The Champaign Room - Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Penn State Nittany LionsA Fighting Illini community since 2012https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48193/tcr-fave.png2014-01-04T17:09:00-06:00http://www.thechampaignroom.com/rss/stream/50379872014-01-04T17:09:00-06:002014-01-04T17:09:00-06:00Video: Illinois 75, Penn State 55 Highlights
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<figcaption>Bradley Leeb-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Things got a little punchy, they got a little heated, then they got a little victorious. Illini 75, Penn St. 55.</p>
https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2014/1/4/5274622/video-illinois-fighting-illini-vs-penn-st-nittany-lions-highlightsJack Cassidy2014-01-04T16:22:54-06:002014-01-04T16:22:54-06:00Final: Illinois 75, Penn State 55
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<figcaption>Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>A close, ugly game turned into a blowout after Penn State's D.J. Newbill was ejected</p> <p>This game had the brick layers, turnovers, and all other ingredients necessary for your typical Illinois-Penn State barn burner, but the added dose of D.J. Newbill punches changed the whole forecast.</p>
<p>Illinois led Penn State, 52-43, with 8:38 remaining in the second half, but the lead was hardly comfortable. Illinois' game looked better in the second half, although not as considerably as it should have been given the horrendous first half. Here were the numbers:</p>
<table border="0"><tbody>
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<td style="text-align: center;">ILLINOIS</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">PENN STATE</td>
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<td style="text-align: center;">28</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">SCORE</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">26</td>
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<td style="text-align: center;">8-for-27 (29 percent)</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">FG</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">8-for-28 (28 percent)</td>
</tr>
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<td style="text-align: center;">4-for-13 (31 percent)</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3FG</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2-for-9 (22 percent)</td>
</tr>
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<td style="text-align: center;">17 (6 offensive)</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">REBOUNDS</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">14 (5 offensive)</td>
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<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">ASSISTS</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
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<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">TURNOVERS</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">6<br><br>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p> </p>
<p>Still, things looked better. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/229503/kendrick-nunn">Kendrick Nunn</a> had just finished a pretty layup, driving around screeners and to the hoop, stretching the Illini lead to nine points. Five seconds later, he brewed up a shitstorm. On his way down the floor, Nunn bumped into Penn State guard D.J. Newbill. Newbill responded by turning around and shove-punching Nunn in the back of the head.</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3808397/2014-01-04_15_35_33.gif" class="photo" alt="2014-01-04_15_35_33"><br id="1388872811316"></p>
<p>Nunn stepped to Newbill with a mean mug. Newbill got ejected. Tensions flared and parties were seperated. John Groce screamed and had to be physically restrained. I don't know who he was going to fight, but he would have won, handedly and to a standing ovation.</p>
<p>When the game started again, the feel flipped from an ugly grinder to an Illini route. A combination of the fight's adrenaline boost and no Newbill to deal with boosted Illinois to an easy 20-point win.</p>
<h3>NOTES</h3>
<p>- When there's a fight, you only want to talk about the fight, and how it went down. Regarding who was at fault, Twitter believably was split down Penn State and Illinois party lines. You can watch the video and decide for yourself, but I think the answer is this: Nunn bumped into Newbill, and he probably shouldn't have. Newbill aggressively gave Nunn a shot to the back of the head, and he definitely shouldn't have. If Nunn would have punched him back, they'd get the same penalty. And that's telling.</p>
<p>- <u>AARON JORDAN</u> JUST COMMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS</p>
