Indiana Basketball vs Penn State: Know your opponent, preview and prediction

The Indiana basketball team will look to upset Penn State in the second round of the Big Ten tournament and all but solidify their bid to the NCAA tournament.

The Hoosiers will look to win their second game in as many days when they take on the Penn State Nittany Lions on Thursday in the second round of the Big Ten tournament. Indiana did what it was supposed to do on Wednesday in dispatching the short-handed Cornhuskers.

Trayce Jackson-Davis led the way with 11 points and 17 rebounds and Armaan Franklin came off the bench to hit three triples en route to a game-high 13 points for the Hoosiers. Indiana played a very uninspired first 16 minutes before using a 14-1 run to end the first half and take a nine-point lead into the break. They extended the lead in the second half to bury the Cornhuskers 89-64.

It was a win the Hoosiers had to have and if they want to make their lives more comfortable they need to pick up another win against Penn State. Indiana is one of the last four teams in according to Joe Lunardi and could really use another big win. The Hoosier resume should already be good enough but a win against Penn State would go a long way in helping their situation.

The Nittany Lions are led by first-team All-Big Ten selection Lamar Stevens. He leads the team with 17.6 points per game and is helped by sophomore Myreon Jones who is scoring 13.3 points per game. Even with the production of their top two guys, Penn State has struggled since being ranked 9th in the country.

The Nittany Lions have lost five of their last six including a shocking loss to Northwestern to end the regular season. Penn State’s slump dropped them from what looked like a shot at a Big Ten title all the way down to the six seed. But even with their struggles, they are good enough to make a run in the tournament.

Season Matchup

Indiana split the season series between these two teams. They beat Penn State less than a month ago at Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers jumped out to a 17 point first-half lead before they gave it all back and then some when the Nittany Lions took a  six-point lead with just over 12 minutes to play. But then Indiana took back control and would go on to win 68-60 in a huge win for the Hoosiers. Trayce Jackson-Davis and Al Durham led the way for the Hoosiers, while Stevens scored 29 points for the Nittany Lions in the loss.

That win avenged a loss earlier in the year when the Nittany Lions beat Indiana by 15 on January 29th. The Hoosiers limited Stevens to just 17 points, but two long scoring droughts in the second half allowed Penn State to take a tied game at halftime and turn it into a rout. Jackson-Davis led the team with 14 points while Justin Smith chipped in 13 in the loss.

Key storylines

Indiana

Can the Hoosiers slow Stevens enough to win the game? Will the Hoosiers come out with the intensity they showed the first time these two teams played? Will the second game in two days have an impact on the Hoosiers compared to the rested Nittany Lions? Can the Hoosiers hit their outside shots? Can Indiana keep Penn State from getting an early lead and griding out the win?

Penn State

Will the Nittany Lions snap out of their slump and make a run in the Big Ten tournament? Lamar Stevens will get his points, but will anyone else help him out? Will Mike Watkins be back for Penn State after being suspended for the Northwestern game?

Key Players

Indiana

Trayce Jackson-Davis (13.5 ppg, 8.4 rpg), Devonte Green (10.8 ppg, 35.8 3pt%), Justin Smith (10.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg), Al Durham (9.8 ppg, 38.3 3pt%)

Penn State

Lamar Stevens (17.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg), Myreon Jones (13.3 ppg, 40.3 3pt%) Mike Watkins (9.7 ppg, 7.6 rpg), Myles Dread (8.6 ppg, 31.9 3pt%)

Prediction: Indiana 72, Penn State 69