While Penn State has exceeded most expectations in winning its first two Big Ten games, the Spartans, on the other hand, recently fell to No. 21 Wisconsin and have been decimated by non-conference losses to Syracuse, UCLA, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Duke and Kansas.
The preseason favorite to win the Big Ten, Michigan State men's basketball coach Tom Izzo's troops may have been over-hyped, but the Spartans still form one of the conference's most dangerous teams. Led by All-America candidate Chris Hill and freshman prodigy Shannon Brown, the Spartans have employed an unorthodox lineup consisting of four guards and center Paul Davis, a 6-foot-11 sophomore, who is averaging 15.1 points per game.
The Lions will be looking to avoid the 70-36 stomping they received from the Spartans in East Lansing last season in which the Lions managed only 11 points in the first half. The defeat was one of Penn State's most embarrassing losses in recent memory, as the Lions were dominated in all aspects of a game in which they recorded the lowest scoring output in their Big Ten history.
Sophomore forward Aaron Johnson has said repeatedly that this year's team is one that will refuse to be trampled to the tune of last year's game. Tonight, he and his teammates will have a chance to make good on that statement.
Penn State will rely heavily on Rob Summers and Johnson, big men who helped contribute a strong inside presence in the victory against Ohio State, and will need to counteract Davis in order for the Lions to find success.
"We are playing with more purpose," Summers said. "We are getting older and want to win. We hustle on defense and we have a lot of workhorses."
After some early wins over lesser opponents, Penn State is now entering conference play where each game will be a new test.
PHOTO: Lauren A. Little
Send an 
