Penn State Preview: Nittany Lions face mental challenge versus George Mason in NIT opener

Penn State vs George Mason - Time and TV: Tuesday, March 17, 8 p.m. ET, ESPNU

George Mason and coach Jim Larranaga know how to knock off power conference opponents, so when Penn State returns to the Bryce Jordan Center for a home game it hoped to avoid on Selection Sunday, the Nittany Lions need to be on their guard, literally and figuratively.
 
As PSU prepares for its NIT opener against a pesky bunch of Patriots from the Colonial Athletic Association, the first challenge for Coach Ed DeChellis is to motivate his young men, who had to feel sucker-punched when the Lions were left off the big board on Sunday afternoon. A team that came within one basket (on March 7 at Iowa) of clinching the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament was viewed to be less deserving of a tourney ticket than seven other conference schools. Wins at Michigan State and Illinois, plus home wins versus Illinois and Purdue, could not convince the selection committee that PSU was worthy of its first NCAA dance card since 2001.

In light of this profound disappointment, made worse by the undeniable feeling of rejection that an NCAA snub creates, the Blue and White need to mentally regroup as they take a No. 2 seeding into their NIT subregional section, and prepare for the No. 7 seed from northern Virginia. The biggest task for any team that barely misses the NCAA Tournament is to care a great deal about winning the NIT, which will send a message that can carry into the following season. The Nittany Lions can look to the example of an Ohio State club that was left outside the candy store one year ago, but used its sad Selection Sunday to storm the palace gate and defeat Massachusetts for the NIT title in New York. Encouraged by that run, the Bucks--even without David Lighty--broke into the NCAAs this season. The Penn State camp needs to look at that success story as this year's NIT commences.
 
Now, about the matchup posed by George Mason. The Patriots are a guard-oriented club led by Cam Long--who averages 12 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists--and John Vaughan, who averages 11 points and 5 boards per game. Larranaga's lineup also includes forward Darryl Monroe, an 11-and-8 guy, but the kids from the Colonial rely mostly on perimeter play. The Patriots lost the final of the CAA Tournament against Virginia Commonwealth for two primary reasons: First, the Rams had a superstar guard in Eric Maynor, who destroyed the men of Mason with 25 points and 8 assists. Second, the game was played in Richmond, before a partisan VCU crowd. With these realities in mind, the Penn State braintrust can plan accordingly.
 
Two keys jump off the page as the Nittany Lions X-and-O for the Patriots. The first thing is for PSU guard Talor Battle to not try to win this game himself. Unlike Maynor, the man who tormented GMU a week ago, Battle uses the 3-point shot as a primary weapon and doesn't possess a great deal of length. Maynor is a player who likes to get into the lane and convert a 10-foot one-handed floater. Battle is a resourceful scorer, but more as a result of going around defenders. Maynor slashes through defenses and plays over the top of smaller guards. Therefore, Battle isn't quite as suited to win one-on-one battles as Maynor is. Penn State's most dynamic player needs to play a controlled game and hold up his end on defense. A good floor game from Battle, with a great deal of offensive efficiency, is the biggest thing the disciples of DeChellis can hope for.

The second point of emphasis for Penn State flows from the first one. If Battle doesn't try to do everything himself, and the Nittany Lions share the ball and get lots of people involved, the Patriots will be hard pressed to match PSU at all places on the floor. Jamelle Cornley, with his mix of power and agility, appears to be the toughest matchup for George Mason, particularly in the low post. A smaller team from a mid-major conference typically doesn't offer the brawn that can keep up with a Big Ten bruiser such as Cornley. Yet, the fact that Cornley can step out and shoot threes can also draw GMU's interior players away from the basket on defense, thereby opening up driving lanes for Battle. If PSU can indeed spread Mason's defense, Battle--when not feeding the ball to Cornley on the blocks--can drive and kick to sharpshooters Stanley Pringle, Danny Morrissey, and perhaps Chris Babb off the bench.
 
When the talk subsides and this game tips off, Talor Battle's mindset and Penn State's balance are the big keys for the Nittany Lions. With a blended brand of basketball, and a hunger to win the NIT, Tuesday's tilt can become the start of something special, and not a deflating occasion for a team that came so close to making the NCAA Tournament.

> Find more Big Ten football news online at Big Ten Fans!