Chambers making headway at Penn State

When Penn State guard Allen Roberts got off the phone with Patrick Chambers, he was sold.

Chambers, who is from Newtown Square, is entering his third season as the head coach of the Nittany Lions. His fiery personality and coaching style have lured the likes of Roberts and D.J. Newbill - a Philadelphian - to Happy Valley.

Roberts said Chambers' attitude was magnetic when he first talked to him on the phone.

"That conversation is something I rarely have with a college coach," Roberts said. "He kept it real with me, we discussed things outside of basketball. It was bigger than just basketball. He's helping me develop into a man."

Roberts is attending Penn State as a graduate student after finishing his undergraduate studies at Miami of Ohio, but he still has a year of college basketball eligibility. Roberts said Chambers' message to the team is clear.

"That communication right there between the player and the head coach, it's very exciting to have because you have that open-door policy to communicate with them to try and get things done the way he wants them and the way you need to get it done," he said.

Chambers opened his door for top recruits well before he accepted the head coaching position at Penn State. From 2004 to 2009, he helped Villanova coach Jay Wright bring in some of the top classes in the country.

Chambers' efforts to strengthen Penn State haven't come to fruition yet, but he has fortified the Lions' pipeline to Philadelphia and Southeastern Pennsylvania - four players on the roster are from that region.

"If we can stay healthy, we can do some great things," Chambers said. "We need to continue to get better. We have to defend and rebound. I really want us to be in the top half of the Big Ten this year."

With Newbill alongside a healthy Tim Frazier - the point guard missed last season with a ruptured Achilles tendon - in Penn State's backcourt this season, Chambers has set the table for his team to climb from its last-place Big Ten finish last season.