Scouting report

Posted February 11, 2011 11:00 pm

Northwestern (14-9, 4-8) at Penn St. (12-11, 5-7)

When: 2:30 p.m. at Bryce Jordan Center

TV: BTN

Radio: WGN 720-AM

The skinny: The Wildcats haven’t won at Penn State since 2002, which isn’t a good sign for an NU squad desperate for a win. More relevant to today’s pursuit: Penn State shot 57 percent against the Wildcats last year while sweeping them by an average of 15 points per game. The Nittany Lions will do it again this time if Northwestern brings the same ugly defensive effort that characterized Wednesday’s 75-66 loss at Michigan. And, like so many Big Ten games this year, the play of the point guards will be crucial. NU’s Juice Thompson and PSU’s Talor Battle are 1-2 in the league in minutes played and 3-pointers per game. Thompson will make his NU-record 119th career start today while Battle will set PSU’s record today with his 121st start. Oh, and he needs just 4 points to become the 22nd Big Ten player to hit the 2,000-point mark.

— Lindsey Willhite

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