<p>- <b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100646/jon-ekey">Jon Ekey</a></b> looked like a damn fine ball player today, and his shooting stroke looked a bit smoother than normal.</p>
<p>- <b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123459/rayvonte-rice">Rayvonte Rice</a> </b>again led the team, scoring 15 points. Four players scored in double digits, including <b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145486/tracy-abrams">Tracy Abrams</a> </b>(12 points), who didn't score in the first half.</p>
<p>- <b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99674/joseph-bertrand">Joseph Bertrand</a></b> does it all.</p>
<p>- Aaron Jordan. Committed. Today. He must love fighting.</p>
<p>- Expect to be ranked on Monday.</p>
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https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2014/1/4/5274418/illinois-75-penn-state-55-illini-roll-after-ugly-first-half-andJack Cassidy2014-01-04T15:34:34-06:002014-01-04T15:34:34-06:00GIF: Abrams To Egwu Alley Oop
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<p>After the fight, words were said and emotions boiled over. Some people fight with their fists. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145490/nnanna-egwu">Nnanna Egwu</a> fights with his dunks. And this punch landed flush, leaving a pretty good bruise.</p>
<p><img alt="Oop" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3808261/oop.gif"> <br id="1388871175392"></p>
https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2014/1/4/5274386/gif-nnanna-egwu-alley-oop-from-tracy-abramsJack Cassidy2014-01-04T15:15:24-06:002014-01-04T15:15:24-06:00Video: D.J. Newbill Acts Like A Punk, Gets Ejected
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<figcaption>Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>D.J. Newbill threw a punch/shove at the back of Kendrick Nunn's head and was rightfully ejected.</p> <p>Also in gif form.</p>
<p><img alt="2014-01-04_15_35_33" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3808397/2014-01-04_15_35_33.gif"></p>
<p> </p>
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https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2014/1/4/5274328/video-d-j-newbill-is-a-punk-gets-ejectedJack Cassidy2014-01-04T14:21:59-06:002014-01-04T14:21:59-06:00Illinois-Penn State: Halftime Numbers
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<figcaption>Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Don't watch this, it hurts. </p> <table border="0"><tbody>
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<td style="text-align: center;">ILLINOIS</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">PENN STATE</td>
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<td style="text-align: center;">28</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">SCORE</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">26</td>
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<td style="text-align: center;">8-for-27 (29 percent)</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">FG</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">8-for-28 (28 percent)</td>
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<td style="text-align: center;">4-for-13 (31 percent)</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3FG</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2-for-9 (22 percent)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">17 (6 offensive)</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">REBOUNDS</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">14 (5 offensive)</td>
</tr>
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<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">ASSISTS</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">TURNOVERS</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p> </p>
<p><img alt="Arrested-development-henry-winkler-sad-sack-balls-animated-gif" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3807717/arrested-development-henry-winkler-sad-sack-balls-animated-gif.gif"><br id="1388866729072"></p>
https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2014/1/4/5274104/illinois-vs-penn-state-halftime-numbersJack Cassidy2014-01-04T13:13:50-06:002014-01-04T13:13:50-06:00Aaron Jordan At State Farm Center<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="/rss/stream/5037987">Aaron Jordan At State Farm&nbsp;Center</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>Illini recruit Aaron Jordan is at the State Farm Center this afternoon to watch Illinois take on Penn State. Per reports, he is making his college decision "soon." </p>
<p>Jordan, a 4-star shooting guard from Plainfield, is 6-foot-4, 175 lbs.</p></p></div>
https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2014/1/4/5273900/aaron-jordan-at-state-farm-centerJack Cassidy2014-01-04T13:00:01-06:002014-01-04T13:00:01-06:00Game Thread: Illinois-Penn St.
