Can They Do It?

[The Ancient Enemy]

Then how has Nebraska ever been good in football? How many blue-chip football recruits do you think have come out of that state? I'll tell you. Last year, Baker Steinkuhler (Center) became the FIRST EVER 5-star prospect the state ever had.

Shocker, I know there is not a hotbed of basketball talent in Dubois and Port Matilda. But we are not talking about needing 15 good players a season. We're talking about starting with 3-star kids and winning some games you shouldn't win. The state of PA is not the best HS basketball in the country, but I don't think it outright stinks either. Besides that, PSU has been getting bball players from as far away as down here, recently.

What it takes is a change in approach. And Moldo is 100% right about the inbreeding with the coaching staff. That's why I said that I personally believe that DeChellis CAN get this program to the same level Harris had Pitt's football program... to the hump, but not over it.

Back to this location thing, there's probably a hundred examples of this "location" argument already been proven false. We go back to Buffalo in football. Turner Gill has recruited players from all over the place... to Buffalo, cold, dying Buffalo, at a school that had trouble winning ONE game a season! What has Brady Hoke done at Ball State, in the middle of Big Ten country with Notre Dame up the street? You can win anywhere. But you have got to have a battle plan to be able to do that. A lot of these schools go after short-term solutions that work as long as they should: in the short term. They don't have a long-term plan, and that's the culture of business in the whole country. Nobody reading this is dumb enough to not realize that this is all a business.

On top of all that... hasn't the PSU women's team been pretty dang good in the past? They got those girls to State College, didn't they?

To say you can't win at Penn State... That is wrong, it has been proven wrong by schools way worse positions than PSU, AND, on top of that, the women's team already proved it.

I said this to you guys when PSU's football team was down, and I was proven right then and will proven right again: the on-field (or on-court) product is the EASIEST problem to fix. Already have enormous national recognition, elite facilities, great academics, a conference with room to grow, and NO IMAGE PROBLEM.

Let's talk about a long-term battle-plan that is working for somebody. Temple was without question the laughing stock of college football. When they were kicked out of the Big East, they found themselves in no man's land until they landed in the MAC. Temple had a decision to make. They could either try to load the schedule with Sun Belt teams and I-AA teams and MAC teams, or they could take a gamble on putting their players through one of the hardest schedules EVER in an effort to make them better. They chose the latter. In 2005, Temple lost every game. Every one of those games, except one, was an insane ***-beating. A year later, they lost every game but one: Bowling Green, whom they lost to in 2005 69-7. In 2007, after starting 0-5, they won 4 of their last 7. In 2008, Temple finished 5-7 (one game from bowl eligibility). 4 of those 7 losses were by 6 pts or less, including 2 in OT. Temple's plan has not worked perfectly yet, because they have not made it to to a bowl game or won the conference. Penn State's basketball program is way better than Temple's football program. Don't tell me it cannot be done.

Even though I have given you many examples, those examples were even farther behind the 8-ball than PSU, because they were not large-conference programs. It is easier for large-conference programs to turn the ship around than it is for someone like Buffalo or Navy.

[shocker]

I am not disagreeing that some schools can "somtimes' get a kid to come to their rural location. Just like A LOT of players who make it to the NFL and NBA come from very very small schools!! There are many many exceptions.

Terrell Pryor said it best......state college is too country! And this came from a kid who doesnt necesarily live in the city. Take any inner city kid who is a PSU, Temple, Villanova and Pitt bball recruit and have them visit each of the schools and see where they end up going. Besides the fact they all (except psu) have great bball traditions, I would assume the location would have a very large part to do with their decisions.

What is there to do in State College?? Go to Pitt or Temple or Nova and you can see an NFL game and a NHL game all in the same weekend! Plus everything else those cities have to offer.

State college is a good fit for some but for the most part these young kids want exposure and want stuff to do other than sit a "the Diner".

Location isn't the only thing but it is a big part of the equation and you can't deny it.

