The Big Ten released a new marketing campaign this month, entitled "Welcome to the Big Stage."

Well, for the Penn State men's basketball team, a few more dress rehearsals against the likes of Purdue and even the mighty Kangaroos of Missouri-Kansas City might be in order before taking that stage against the more talented teams in the Big Ten.

Unfortunately, though, the schedule does not work out so favorably, and the Nittany Lions (10-6, 2-3 Big Ten) must take their act on the road, only to find No. 13 Wisconsin and No. 12 Michigan State waiting for them this week.

In a tough, close loss to Iowa on Jan. 14, the Lions proved themselves capable of going punch for punch with the better teams in the conference. On Saturday, in a 75-64 loss to No. 19 Ohio State, they reaffirmed this by keeping the Buckeyes within striking distance for the first half of play as well as parts of the second half, too.

But Penn State appears to have a case of stage fright. When those crucial moments come up in big games, the Lions seem to disappear and become a shell of their first half selves.

The Lions are like Michigan J. Frog, that character from Looney Toons. Remember him -- the frog that does a song and dance (replete with cane and top hat, almost as if he's in direct competition with Mr. Peanut) when only one particular construction worker is watching, and won't replicate the performance if anyone else is present?

The construction worker tries to show off the frog to others, but is left red-faced and scratching his head when the amphibian acts like a rather pedestrian frog.

Similarly, the Lions haven't let out more than a lame "ribbit" in crunch time against their upper echelon opponents this year. And head coach Ed DeChellis is left scratching his head and stomping the floor as the Lions fail to take care of the ball and rebound when the game is on the line.

Penn State gathered just five boards in the second half on Saturday, sadly recording more turnovers in that period (six) than rebounds.

When Ohio State clamped down on defense at the start of the second half, Penn State point guard Ben Luber coughed up the ball.

The junior committed two head-shaking turnovers in the first 1:40 of the half, assisting Buckeye guards Je'Kel Foster and Jamar Butler on easy fastbreak buckets. Too bad for Luber, those "assists" could not be added to his paltry stat line for the game: zero points, three assists, a rebound, three fouls and five turnovers in 18 minutes.

"The biggest difference was probably the start of the second half, we got some steals and some easy buckets," Ohio State coach Thad Matta said.

David Jackson, who starts at the two, took over Luber's duties at the point. Jackson said facing Foster and Butler was tiring, but "not really tough."

The Lions, who lost by 11, were minus-15 with Luber in the game. They were only minus-five with his sole backcourt sub, Mike Walker, on the floor.

"[Luber] turned it over a couple times, and I just didn't feel like he had it going," DeChellis said of his starting point guard's poor performance and limited playing time.

But Luber was not the only withering Lion on the day. When Penn State desperately needed a rebound in the second half, no one heeded the call, resulting in second and even third opportunities for the Buckeyes, who were all too happy to take more time off the clock.

Now it's off to Madison for an evening with the Badgers on Wednesday. Wisconsin was upset by lowly North Dakota State on Saturday, making it unlikely that the Lions will be able to catch the Badgers off-guard.

"Can I get a break," DeChellis jokingly sighed upon learning of the upset.

The Lions might have to create their own breaks through 40 minutes of solid play.

Or maybe while on "The Big Stage" this week, they best just hope to break a leg.