March 14, 2001

From the Associated Press

GAME: No. 10 Providence (21-9) vs. No. 7 Penn State (19-11)
REGIONAL: South, first round.
TIME: Friday, 7:50 p.m. EST.
SITE: Superdome, New Orleans.

Penn State coach Jerry Dunn must be concerned about which Nittany Lions team will show up for its first-round South Regional matchup with Providence.

The Nittany Lions have proven capable of beating high-caliber teams and losing to inferior foes on various occasions this season. They beat defending national champion Michigan State in the second round of the Big Ten tournament last Friday, just two weeks after losing to last-place Northwestern.

Penn State had dropped three of its final four regular-season games before beating Michigan and Michigan State in the first two rounds of the conference tournament. The Nittany Lions lost 94-74 to Iowa in the semifinals, though earlier in the month they won at Iowa.

The seventh-seeded Lions return to the tournament for the first time since 1996, when they lost to Arkansas in the opening round.

The Friars, seeded 10th, have been steady all season long, finishing second in the East Division of the Big East. Providence lost in the first round of the conference tournament to Syracuse, but had won 10 of its previous 14 games.

Providence last appeared in the NCAA tournament in 1997, when the team upset Duke and advanced to the Elite Eight before falling 96-92 in overtime to Arizona.

"I think that we feel really good heading into the tournament," said guard John Linehan, known as one of the best defenders in the country. "I think that as long as we keep practicing hard and improving in practice, we can go a long way in this tournament."

Providence could be a little rusty for Friday's game, having only played twice over the past two weeks.

"I don't believe that is a factor," coach Tim Walsh said. "In tournament basketball, everyone has a lay-off except the teams that win their conference tournaments. I liked the way we played against Syracuse in the second half once we got adjusted so I think we will be ready. I am very, very confident in our basketball team."

The winner will face either North Carolina or Princeton in the second round on Sunday.

PROBABLE STARTERS: Providence - F Romuald Augustin (9.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg), F Erron Maxey (11.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg), C Karim Shabazz (8.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg), G Abdul Mills (11.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg), G John Linehan (10.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg). Penn State - F Gyasi Cline-Heard (15.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg), F Titus Ivory (15.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg), C Tyler Smith (7.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg), G Jon Crispin (7.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg), G Joe Crispin (19.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg).

HOW THEY GOT HERE: Providence - At-Large bid, Big East Conference. Penn State - At-Large bid, Big Ten Conference.

ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD: Providence - 14-14, 13 years. Penn State - 7-9, 7 years.