Pitt has enjoyed an edge lately over rival Penn State:
“Penn State junior Aaron Johnson watched the game against Pitt last season from the bench because of an injury. By the time the final buzzer sounded, Johnson had another problem.
“He was sick to his stomach.
“‘It was embarrassing,’ Johnson said. ‘They treated us like little children.’
“A succinct refresher course on what transpired last season at the Petersen Events Center: Penn State scored 11 points in the first half on 4-for-26 shooting and got run out of the gym. Final score, 64-37.
“It’s a game Penn State coach Ed DeChellis would rather forget. And that’s what he preached to his team this week as the Lions prepared for the No. 11 Panthers.
” ‘We have to wipe the slate clean,’ DeChellis said. ‘We can’t change the butt kicking that took place last year.’
“The butt kickings have taken place for the past three years in this series, which dates to 1906. The 144th meeting between these two rival schools will be played 2 p.m. today at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park.
“Pitt has won the past three games by an average of more than 28 points per game. All have been by 22 points or more. In the previous 94 years of the series, only three other Pitt victories had been by 22 points or more.
” ‘The games have been so lopsided the last three years,’ DeChellis said. ‘That’s a credit to Pitt. It’s kind of hard to call it a rivalry when it’s so one-sided. We hope to change that [today]. We hope to give them a challenge. We have to help our guys believe they can win.’ …”