Cagers seeking real identity in Minnesota

The Penn State men's basketball team has suffered from a multiple personality disorder for most of the Big Ten season.

At times, like during the second half of Monday's victory over Ohio State, the Nittany Lions have looked like they could do no wrong. At other times (see the first half of that same Ohio State victory) Penn State has looked lethargic and unmotivated.

When the Lions (13-9, 6-6 Big Ten) take on Minnesota (11-13, 4-9) at 8 tonight in Williams Arena, Penn State's success will depend on which Lion team shows up.

"I know that they're a team that if they have a lead like Ohio State had (Monday), it's going to be hard to get it back," Lion forward Jarrett Stephens said. "I think it's going to be a real good game and we shouldn't take this team lightly."

Penn State fell behind early to Ohio State Monday, thanks in large part to a 42 percent shooting effort in the first half and getting outrebounded 20-10 by the Buckeyes. The Lion team that came out in the second half came out on fire. It used a 17-2 run to get back into the game in the opening minutes of the half.

The Lions shot 65 percent in the second half, scored 63 points and doubled their rebounds from the first half.

Penn State coach Jerry Dunn is doing everything in his power to make sure he doesn't have to give another fiery halftime speech like he did Monday. He is counting on his team coming to play from the opening whistle tonight.

"As a coach, you try to have a routine as much as possible," Dunn said. "Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I'm not sure if anybody ever has a magic formula, a lot of it is mental."

The last time these two teams met Penn State came out sleeping and was forced to engineer a second half comeback to win, 75-68. In that game, the Gophers played without their star, Sam Jacobson.

The 6-foot-6 swingman injured his back in early January and missed three games. The injury apparently hasn't affected him since he returned. He is the third-leading scorer in the Big Ten at a 18.3 per-game clip.

"They are much more improved," Dunn said of the Gophers. "Sam Jacobson seems to be healthy and I expect them to be ready and prepared. It should be a good game."

For Penn State this is the third game in five days. The Lions watched film yesterday before leaving for Minnesota and then had a light practice last night.

Dunn said the key is keeping his team off of its feet as much as possible. Stephens agreed it is going to be tough for the players to have fresh legs tonight and noted the difference between having a stretch of practices and a stretch of games.

"In practice sometimes you just stand around but when you're playing you're going full," Stephens said. "You have to prepare yourself in the right way and get rest and stay off your feet."