois coach Bruce Weber lifted off the accelerator and brought rocket-powered point guard Dee Brown (19 points, 11 assists) and sinewy power forward Roger Powell (21 points, 10-for-10 FGs) back to relax. And truth be told, his team probably played at about 80 percent of potential thrust. …”