The lowdown
2000-01 record: 21-12; 7-9 in Big Ten (t6th)
Final Ranking: NR
Postseason: Lost to Temple 84-72 in third round of NCAA Tournament.
Three Questions for 2001-02
1. How does Penn State handle the losses of Joe and Jon Crispin, Gyasi Cline-Heard and Titus Ivory? Is a reliable scorer still on the roster? How do the Nittany Lions replace that kind of experience?
2. Tyler Smith had the luxury of playing off of Cline-Heard last season, but can he handle being the go-to guy in the post? Does he have enough in his arsenal to be a double-figure scorer every game?
3. Can Brandon Watkins or Jamaal Tate make the move from single to double digits this season? Can either one become a go-to player on the perimeter.
Three Key Facts
1. The four starters who left -- either via graduation (Joe Crispin, Titus Ivory and Gyasi Cline-Heard) or via a transfer (Jon Cripsin) -- combined to average 58.5 points. The rest of the Nittany Lions averaged just 18.5.
2. Penn State fans hope Brandon Watkins' performance against Temple in the NCAA Tournament was a prelude to things to come. The guard scored a career high 12 points, all in a second half. Watkins hit four of seven field goals, including 3 of 4 3-pointers.
3. Penn State's wins over Providence (69-59) and North Carolina (82-74) in the first two rounds of the NCAA South Regional marked the first time that Penn State has won two NCAA tournament games in the same year since 1954. That year, ironically, PSU advanced to the Final Four.
Andy Katz's Scenarios
Best case: The Nittany Lions don't finish lower than 10th in conference and muster enough wins to get close to an NIT bid.
Worst case: Penn State drops from a Sweet 16 team to below Northwestern in last in the league.
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Key Players Returning
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Player
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Yr.
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Tyler Smith
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Sr.
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F
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6-8/230
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PTS: 7.6 | REB: 4.5 | AST: 1.2
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Brandon Watkins
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Jr.
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G
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6-0/170
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PTS: 3.2 | REB: 0.9 | AST: 1.1
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Key Losses
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Joe Crispin
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G
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6-1/177
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PTS: 19.5 | REB: 3.5 | AST: 3.3
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Gyasi Cline-Heard
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F
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6-8/230
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PTS: 16.0 | REB: 8.2 | AST: 1.8
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Titus Ivory
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G
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6-4/210
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PTS: 15.7 | REB: 4.4 | AST: 4.5
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Jon Crispin
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G
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6-2/195
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PTS: 7.2 | REB: 1.6 | AST: 1.7
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Penn State Signings
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht.
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High School/College
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Kevin Fellows
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C
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6-10
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Meridian, Idaho./Meridian H.S.
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Jan Jagla
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F
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6-11
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Berlin, Germany
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Jason McDougald
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F
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6-9
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Winston Salem, N.C./R.J. Reynolds H.S.
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Daren Tielsch
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F
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6-6
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McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour H.S.
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