Toll Booth

Lion Calvin Booth making Big Ten foes pay in the paint

Calvin Booth waits in the lane, eyeing the ball-handler.

This is the fate Penn State opponents have met 85 times this season. The 6-foot-11 center has made up for whatever liabilities the Nittany Lion defense has with his amazing ability to reject nearly everything that comes his way.

He is on track to break his own Penn State record of 101 blocks in a season and currently ranks third in the nation with a 4.3 per game average. Booth has been one of the biggest bright spots for the Lions (11-9, 4-6 Big Ten) this year. His numbers have improved from last season in nearly every statistical category.

"We're not winning as much as I'd like to," Booth said. "But I think I'm playing better than last year. I know I can play even better but I think I'm doing a pretty good job right now."

Booth's scoring has gone up from 8.7 points per game last season to 10.9 a game this year. Many factors have contributed to his scoring upswing. He has thrived with the arrival of inside scoring from Jarrett Stephens. He also has begun to move away from the basket, hitting shots from as far out as 18 feet. Booth even attempted a 3-pointer against Northwestern on Sunday.

"I've always felt I could shoot but I didn't always knock it down in games," Booth said. "This year I'm starting to knock the shot down more. I'm just taking what the defense gives me."

He's also showing more confidence than ever before. In situations when he might have committed a turnover or traveled in the past, he's now pulling up and knocking down the jump shot or driving to the net.

"Calvin Booth is really starting to assert himself on both ends of the floor," Lion coach Jerry Dunn said. "He's getting more confidence on the offensive end."

This confidence has enabled Booth, a junior, to take more of a leadership role for Penn State, as well. Booth, known for his shy manner, is still not the loudest Lion on the court, but he has chosen to lead by example and show younger players how it's done.

"As you get older you have to take some responsibility," Booth said. "You have to take a leadership role even if it's not in your personality."

Penn State guard Pete Lisicky said he saw Booth meant business as soon as the team came together this year. Even in the team's earliest pick-up games Booth looked like a different player from last year.

"I really noticed a difference in his demeanor and his approach to everything," Lisicky said. "He really came out to kick his opponent's butt. He's becoming a little more of a vocal leader but he's one of the quietest kids when it comes to being confrontational. I think it's his play that's changed."

Booth's leadership became even more important after the fifth game of the season. In that game against Lehigh, senior captain Dan Earl was injured and taken out of the lineup for the season.

In the days after that game, the Penn State team had a team meeting and Booth was named as the third captain with Lisicky. The role of captain is one Booth has embraced and he knows he is looked to even more to set an example.

"You have to play at a higher level," Booth said, "so that other players on the team follow your lead."

There's no doubt, though, what part of Booth's game is the most valuable to this team. He has more blocks than anyone on the team has assists and he has 42 more blocks than anyone else in the Big Ten.

Knowing there is someone under the net with impeccable timing and an 88-inch wingspan has scared away opponents and given his teammates a sense of comfort and enabled them to go full throttle on defense.

"That's always a big confidence booster," Lion forward Titus Ivory, the team's defensive stopper, said. "It's one reason I can get up and pressure people because I know I've got him back there."

Back there, waiting for the next unlucky Lion opponent who dares to drive to the net and take on Penn State's sultan of swat, Calvin Booth.