When Penn State’s basketball players make a bad pass or find themselves out of position on defense, there’s often a bit of self-flagellation - a yell of frustration, some quiet cursing.
“Sometimes he let’s some of us work it out on ourselves,” forward Jeff Brooks said. “Then he comes and talks to us.”
The he Brooks was referring to wasn’t Ed DeChellis or any of the other Penn State coaches. It was Talor Battle. With the departure of Jamelle Cornley, the Nittany Lions junior point guard is leading more than just the fast break this season.
“Now that Jamelle’s gone, all the guys are looking up to me,” Battle said. “So it’s my job to try to stay as positive as much as I can, even if my shot’s not falling. It’s a work in progress, and I’ve been getting better each day at it.”
Battle led Penn State, which opened practice last week, in scoring and the nation in minutes played last season. He got off to a torrid start, averaging more than 19 points per game before the conference season opened and scoring at least 20 points in five of his first nine Big Ten games. But his numbers tailed off during a mid-season slump as fatigue became a factor and opponents began throwing junk defenses at him.
Still, he saved some of his biggest shots - the layup to beat Illinois and the last-second three to send the George Mason game into overtime - for the end of the year.
Battle has the ability to score in the open court, in traffic or from beyond the arc, and he loves to get teammates involved he set the school’s single-season assist record with 189. His greatest attribute, though, is his will to win and his ability to instill it in his teammates. The Nittany Lions will need that more than ever without the emotional Cornley.
“I think Talor’s one of the best players in the country, and most importantly, he brings it every day, he plays hard every day,” DeChellis said. “And when one of your best players plays hard every day, the other guys feed off him naturally.”
Battle, who honed his game and bolstered his confidence with a strong showing for the Team USA in the World University Games this summer, believes the experience Penn State’s returning core of veterans gained during the run to the NIT championship will pay off for the older guys as well as the teams five freshmen.
“It’s not easy to win, and that championship was not given to us,” Battle said. “For the guys who really played significant roles, you can really pass that on.”
Battle is doing his part, taking special care to instruct freshman point guard Tim Frazier, who will likely determine how many minutes of rest Battle is able to get this season. But he’s not afraid to take an upperclassman aside, either.
“He’s being a positive leader,” Brooks said.
It's Talor's turn
