I Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010 NCAA Basketball Ohio State at Purdue 7 p.m., ESPN Penn State at Illinois 9 p.m., BTN Kentucky at Florida 9 p.m., ESPN NHL Dallas at Philadelphia 7 p.m., CSN New Jersey at N.Y. Rangers 7 p.m., Versus To read full : ories: psucolleglan.com Tough competition benefits Penn State After competing against eight top-25 teams in the Georgia Diving Invitational, the Lions feel they gained key experience for the rest of their season. Top recruit Vosters joins PSU golf team Golf recruit Christina Vosters signed a national let ter of intent to play for Penn State in the fall of 2010. The Bethany Beach, Del., native has won in the PGA .junior Callaway Series and en the International Junior Golf Tour. She also recorded 16 top-10 finishes in the Pinehurst 'WinternationaL junior Series, two of which were wins. At Worcester Prep High School in Delaware, Vosters was a three-time ESIAC high school player of the year. Reds sign Chapman to six-year contract Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman agreed Monday to a $30.25 million, six-year con tract with the Cincinnati Reds, who view him as an addition to their rotation down the road. The 21-year-old gained notoriety during the World Baseball Classic in March, when he pitched well against Australia and badly against Japan, throwing his fastball around 100 mph. He’s had control problems that will be his biggest obstacle at the outset. Chapman gets a signing bonus of $16.25 million that will be paid over time. Some of the money in his contract will be paid out over a 10-year span. Rangers fans glad to welcome in Vlad Texas fans were never hap pier to see Vladimir Guerrero than they were Monday. That’s because Vlad, who owns a career .396 batting average against the Rangers, joined the team Monday. The Impaler has made a living against Texas, with 14 home runs and 33 RJBIs in 50 games at Rangers Ballpark. Even if Vlad is nowhere close to the player he was when he moved out west, just keeping him off the visiting roster is a relief for Texas. For more of our thoughts, and to share yours, visit the MAKE PLAYS blog at psucol legian.com. Q: When was the last time Penn State played a reign ing national champion? Monday’s answer The Eagles had last lost a Wild Card game in the 1996-97 sea son to the 49ers. HAMMER TIME Tom Ruane/Collegian Senior thrower Cory Eck winds up for a hammer throw in practice Monday at the Multi-Sport Facility. Eck, who placed 24th in the hammer and 16th in discus at last year's Big Ten outdoor championships, is preparing with his teammates for the PSU Northeast Challenge this Saturday at Ashenfelter Track. Team hungiy for Big Ten win By Andrew Robinson COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER After his players took Friday off for a meeting and lifting, Ed DeChellis brought them together for what he called “spirited prac- DECHELLIS tices.” PRESS “There’s been CONFERENCE a lot of competi- =^^===== tion in practice. Guys getting after one another,” DeChellis said. “I think that’s healthy. We’ve kind of increased the level of intensity, and every- Chloe Elmer/Collegian Junior Adam Lynch (top) holds Colby Pisani during the Intrasquad Match Nov. 5 in Rec Hall. Lynch will replace the departed Pisani at 141 pounds. Quiet junior Lynch making noise at 141 By Brendan Monahan COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER To 125-pounder Brad Pataky senior Adam Lynch is quiet but well-spoken. “He doesn’t realty say a whole WRESTLING lot,” Pataky said, “but when he does, people pay attention.” The departure of 141-pounder Colby Pisani has led Lynch to the starting position at the 141-pound weight class in his senior year. And because of it, Lynch’s quiet perse verance will now be on full display at Rec Hall. Maybe it’s Lynch’s work ethic that makes teammates’ ears perk up when he talks. Perhaps gaining a starting spot as a senior after waiting in the shadows for three thing I did for the last two days has been competition.” DeChellis said the losers suf fered conse- quences, which helped increase the energy in prac tice. While the team has strug gled scoring in the post, its transition game has been DeChellis very successful, but it all starts on the defensive end. Without a halfcourt game, DeChellis has said the Nittany years, as Lynch did, earns his teammates’ undivided attention when words come out of his mouth. In any case, Lynch is the silent leader, as Pataky puts it, and someone who is willing to pour sweat onto the mat, sustain the bruises and incur collar tie after collar tie after necktie. “He gives us 100 percent daily,” lightweight coach Cody Sanderson said. Lynch’s record stands at 5-8 and he remains 2-5 in dual meets. Prior to this