Indiana Basketball vs Penn State: Know your opponent, preview, and prediction
By Alec Lasley
The Indiana basketball program travels to take on another ranked team in No. 24 Penn State, facing the third ranked opponent in a row.
It’s another Big Ten game for Indiana basketball which means it’s another opportunity for a big resume boosting win when the Hoosiers take on No. 24 Penn State on Wednesday night.
The Hoosiers are coming off of a week in which they went 1-1, with a win over No. 11 Michigan State, and then a one-point devastating loss against No. 17 Maryland. Now, Indiana will travel on the road for both of its matchups this week, starting off with the Nittany Lions.
Pat Chambers has his best Penn State team since taking over the program in 2011, and they are primed for a spot in the NCAA Tournament with wins over No. 4 Maryland, No. 21 Ohio State, No. 24 Iowa, and then non-conference wins over Alabama, Georgetown, and Syracuse.
Already tying last year’s win total, Penn State is sitting at 14-5 (4-4) and are led by what should be First Team All-Big Ten selection come years end in Lamar Stevens. Stevens has been as consistent as they come, scoring in double-figures in every game this season, with four 20+ point games and four double-doubles.
For his career, Stevens is averaging 16.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in four career outings against the Hoosiers. His versatility has given IU bigmen fits in each matchup, but with Justin Smith playing at a higher level more consistently and Trayce Jackson-Davis bringing added athleticism, that duo could put a stranglehold on the senior forward.
The only other scorer in double-figures for the Nittany Lions in sophomore guard Myreon Jones. After being a role player, seeing barely 10 minutes a game as a freshman, Jones has exploded during his second year, averaging 14.3 points per game. Shooting 41.1 percent from deep, Jones is second in the Big Ten with 44 made threes on the season. Making at least one three in 18-of-19 games, he also has seven games with 3+ made threes.
With the rest of Penn State struggling to find success from the floor, Jones is extremely efficient, shooting 45.7 percent from the field, in addition to the 41.1 percent from three, and 81.8 percent from the free throw line.
The Penn State defense will look to cause fits for Indiana’s offense, as they rank first in both steals per game (8.4) and blocks per game (5.8) in the Big Ten.
Key Storylines
Indiana
Indiana has yet to get a win over a ranked opponent on the road this season. After a heart-breaking loss against No. 17 Maryland, can the Hoosiers bounce back in a big way? Devonte Green had his best game in nearly three weeks on Sunday, can he build on that performance? The IU frontcourt didn’t play up to its potential and skillset against Maryland, but will need a quick turnaround going against Lamar Stevens and Mike Watkins. With a good resume already, this would be another big win, and a road win, for Indiana.
Penn State
After losing three in a row, the Nittany Lions are on a two-game winning streak, including a road victory over Michigan. A great defensive team, nearly nine steals and six blocks per game, will they be turnover and frustrate the Hoosiers? Curtis Jones faces his former team; how will he handle it? If Myreon Jones isn’t hitting his shots from deep, who will step up? The rest of the roster shoots just 26 percent from three.
Key Players
Indiana
Trayce Jackson-Davis (14.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg), Justin Smith (11.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Devonte Green (10.8 ppg, 35.3% 3pt), Al Durham (10.2 ppg, 36.7% 3pt)
Penn State
Lamar Stevens (16.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.2 apg), Myreon Jones (14.3 ppg, 41.1% 3pt), Mike Watkins (9.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg), Izaiah Brockington (9.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg)
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