It was a shocking turn of events for Nittany Nation.
The Penn State men’s basketball team will be losing four players, including the solid Chris Babb. In today’s edition of Morelli OnLion, we’ll take a closer look at the transfer, have a couple of questions as the Nittany Lions begin spring practice and feature another member of the Class of 2010.
Let’s start with hoops.
More Babb News
Penn State recently lost sophomore Chris Babb and freshman Bill Edwards, both of whom will transfer from the Nittany Lions. Also gone are Adam Highberger and Andrew Ott. Both Highberger and Ott graduated.
Penn State coach Ed DeChellis, who just watched his team suffer through an 11-20 campaign, was not available for comment. But he did issue a statement in a news release.
“Both Chris and Bill expressed a desire to be closer to home, for different reasons, and elected to pursue transfers that would make that possible, ” DeChellis said in the release. “We wish them both well.”
So what is next for the pair? No one knows for sure. Babb is from Arlington, Texas, while Edwards is from Middletown, Ohio.
Make no mistake about it — these losses hurt the Lions.
Babb started 23 of the team’s 31 games this season and averaging 9.3 points per game — third best on the team. Edwards was hampered by a pair of injuries during the season and only started five times. He averaged 4.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest.
The Nittany Lions now have many question marks heading into next season. One thing is certain, however. Without Babb and Edwards, next season’s squad will be a lot worse than 11-20.
Spring Questions: Part I
Gantdaily.com takes a look at some pressing questions facing the Nittany Lions as they prepare for the 2010 season.
Q: Will the 2010 season be coach Joe Paterno’s last?
A: Every season we ask this question and every season we get the same answer — probably not. With his health and mobility not in question anymore, Paterno appears to getting stronger as he gets older. In a recent Sporting News interview, Paterno indicated that he would like to coach until he’s 90. He seems more energetic than ever. He’s in the second year of his current three-year deal and we wouldn’t be surprised to see that get extended past 2011. In short, don’t expect Paterno to hang up the black Nikes and khakis anytime soon.
Q: Who will win the starting quarterback job?
A: As the team readies for spring practice, it would appear that the starting QB job is Kevin Newsome’s to lose. The sophomore got some time in mop-up duty last season, appearing in 10 games. In those games, he completed 8-of-11 passes for 66 yards. He did not throw a touchdown and was not intercepted. Walk-on Matt McGloin appeared in two games, going 0-for-2.
There are a pair of wild cards, however, in the form of true freshmen Paul Jones and Robert Bolden. At his get together the day after the 19-17 victory in the Capital One Bowl, Paterno indicated that the battle for the starting QB job would be just that. No matter what happens at the Blue-White Game, this is a situation that might not be decided until the season begins on Sept. 4.
Class of 2010: Paul Jones
The QB from McKees Rocks, Pa., gave the Nittany Lions a verbal commitment in January of 2009 and instantly became a player in the PSU quarterback derby.
Jones, who is ranked as the No. 8 QB in the country according to Rivals.com, recently said that he wants to win a pair of Heisman Trophies and wants to play four national titles. Jones is already on campus and getting work for the Blue-White Game, which will be held in Happy Valley on April 24.
Chris Morelli is an award-winning writer/editor who lives in Centre County and covers Penn State athletics. He is also a regular on “Sports Central,” which airs on ESPN Radio in Altoona and State College. E-mail him at morellionlion@gmail.com.