PSU looking to clean up defensive mistakes against Purdue

The Penn State men’s basketball team has been plagued by defensive breakdowns at the start of conference play.

The Nittany Lions rank in the bottom three teams in Big Ten games in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense and 3-point field goal percentage defense. Penn State allowed the most points to an opponent in regulation during coach Patrick Chambers’ tenure in its 92-65 loss to then-No. 5 Michigan State on Sunday.

Chambers prides himself on defense.

But the Nittany Lions (10-7, 1-3 Big Ten) aren’t getting the job done heading into a matchup at No. 24 Purdue (14-3, 2-2) at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

“We’re not playing any defense,” Chambers said at his press conference Tuesday. “And I think our offense is dictating our defense and our effort.”

In four conference games, Penn State has allowed its opponents to average 79.5 points per game, the second-most in the league. Big Ten opponents are also shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 46.5 percent from 3-point range.

The Nittany Lions’ 3-point field goal percentage defense ranks last in the conference. Michigan, Minnesota and Michigan State combined to go 35 for 65 (53.8 percent) from the perimeter against the Nittany Lions.

Now they’ll be facing a Purdue team that ranks among the top teams in the nation defensively. The Boilermakers lead the country in field goal percentage defense, limiting their opponents to 35.9 percent shooting per game — a clip slightly ahead of Michigan State, which ranks second in the nation. They’re also holding opponents to 61.2 points per game, good for 13th in the country and second in the Big Ten just behind Michigan State (61.1).

“It’s going to be another challenge for us on the offensive end,” Chambers said. “We have to get stops this game. We have to get stops. We have to play tough. We have to play physical. We have to rebound the ball.”

While Penn State is looking to clean up the mistakes that have contributed to its opponents’ hot shooting performances, Chambers said his team also needs to connect from beyond the arc more offensively.

The Nittany Lions have knocked down 19 3-pointers (4.8 average) while shooting 26.4 percent from deep.

Both numbers rank last in conference play.

“That’s not gonna get it done,” Chambers said. “We need to make at least seven, at least seven to be competitive. And we need to get to that point and we probably need to be taking more of them. We’re probably not taking enough.”

Chambers said senior forward Brandon Taylor and freshman forward Davis Zemgulis need to look to take more 3s.

Zemgulis is 7 for 20 from beyond the arc this season. Taylor is second on the team with 62 3-point attempts while shooting 33.9 percent from deep.

But he’s done most of his damage in the post and with his mid-range game this season, cutting down on his 3-point attempts after averaging five per game last year. Taylor leads the team in scoring with 15.9 points per game and has scored in double figures in 15 games.

Chambers said he thought Taylor was frustrated during a 3 for 12 shooting performance against Michigan State.

“This is new for Brandon Taylor to be the No. 1 guy on everybody’s scouting report,” Chambers said. “This is a new territory for him.”

The coach noted Taylor’s consistency this year and said he’ll learn from the game against the Spartans and get better.

That’s what he’s hoping to see from his entire team when the Nittany Lions take the floor against Purdue.

“I can’t wait to see us, how we bounce back and respond on the road against one of the tougher teams,” Chambers said. “If we show that toughness that we didn’t show against Michigan State on Sunday.”

Notes: Chambers said Zemgulis was sick and limited at practice before the Michigan State game. He played 20 minutes Sunday. ... Purdue is coming off an 84-70 loss to Illinois. The Fighting Illini shot 54.2 percent from the field in the win. ... Purdue center A.J. Hammons leads the team with 13.9 points per game to go with 7.8 rebounds. ... Purdue’s Caleb Swanigan is leading the Big Ten in rebounding (8.6 per game). ... Purdue guard Rapheal Davis was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year last season.

This story was originally published January 12, 2016 at 11:07 PM with the headline "PSU looking to clean up defensive mistakes against Purdue."