March 2, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - It was shortly after Penn State's three-day run at the 2015 Big Ten Tournament when a light flipped on with Brandon Taylor.
Then a junior, Taylor began to realize the finality of his college basketball career. His days in the practice gym were numbered. And it was time to become the team's leader.
When the Tabernacle, N.J., native returned to campus for summer classes, Taylor was the guy who needed to set the tone in the locker room. It was an unfamiliar role for a student-athlete who always had someone to lean on as a leader during his Penn State career.
He spent his first three seasons on campus playing alongside the likes of Tim Frazier and D.J. Newbill, but it wasn't until last summer that anyone inside the program fully understood what type of leader Taylor could be. He set the tone with his work ethic, and the 6-6 forward hasn't looked back since.
"I felt that urgency since I stepped back on campus for this last season," said Taylor. "It clicked in my head that I don't have a lot of time. For me, and every one of these seniors, it was 'what do we want to make out of this season?' I think that's what these four seniors and everyone else on the team is still thinking about."
Since he arrived on campus as a freshman in 2012, Taylor has lost more than 40 pounds. Fitness was a constant battle during the early stages of his career. Now, Taylor is in outstanding shape and is averaging nearly 32 minutes per contest in 2015-16.
Playing the best basketball of his career, Taylor had never averaged more than 9.2 points per game during his career. This season, he's leading the team at a 16.1 ppg clip, which is ranked No. 10 in the Big Ten heading into the final two games of the season. Taylor has seven double-doubles this season, which is six more than he tallied during his entire career before this season.
"I don't think Brandon Taylor gets enough credit," head coach Patrick Chambers said. "I don't think he is getting the credit for the stellar year that he is having. He's really put the program on his back."
Taylor, along with Jordan Dickerson, Devin Foster, Donovon Jack will be recognized during the Senior Night festivities on Thursday prior to Penn State's 9 p.m. tip against Northwestern. The Nittany Lions (15-14, 6-10 Big Ten) will be looking for their fourth straight win at home when they meet the Wildcats (18-11, 6-10 Big Ten) in the penultimate game of the regular season.
"It's nice to have two games at home," said Chambers. "It's nice to be back in this building. We're finding success in this building. We've had some really good crowds in this building. There is a comfort level here for our guys and our seniors. So hopefully, they come out and enjoy it."
Thursday night's game marks the first of two-straight conference home games to wrap up the season. The Nittany Lions have not played two consecutive games at home since Big Ten play started. The last time Penn State had two straight at home came on Dec. 10 and 12 when the Lions hosted the Return to Rec contests.
The stretch run of the season presents a big opportunity for this senior class to leave its mark on the program. The group has been integral in three-straight 15-win seasons. Additionally, the stakes are high for both Penn State and Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament seeding picture as both teams look to secure a first-round bye in Indianapolis.
"We have more to give as seniors," said Devin Foster. "We are going to go about it with the same mindset each and every day and each and every practice."
"We still have games left, and we still have things we want to accomplish," said Taylor.
Tip is slated for just after 9 p.m. with live television coverage on ESPNU.
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