Despite the Penn State men's basketball team's 7-17 record this season, the Nittany Lions were a Sweet 16 squad a year ago. Yet Saturday's game against Northwestern — televised by ESPN2 — marked the only time all season Penn State was showcased nationally.

"I'm not sure why that worked out how it did," head coach Jerry Dunn said. "I'm certainly going to make them very aware of my displeasure with that."

The Big Ten has contracts with ESPN and CBS to televise games each week. The conference meets in the spring and the networks determine what games will be aired, but the schedule does not come out until several months after.

This year, perhaps because of low expectations that follow a team losing four starters, the Lions were only to be on television once.

But the ramifications of not being on television go far beyond simply missing out on the fame and glory of seeing players' faces all across the nation.

Not only do college basketball fans fail to get to see the Lions, but high school basketball stars won't get to see Dunn's team play as well.

"Recruiting is much tougher when you don't have an opportunity to have one of those games," Dunn said.

Nothing wrong with Tate

Sophomore swingman Jamaal Tate has been one of the biggest disappointments of the Lions' season.

Expected to be one of the players carrying the offensive burden, Tate is averaging only 6.5 points per game.

"I can't really pinpoint what the problem has been," Tate said.

"I guess it's just been a down season that's lasted a long time."

Many observers had wondered allowed if Tate had a physical ailment keeping his level of play down.

Dunn even had the medical staff check Tate for mononucleosis earlier this season.

Through it all, Tate said he maintained his confidence.

After a four-game stretch midseason when he scored only three total points, Tate has averaged 8.9 points in his last five games.

"My teammates have been trying to keep my head up, talking with me during practice, and trying to make sure I don't get down on myself," Tate said.

The freshman wall

While McDougald hasn't seen much playing time to be able to produce, fellow freshmen Daren Tielsch and Kevin Fellows are playing, just not as effectively as they were earlier in the season.

"I think freshmen hit a wall," Dunn said. "From a concentration standpoint, I think its tough for freshmen this time of year."

Tielsch has started nine games this year and had been averaging 5.2 points and 4.2 rebounds as late as Jan. 23. He now is down to 4.2 points and 3.5 rebounds.

Fellows has seen his production fall off as of late as well. But what really has Dunn concerned is how the two are playing defensively.

"I never worry about those guys on offense because I think they will be fine," Dunn said.

"(Saturday's game) was tough on guys like Fellows and Tielsch because of the things that were going on the floor, the things we were trying to negate defensively."

A notable exception to the freshman wall rule has been Jan Jagla, who has seen his points and rebounding production maintain itself all season.

Dunn attributes this to the fact Jagla is young and grew up in Germany.

"He's a little more mature and older than the other guys and he's accustomed to being away from home, so it doesn't affect him as much," Dunn said.