Lisicky shares hoops memories

By Pete Lisicky

Being ranked in the Associated Press Top 10 in my junior year of 1995-96, and having everyone on campus and off campus wanting to talk to me and everyone else about our season was great.

Especially fun was talking basketball with the women who work at Chopstick Express on College Avenue who, to this day, still remember me by name and that I used to make 3-pointers.

I remember people worrying about the Bryce Jordan Center not being an advantage as compared to Rec Hall, but the crowds at the BJC were fantastic, and we were undefeated at home that year. The cowbell guy used to time his performances at just the right time to get everyone pumped up.

The win at home against Indiana was maybe the most satisfying win of my four years. It was a Saturday afternoon game and even the very last row of the top deck of the BJC had people standing and cheering.

People behind Indiana’s bench were jeering Bobby Knight, the students were going crazy, and everyone on our team had a hand in the win.

I hated losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to No. 12 seed Arkansas. We thought we really had a great team, capable of even advancing past the Sweet Sixteen.

I had my first collegiate dunk in that game though, albeit a quasi-dunk. I jumped off one leg and at least by definition, it was a dunk.

My senior year, we hated seeing Danny Earl go down with an ACL tear against Lehigh early in the season. Joe Crispin, Titus Ivory and Greg Grays did a great job in his absence, but I think his leadership and experience would have made the difference between the NIT bid we received and an NCAA bid.

Beating Ohio State in the season finale that year in Columbus was great. It was the final game played at St. John Arena, because they opened up the new arena the next season. I scored the final points ever in St. John on some free throws.

That’s one that no one can take away from me. Like they can’t take away Bryan Machamer scoring the first basket at the Bryce Jordan Center ... even if it was because he got to the first practice super early, waited for the baskets to be set up, and made a lay-up to be able to stake that claim.

I could spend hours and hours recounting the people and events from my years at Penn State that made it special, but I do plenty of that at least once a year when making events such as the Coaches vs. Cancer Golf Tournament in the summer.

Maybe once I finish my career overseas, I’ll get to see and reminisce more often in the presence of some old teammates, coaches, managers, classmates and friends from those days. In the meantime, we keep in touch over e-mail and the phone, reminding each other of such times often enough.

Pete Lisicky, a letterman from 1995-98, is Penn State’s third leading scorer and all-time leader in 3-point shooting. He plays professionally for Air Av in Italy.

Editor’s note: Penn State Hoops Memories will appear each Saturday during Big Ten basketball season.