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<figcaption>Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>I attended the 2010-11 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/big-ten-basketball-tournament">Big Ten Tournament</a> in Indianapolis. Our car broke down on the way, forcing us to watch the Illinois game from the personal office of a Comcast worker in the middle-of-nowhere Indiana, where the tow truck dropped us off. The cable lady was kind enough to let us watch her 20-inch Zenith, after the two other businesses in town told us to hit the road. Illinois lost to Michigan, and we were stranded for hours in a town that had a sewage facility, a Walgreens, a McDonalds, and nothing else. My clothes smelled of tow truck dust and defeat.</p>
<p>The trip wasn't a bust though, for if nothing else, when we finally got to Indy, I got to see <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26708/talor-battle">Talor Battle</a> light up the tourney. He carried Nittany to the finals, then damn near beat <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124094/jared-sullinger">Jared Sullinger</a> and Ohio State when he got there. He shot from all over the floor, and he hit him all. It was fantastic.</p>
<p>Since then, I haven't enjoyed a Big Ten (non-Illini) player as much as I enjoyed Battle. And since he graduated, I haven't much cared for Penn State, so let's drub them today.</p>
<p>This whole story may become a full post one day--it's more than worthy. But for now, let's wait on it. I don't want to dedicate a post to a Penn State player until after the game.</p>
<h4>IT'S THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FLYIN' ILLINI!!!!</h4>
https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2014/1/4/5272728/game-thread-illinois-vs-penn-stateJack Cassidy2014-01-04T08:00:01-06:002014-01-04T08:00:01-06:00Illinois-Penn State Preview: Just Beat 'Em
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<figcaption>Justin K. Aller</figcaption>
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<p>Penn State needs to score and score in bunches to beat Illinois on Saturday afternoon. </p> <p>Penn State led No. 5 Michigan St., 47-40, at halftime of their matchup last Tuesday, prompting people at New Years Eve parties to idly say things like, "Did you see Penn State today?" But no one had. We watched Illinois, and moved on, completely missing the Spartans roll over the Nittany Lions in the second half.</p>
<p>In previewing the Penn State game, let's address the good and the bad, as split into Michigan State halves.</p>
<h4><u>GOOD</u></h4>
<p>Penn State has two scorers, one being fifth-year senior <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99917/tim-frazier" class="sbn-auto-link">Tim Frazier</a>, who incredibly hasn't graduated yet. He was around when Ed Dechelis--who <i>left</i> to go to <i>a better job</i> at <i>NAVY</i>--and my favorite non-Illini Big Ten player of all-time, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmIIJ_wpGM4">Talor Battle</a>, were taking the Lions to the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness" class="sbn-auto-link">NCAA Tournament</a>. Now he's got coach Pat Chambers and D.J. Newbill, their other scorer, and no one's expecting them to go dancing. Still, Frazier and Newbill, a junior, are averaging 17.4 and 18.8 ppg, respectively.</p>
<p>Against Michigan State, Penn State's first half lead was built by offense. The Spartans were held to roughly their half average, but the Nittany Lions were well over theirs--about eight points. <span>Newbill scored 14 points and sophomore forward Brandon Taylor pitched in with 16 points of his own, making up for Frazier, who went 1-for-6 from the field.</span></p>
<h4><u>BAD</u></h4>
<p><a href="#" class="sbn-auto-link">Tom Izzo</a> got a little upset at his team at halftime, the Spartans defense responded, and the Nittany Lions managed only 16 points in the second half. Newbill scored three points. Taylor had two. Frazier led the team with five, and he finished the game 3-for-12 with four turnovers. Not quite as bad, but still pretty lackluster, was the defense, which ranks 11 points worse than the Illini's. Michigan State scored just as they did in the first half, only Penn State's offense wasn't there to keep up.</p>
<p>Penn State has four players averaging more than 11 points per game, but if any of them have an off-night, they struggle. They're 3-5 when scoring 80 points or fewer.</p>
<h4><u>ESSENTIALLY</u></h4>
<p>Penn State needs to hit shots like the did in the first half of the Michigan State game to beat Illinois, and since this one's at the State Farm Center against a hot team and a statistically better defense, I'm convincing myself it won't happen. <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/1/3/5266682/penn-state-illinois-basketball-preview-tim-frazier-dj-newbill-rayvonte-rice-tracy-abrams">Black Shoe Diaries</a> concedes the game in their predictions, and I like that style. Illinois gets the win.</p>
<p>It'll come down to our strength (defense) versus their strength (scoring). So, Illinois, just keep it simple. Play better.</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3805465/skate_betterbrink-42744.gif" class="photo" alt="Skate_betterbrink-42744"></p>
<p>Listen up, Brink.</p>
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https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2014/1/4/5272430/illinois-vs-penn-state-preview-just-beat-emJack Cassidy