Spring break -- it's a time to relax, unwind, and get away to some warm weather climate. It's a chance for most students to get away and forget about Penn State, if only for a week.

But the men's basketball team isn't so lucky. Sure they will travel, but as for relaxing, unwinding and forgetting about Penn State -- no chance.

Penn State (12-12 overall, 5-10 in the Big Ten) starts its break tomorrow, when the Lions travel to Champaign, Ill., for a 3 p.m. game with the Illini at Assembly Hall. Lou Henson's bunch dominated the boards in the last meeting, as Illinois won at Rec Hall 83-65 in early February.

It was a loss that sent the Lions into a downward spiral for the shortest month of the year. A month in which the Lions went 1-6, and lost several key players for stretches due to injuries.

"The month of February, man," Lions Coach Bruce Parkhill said recently, "I'd like to write it off."

March got off on the right foot for Parkhill's group, with a win over Northwestern Wednesday night. But the road only gets tougher.

For freshman power forward Phil Williams, a trip to Illinois means going toe-to-toe with Illini forwards Deon Thomas and Shelly Clark.

"The last time, I wasn't prepared for the physical-ness of their power forward," Williams said. He'll have to be ready this time, if the Lions hope to climb above .500 heading into their final two games.

The so-called break doesn't get any easier. From Champaign, the Lions travel north for a March 9 matchup with the "Fab Four" and the rest of the Michigan Wolverines. Penn State might find the going tough, especially against a Wolverine squad in prime position to claim the Big Ten Championship.

The Lions return to Rec Hall for the regular season finale against Michigan State on March 12. After a slow start, Coach Jud Heathcote has his team in position to gain an NCAA Tournament berth.

The final contest for both teams, Michigan State will be looking to gather momentum heading into postseason play.

But the Lions won't be pushovers either.

"We're looking for a winning season," Williams said. "We want to let the fans go out with a bang."