[deliverance]

First off, I never said anything about PSU's girls. I don't know where you came up with that at. I like how try to compare everything with College Football. Is this because you know nothing about College Basketball? Recruiting in College Basketball has as much to do with who your AAU coach is than anything. College Basketball recruiting is a completely different world. You may be dealing with kids that are around the same age, but some of the ones in basketball already know they're on their way to the NBA. I can't say I have ever seen one get hyped up in High School and then not at least make it to the NBA. This is what happens when you only have to stay in college for one year. These kids are already cashing their checks in their first year on campus. Football makes you stay two years and guarantees of making it to the NFL are few and far between for almost any player. Tim Tebow is a perfect example. Most "experts" say there's no way he'll play quarterback in the NFL. The difference between College Football and College Basketball recruiting are huge and until you find more out about it, TAE, then you need to stop writing one page articles that are way off base.

[The Ancient Enemy]

We're not just talking about recruiting, we're talking about this location thing. See, once again, someone fails to notice the big picture and knee jerks at everything. Its nothing new. As for the example of the girl's, if the Penn State girl's team can recruit to State College, why is it impossible for the boy's team to do so? Haven't we had about 6000 examples of programs who "shouldn't be able" to do it, end up doing it?

It's not about football and basketball, its about approach. You have to have a plan. Penn State has one, and hey, if it doesn't work, so be it. Fire DeChellis and think of something else. The point is that theya re at least making the attempt now, which is new for them. If it doesn't work... start over with a new coach that actually has a vision. They can do it if they try, V-I-C-T-O-R-Y.

This is not Wagner or St. Francis. Penn State plays in a big conference and they have a lot going for them. Its easier for bigger conference teams to get their feet on the ground. Penn State's problem has been a lack of effort in basketball, and that's from the administration. That's what has to change. They are trying to get this straightened out, which is 100% more than what we can say about 5 years ago.

Oh, and as for the most recent attempt to pull the wool over people's eyes, unless TJ Ford is a 20 year NBA veteran, Texas has missed the NCAA tourney twice since 1988. So much for them being terrible before Ford showed up.

[frostlion]

Penn State's problem has been a lack of effort in basketball, and that's from the administration.

B-I-N-G-O

[El-Moldo]

In comparing boys with girls in college basketball, location does make a difference as boys are more apt to seek out "things to do", especially if you come from an urban environment. I mean, look at Stanley Pringle. Look at what boredom did to him. But of course, John Amaechi did find stuff to do while at Penn State.

[frostlion]

Having lived in both State College and Morgantown, I can honestly say there are "more things to do" in State College. So why can WVU field a very competitive basketball team? I think the "urban vs. rural" argument only goes so far....

[shocker]

Location is only part of the problem! Not the entire thing. If any of u truly follow colege bbal then u would have heard the interview where Bobby Knight said that State Colleges location is killing them for bball recruiting. Believe it or not but he said it and I think the man would have somewhat of an idea of bball recruiting. Since everyone on here keeps comparing this to fball (and girls bball) then what is your explaination to Terrelle Pryor saying State College is "to country"?? Isn't this location??
Location does have a major impact on bball recruits, along with many other things.

[The Ancient Enemy]

Terrelle Pryor chose Ohio State because of Jay Paterno and he wants to actually have a career. There's no one, including the PSU fans, who will disagree with his decision.

Except Todd Boekman.

There is no reason why Penn State cannot be competitive in basketball, or any other sport. Like I said 70 times, it is easier for larger-conference teams to get going, and on top of that, we are not talking about Marist here! A committment to success in basketball is what they are trying to establish.

It is amazing that you guys even CONSIDER the possibility that ANY school has NO chance to get going! But you gotta have a plan, and you gotta actually make an effort. PSU's past failures were because of a lack of committment by the administration. Hopefully this experiment with the weak schedule will work out and they'll win a nice share of conference games. If not, its been 5 years, time to fire Eddie and go back to the drawing board.

As a fan, I'm okay with PSU at this current point, because I feel they are changing the mentality, slowly. They are clearly making an effort. If there was no effort, it would be just like it was 4-5 years ago where I couldn't possibly care any less.

[deliverance]

Northwestern gets better recruits than Penn State in men's basketball. Look it up. Enough said. Penn State can't recruit in basketball and I don't know what the reason is. Maybe it's because they have no tradition. They have terrible coaches. The players like to whip out their privates in the library. It's probably a combination of those things.