I was trying to incorporate this into the game recap, but it deserves a post of its own.  Talor Battle should be your Big Ten MVP, and what he’s done for this program is incredible.  He had a quote in the AP story about this game that proves the kind of player he is.

“I guess we made history, huh?…Coach mentioned that we hadn’t won here. But I wasn’t on those other Penn State teams. This is the ’08-09 team. And we weren’t going to lose by 37 like last year.”

Talor carried the team today, just like Jamelle did last Thursday against Michigan.  When he’s playing that well, with 29 points, 6 boards, and 3 assists, he can make a team great.  He singlehandedly kept us in the game in the first half, and kept working hard all game.  It’s that kind of grit and determination that makes him so great.

This is not your typical Penn State basketball team.  As Deon Butler might say, they are legends.  Talor Battle might go down as the one player who brought this program to some sort of prominence.  Since he’s been here we’ve beat Sparty twice, and now we’ve got a great chance to go dancing.  That’s the kind of program a recruit wants to come to, and if Battle can lead this team to the tournament maybe we won’t be solely a football school anymore.  If Florida could bracket basketball championships around a football title, if Texas can be in the Final Four and the BCS, why can’t we?

It’s a ton of pressure for a kid, but Talor Battle is the kind of special player who seems to handle it.  He’s gracious to the fans and the students, and I can tell you from watching him after some of the games that he is so appreciative of the support we give to the team.

If you go to Penn State, or live in central PA, you owe it to this team to show up next Sunday for the Wisconsin game.  This team has proven themselves worthy of the attention.  Every win brings us closer to their goal.  Jamelle Cornley has been a leader here for four years.  Do it for him.  Do it for Ed, who’s been criticized so often for trying so hard.  But let’s do it for Talor Battle, who might go down as the greatest player Penn State has ever had.

Releated Posts:

1. Talor Battle to return for final season at Penn State
2. Talor Battle Enters NBA Draft
3. Even the losers get lucky sometimes.
4. How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the STEP Program
5. The Glass is Half Full

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