Earl gets his due, nap

By RYAN JONES
Collegian Sports Writer

NEW YORK -- The tunnels leading to the Madison Square Garden locker rooms were crowded, not only by the smell of visiting circus animals and sweaty athletes, but by those athletes and the family, friends and sports writers waiting to see them.

In the midst of it all, Dan Earl just wanted a nap.

The Nittany Lions' sophomore point guard had just finished leading Penn State to a 66-62 victory over Canisius in the consolation game of the National Invitation Tournament, and he was in dire need of some sleep. His haggard face showed that he needed it, and his entire NIT performance showed that he'd earned it.

With his 17 points and four assists against the Golden Griffins, Earl finished the tournament with averages of 13.4 points, 7.8 assists and two steals over five games. Those numbers along with only 2.8 turnovers per contest, were all better than his season averages, and were good enough to earn him a spot on the all-tournament team.

"We've been kind of riding Danny's shoulders, I think," Lion Coach Bruce Parkhill said. "Without Danny, we would be in serious trouble."

Earl had a slightly more modest appraisal of his own work.

"I wouldn't say it that way," he said. "I tried to be a little more of a leader, and do some other things."

The other things included a savvy floor game, stepped-up defense and 57 percent shooting from three-point range. All were invaluable to the Lions' tournament run, but the leadership may have been the most important.

"He's the quarterback," Parkhill said. "He's evolved into a great leader. We were hoping that he would. We knew he had those traits out of high school."

Maybe geography helped Earl since his trip to the Garden allowed him to play closer to his New Jersey home than at any other time in his Penn State carreer. Earl thought so, and that seemed to help him overcome the pressure in playing in such a prestigious building.

"It was a good arena to shoot in, for me," he said.

Then again, Earl might have been inspired by Michael Jordan's 55 points on the same court the night before. While the numbers don't equate, Earl's role for his team -- the go-to player who hits the big free throws, makes the key pass and nails the clutch shot -- is starting to look similar.

Parkhill's floor leader wasn't getting overly excited about what might have been the finest string of games in his college career.

"I guess it's because I knocked down a few shots and scored a few points, it looks that way," Earl said.

His showing is all the more impressive considering he managed such numbers while battling a nagging cold throughout the last week of the tournament.

"I don't know if I looked as tired as I felt," Earl said, and his coach concurred.

"I'll betcha he sleeps for about three weeks now," Parkhill said. "He just leaves everything on the floor."

Earl also left the impression that, as his poise and his game continue to develop, he should have no problem claiming the men's basketball team as his own.

But next season was the furthest thing from Earl's weary mind after last night's contest. When the last question was asked and goodbyes said to family and friends, he lugged his bag toward the bus for the trip back to State College.

And he seemed ready for that nap.