I also appreciate By George. Now, back to the game and an article about Josh Reaves from Fairfax - see
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/sports/men_basketball/article_8938bd9a-bc0a-11e6-b4ec-db3a5a3b5c1d.html:
"Through five games, Penn State was left without one of its key players, and as a result the Nittany Lions got off to an up-and-down start at 2-3.
Guard Josh Reaves had to sit out the first patch of games with a leg injury, but he returned to the court for the last four games, helping guide his team to a 4-0 record in that span. It’s no coincidence the fortunes of the Lions (6-3) changed once Reaves was reintroduced to the fold as they now prepare to go for five-straight wins at 7 p.m. Wednesday versus George Mason (6-3).
Reaves may not have as good a shot as Shep Garner, and he might not be the shot-blocking sensation that Mike Watkins is, but he is the team’s proverbial energizer bunny who makes everyone around him that much better.
'It has felt really good,' Reaves said of his return. 'I was just trying to get back into playing shape. It has been a while, five games. But, I have been here before. I had mono last year and missed six games, so I’m just trying to get back into the rhythm of things.'
'My teammates have really been helping me,' he added. “I’ve been getting to the gym a lot more, working on conditioning. So that really helps to keep me in shape and keep me healthy.'
In his four games back since the injury, Reaves hasn’t necessarily scored at a high rate, but his fingerprints have been prevalent all over the team’s stat sheet.
'His energy, his passion, his juice, was just incredible [against George Washington],' Coach Patrick Chambers said. 'He led us in the second half to make that huge run and take the lead. The younger guys really followed his lead.'
Against the Colonials, he helped spark a second-half comeback with 8 rebounds. Against Georgia Tech he collected 9 points, five rebounds, and four steals. In the win over Wright State he scored 12 points, grabbed four boards, and had two steals.
In the win over the Yellow Jackets, he nailed his first 3-pointer of the season with the shot clock winding down to put the game out of reach, with under two minutes to go.
One way or another, he finds ways to help his team win.
Reaves said missing an entire month with mononucleosis, helped him cope with spending an extended amount of time on the sidelines.
'I have seen it before, but I was allowed to travel this time, and that really helped,' Reaves said. 'I could talk during games and huddles about what I see on the bench. Coach [Chambers] says I am a coach on the bench regardless if I’m playing or not. I like to be vocal. '
While Chambers expects Reaves’ scoring output to increase as he continues to regain fitness from the injury, the sixth-year coach praised his ability to always find a way to impact the game in other ways.
''The guy is ego-less, he loves this team, and he loves this program,' Chambers said. 'He’s not been starting games and he’s O.K. with it, he embraces whatever role we throw at him.'"
