North-South clash in cager NIT semifinals


Tuesday, March 24, 1998	North-South clash in cager NIT semifinals By TODD J. ENGEL Collegian Sports Writer
`Penn State Men's Basketball Home Page`	Penn State men's basketball coach Jerry Dunn certainly has Georgia on his mind. And rightfully so. His Nittany Lions (18-12) will face the Bulldogs (19-14) at 9 p.m. tonight in the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Lion forward Jarrett Stephens sizes up Big Ten scoring champ, Ohio State's Michael Redd in a Feb. 28 matchup. Penn State continues its tour through the National Invitation Tournament tonight when it faces the Georgia Bulldogs at 9 p.m. tonight in Madison Square Garden. (Collegian Photo/Michael L. Palmieri - click for full size image)	Last week's 75-70 win at Georgia Tech catapulted Penn State into the Final Four, while Georgia upended SEC foe Vanderbilt, 79-65, to earn its trip to the Big Apple. For Dunn and the Lions, Georgia presents the challenge of preparing for the different SEC style of basketball. "I'm not sure if you ever see everything," Dunn said. "We've faced two good, athletic teams (Dayton and Georgia Tech), but I will never say we've faced everything. That's part of the game, every situation presents different problems." Georgia brings to the court a well-balanced offensive attack led by senior guard Orlando "G.G." Smith, son of Kentucky coach Tubby Smith, and freshman forward Jumaine Jones. Smith and Jones average 13.2 and 14.5 points per game, respectively. Smith is also the team's leading 3-point shooter at 43 percent. The Bulldogs have repeatedly run a fast-paced offense and have the ability to score points in bunches. That is evident in their 75.7 points per game average and five games in which they scored over 90 points, including a 100-93 victory over Iowa in the first round of the NIT.
Nittany Lion guard Pete Lisicky prepares to drive to the hole in a game at Ohio State earlier this season. Penn State looks to improve on its postseason run when it faces Georgia in the NIT semifinals tonight at Madison Square Garden in New York. (Collegian Photo/Michael L. Palmieri - click for full size image)	"We have to control the game and not get into a running game with them," Lion forward Jarrett Stephens said. "We can't get caught up trying to run up and down and trade baskets with them." It may not be the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, but Dunn has found satisfaction in the fact that his team is still playing regardless of the tournament name. "I think the only thing is when you get to play more games it helps the team," Dunn said. "When you get invited to the NCAA you don't anticipate one and done. The NCAA would have been fine. As long as we can keep playing, the NIT is fine too." The 1997-98 version of the Lions will try to avoid the fate that haunted Penn State teams of the past. Twice before Penn State squads have reached the NIT semifinals and twice before, in 1990 and 1995, they have lost. A third-place finish sealed the fate of those Lions.
`Georgia Men's Basketball Home Page`	With a victory tonight Penn State will advance to the finals on Thursday night against either Minnesota or Fresno State. A loss will push them into the consolation bracket finals also to be held on Thursday. Maybe a victory tonight will help Dunn get Georgia off his mind and direct his attention toward Minnesota or California.