Penn State Basketball Update

[abpk2903]

Penn State is on a 3 game win streak with wins @ Indiana, home against Michigan, and home against Iowa. Today was the fullest I have seen the BJC in years and a great atmosphere (for PSU basketball). The Nittany Lions are now 16-5 overall and 5-3 in the big ten. A full week off and then they travel to Michigan State to play the Spartans followed by Michigan away a few nights later. Dare I say the Nittany Lions turned the corner? I think we will be able to tell better in about 2 weeks.

[deliverance]

They have a good shot at being in the tournament if they don't collapse. The non-conference schedule will not help, but a 11-7 record in the Big 10 should get them in.

[El-Moldo]

Of the 5 conference teams they have beaten, only Purdue will make the Big Dance, and it took a home game and two missing Purdue starters to win that one. Northwestern, Indiana, Michigan and Iowa will not make the field of 64. PSU has 10 games left, 6 on the road. They should beat Indiana again, and could beat Michigan and Iowa. If they win 2 out of those 10, they will have a record of 18-13 before the Big Ten Tournament. With their poor RPI because of their non-conference schedule, even a 19-14 record after the Big Ten Tournament will not get them into the Big Dance.

[deliverance]

Penn State's remaining schedule looks like this:
@ Michigan State...I don't like their chances in this one. Michigan State is very tough at home.
@ Michigan...They lost to PSU at the BJC by 15. They are hit and miss this year. It's a toss up.
Wisconsin...They beat PSU by 4 earlier this season. This will be a game the Lions need.
@ Purdue...Purdue is getting healthy and should beat PSU in this one.
Minnesota...The Lions will get Tubby Smith's boys at home, but they already lost to them by 20. Minnesota should win.
@ Illinois...Playing at Illinois is not an easy task.
@ Ohio State...This is a must win for PSU. Ohio State is beatable this year. PSU will need this one.
Indiana...PSU win.
Illinois...Toss up at the BJC.
@ Iowa...PSU beat them already. I like their chances again. PSU win.

As I look at their schedule, they have a decent shot at making the tournament. It's going to take a few big wins from their team. With a 16-5 record right now, they will need to go 6-4 to get in. Anything less will probably not get them in due to their week non-conference schedule.

[frostlion]

Don't see it happening (Big Dance), but would be nice. A couple rounds in the NIT is the probable outcome. No matter what, it gets Big Ed another year or two.

April 18 is B/W game and we get to see Newsome take the field, that's what I'm looking forward to, other than the Stillers winning the "Band for the Other Hand"

[WPIAL~Titan]

ARE YOU READDDDY FOR EDDIEEEEEEE???????????????????????

IUP could hang with PSU men's team. I am not kidding.

[nLions1]

Hanging and winning are two different things WPIAL. If they hang and PSU comes away with the win, it really doesnt matter.

[Former Wildcat]

Why doesn't PSU schedule a better non-league slate? Currently, on ESPN.com, they are not even listed by Joe Lunardi as a potential tourney team, while two teams with losing Big 10 records, OSU and Wisky, are in the field. And Lunardi knows the bracketing thing as well as anyone. I think he has picked the entire tourney field except for one team for the past 4 years. The reason why PSU is not considered is their non-con schedule. In today's game, teams have to challenge themselves out of conference. The days of Georgetown playing Hawaii teams and Syracuse not leaving New York until the second week of January are over. Why hasn't Penn State caught on to this? It hurts the whole conference when a team with a winning record in conference has no out of conference resume.

[WPIAL~Titan]

I know why PSU's OOC schedule stinks...they're afraid of STONY BROOK!

[Coach]

I think it is simple why their OOC stunk... They needed to learn how to win and they needed some poor opponents to play as they tried to get better. It might keep them from making the tournament, but it has put them in a spot where people are starting to notice them. I have been to 5 games so far this year and the crowds are getting bigger and bigger every game. There were around 12K at the Iowa game and many are expecting a sellout vs. Wisconsin. If they get to 20+ wins and don't make it, that might still be better than an early bounce from the tourney. I obviously want them to make the NCAAs but I also know they could maybe get a few more games in at the NIT if their OOC schedule keeps them from the dance. The nonchalant bball fans are coming to the BJC because the team there has an excellent record at this point. I am glad they scheduled junk because now they have some excitement built up around the program. They'll never be a UConn, but they can be better than they've been for sure. A win at MSU this weekend would be awesome... Winning is the first thing you need to do to build a program and they are doing that. Playing a great OOC schedule and being .500 at this point would do very little for building.