The Wildcats better not look now, but their game against the Nittany Lions at 1:30 p.m. Saturday is looking eerily similar to the two teams’ last matchup.
In its 65-62 loss in State College, Pa., on Jan. 22, NU (12-12, 4-7 Big Ten) was missing center Mike Thompson because of suspension. In his absence, Penn State center Aaron Johnson outrebounded NU, 22-19, by himself.
Thompson likely will miss Saturday’s game as well, NU coach Bill Carmody said.
The 6-foot-10 center has been out with a sprained right foot. He started walking this week without the protective boot he had been wearing, but he’s still moving “very gingerly,” Carmody said. Thompson hurt the foot Feb. 2 in practice.
Carmody said his two largest starters, center Vince Scott and forward Davor Duvancic, will have to figure out a way to contain Johnson, the Big Ten’s leading rebounder with 10.3 boards per game.
“Vince needs some help down there, Davor needs some help down there, we just need some help down there,” Carmody said.
In the first meeting, NU forward Vedran Vukusic scored 17 points but missed the game’s final minutes with a hurt shoulder.
Vukusic has been hampered by fatigue in the Cats last few outings — including NU’s 59-51 win against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, where the junior didn’t get much leg lift on his jump shots and shot 1 of 10 from beyond the arc.
Carmody said Vukusic’s energy level has varied day by day.
“I just look into his eyes and see how deep they’re set back in there,” Carmody said. “He gets these huge dark bags under there.”
The Nittany Lions (7-17, 1-10 Big Ten) are led by Johnson, who is averaging nearly 13 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Penn State also features freshmen Geary Claxton and Mike Walker, who combined for 28 points in their last outing against NU.
“Penn State’s two freshmen guards are good at catching and shooting,” Carmody said. “We certainly have to be aware of those guys.”
Penn State’s win against NU is the Nittany Lion’s sole victory of the conference season.
Reach Nick Collins at [email protected] and reach Zach Silka at [email protected].
