March 29, 2018
NEW YORK - Penn State's final climb of the season has arrived, as the fourth-seeded Nittany Lions will meet No. 2 seed Utah in the NIT title game Thursday evening at Madison Garden.
Fresh off a 75-60 win against Mississippi State in Tuesday's NIT semifinals, it's been all about mental and physical rest as Penn State prepares to play for the NIT Championship for the first time since 2009.
Less than a mile from the team hotel, Penn State hosted its Wednesday practice at the New York Athletic Club.
"It's just to get them moving, get the blood flowing, get a sweat, get some shots up, get some free throws and work on some of the 50 sets that Utah has, so we just wanted to keep our foundation," Penn State head coach Patrick Chambers said moments after stepping off the court Tuesday. "Keep these guys dialed in on the task at hand."
The task at hand won't be easy, as Chambers noted Tuesday night there wasn't much time to be celebrating with the Nittany Lions having their work cut out for them when it comes to Utah.
Utah's path to the title game started with wins against UC Davis and LSU before upsetting No. 1 seed Saint Mary's in overtime to earn a spot in the semifinals. It was a come-from-behind victory against Western Kentucky Tuesday that saw Utah lock up its third appearance in the NIT championship game and its first since 1974.
History aside though, the Utes are led by a veteran group of seniors all eager to close out their season on top. Utah has four individuals averaging at least 10 points per game. Three of the four are seniors, led by leading scorer Justin Bibbins who's currently averaging 15.8 points per game.
"They are a really good team," Chambers said. "They shoot the ball really well, they've made 12 threes, they've made 14 threes in two prior games so we're really going to have to guard the 3-point line. They are tough, they are physical, they are well coached, they mix up their defenses, so we have to be ready to play Penn State basketball."
Noting bits of Northwestern and Michigan in his earliest assessment of the Utes, Utah enters Thursday's matchup averaging 9. 3 triples per game. In NIT action, Utah knocked down 14 treys in the second round game against LSU before registering 12 against No. 1 seed St. Mary's.
On the other side of things though, Penn State is playing perhaps as carefree and confident as it has all season long.
"It started really after we beat Temple," Chambers said. "I think they got really confident. More confident, playing loose, enjoying themselves out there, having fun. At Notre Dame, Marquette, you could tell they were having a blast, enjoying it."
Penn State fans don't have to look much further than a 24-0 run against Mississippi State for evidence of just what can happen when this team starts having fun.
"I think we're just appreciating our last games together and really just going out, having fun, playing with a clear mind and with a lot of confidence and swagger," sophomore Lamar Stevens said."
Tip time is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN2.