weekend’s Virginia Duals, Lynch posted a 1-2 dual record, including a loss to No. 18 Seth Ciasulli of Lehigh, who pinned him in the Nittany Lions’ first meet. At Hampton, Va., Lynch lost a See LYNCH, Page 14. Lions have to play strong defense for 40 minutes if they want to win. Junior forward Jeff Brooks said the coaches have been trying to instill a mentality on defense to make opposing teams work to score. "If the ball's not going inside the bucket then you have to do some thing else." Brooks said. “You’ve got to stop other people from scor ing, and that's something the coaches very much put an empha sis on watching us play.” After starting conference play with three losses. Brooks said the team is anxious to get its first Big Lions putting opponents away By Audrey Snyder COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER As Julia Trogele sat at the front of the Bryce Jordan Center media room she leaned in toward and could say WOME w, s only one word. „. ” , “Awesome,” BASKETBALL the junior said in response to her thoughts about the team’s over- victory. After a long pause, she added, “I like this feeling.” The Lady Lions’ 77-71 win against Indiana helped the team catapult into a four-way tie for second place in the conference standings, but for the Lions (11-4, 3-2 Big Ten) the win meant even more. While there are stiff plenty of games left to play, the Lions have equaled their win total from last season, and through 15 games, the Lions have overcome many of the obstacles that plagued them last year. The team's ability to make these adjustments was on display Sunday, and the final result was a direct reflection of how far the team has come. Coquese Washington said one of her team’s preseason goals PSU hopes streak grows The Nittany Lions have won three consecutive games in Champaign, 111 The last three times the Penn State men’s basketball team has visited Illinois’ Assembly Halt it has come out with a victory. mfiu’c When the MEN S streak started in BASKETBALL 2006, the Nittany Lions beat the then-No. 6 team in the country 66-65 for one of the biggest upsets in program history. Last year’s win over then-No. 16 Illinois will be remembered more for its 38-33 final score, the lowest in Assembly Hall history. At 9 p.m. Tuesday, the Lions will go for four-straight wins in Illinois’ home gym, but head coach Ed DeChellis doesn’t have a reason for his team’s success. “I don’t think it’s anything other than we’ve made big plays,” DeChellis said. “We made a big shot when we needed to make it. We got a big defensive stand when we’ve had to make it. This game, this league, sometimes it just comes down to one shot, one defensive play, and we’ve been able to make that play.” Entering the game, Illinois (11- 5, 3-0 Big Ten) is tied for the con ference lead while Penn State (8-7, 0-3 Big Ten) is still looking for its first league win. DeChellis said See STREAK, Page 14. Ten win. In recent practices, guard Talor Battle has been very compet itive and is trying to be a leader, DeChellis said. Brooks said the attitude in the locker room isn’t depressed or upset but energized to break through. DeChellis said while the team is in an early hole in the standings, it’s important not to get too down about the losses. “No one wants to be in the posi tion we’re in,” DeChellis said. “It’s a very humbling conference if you don’t stay focused, and you don’t continue to work hard. If you get See HUNGRY, Page 14. was to finish games. Penn State struggled in this area last season as it gave up an 18-point lead and fell in front of its home fans to lowa. On Sunday the Lions set them selves up for the same fate but managed to overcome the surg ing Hoosiers. After faltering late in the sec ond half of Sunday’s game and surrendering an 11-point lead, the Lions found a way to stage a comeback Because of a strong post presence and made free throws down the stretch, Penn State successfully closed out the game. “If I had been sitting here last year I would’ve been like, ‘Man, you know we probably would’ve lost,’ ” Thogele said. “But I think that this year we have a different mentality.” The Lions aren’t afraid to spread the ball around this sea son, which is something the team struggled with in the past. Senior lyra Grant will continue to carry the offense, but having players like Trogele and Alex Bentley step into more prominent roles has made a dif ference. On Sunday, it was Thrgele who hit six free throws in die extra period to seal the victory. But the team’s overall intensity and resiliency, something Washington stressed during the entire See IMPROVE, Page 14. The Daily Collegian By Andrew Robinson COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
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