BleacherCoaches.com

How different are the NCAA and NIT Tournaments? Take a look at the Final 4 in each. If Uconn or MSU wins, they have to face either North Carolina or Oklahoma in the finals. If PSU wins, they get either Baylor or San Diego State. Quite a difference, right? By the way, what is the SDSU mascot anyway?

Nice way to spin things, chief. Of course they will play a team who is "worse" than UNC or Villanova. Penn State, like the other NIT teams, were not good enough to make the NCAA tourney. Does that mean they shouldn't care if they win? Here's a better question: for the fans of a program who is routinely criticized on here, labeled as being pointless to even try and recruit players there, should those fans say "well, it doesn't matter"? Penn Satte, liek the other NIT schools (for the most part) are teams trying to get to the point where they can field NCAA Tournament teams in the future. It is a huge deal if Penn State makes the NIT final four or wins the NIT.

Why? They have already gotten 3 commitments for next year. One is a 3 star kid, the other 2 are not rated at all. Does PSU have any more scholarships to give out? Maybe one? Will going deep into the NIT really attract kids? Do you think real good prospective kids are watching the NIT right now? And what about next year? PSU will probably not make the NCAA tournament again, since everyone else in the Big Ten will be better. And DeChellis will be suckered into upgrading his non-conference schedule and that won't help matters either. No one will be attracted to PSU until they show they are a big time program. It doesn't work in reverse.

Very good argument between two guys I respect. The true questions are: Will Pitt schedule better non-conference opponents? Maybe they shouldn't because they will lose Blair, Fields, and Young. I give them a pass this year because they probably are no better than a 9 seed next year. Will PSU schedule a Top 25 this year in their non-conference schedule? I doubt it since they are still working to become something. They will have lost most of their talent from this year's team and can only hope that a few good players recognize. PSU will not make the tourney again next year and Pitt will make it as a #9 seed, at best.

I think they still have 1 more scholarship, Moldo, because they are chasing Taran Buie really hard.

As for next year, Deliverance is right, there's no chance in Hell Penn State makes the 64 next season. I dunno if I agree with all this criticism of Pitt's non-conference schedule. Their conference schedule is harder than anyone's in the country, and they beat UCONN twice. Pitt has a very good basketball team, but like Walt Harris, I am not sure Jaime Dixon can get you OVER the hump. Close to it, yes, but not over it.

I am happy with how this basketball season ended up for Penn State. I think there were a lot of times this year that they looked very motivated and dedicated to winning. But, at the same time, there were a lot of let downs. Losses are a part of basketball, but losing some of those games is beyond unacceptable for the talent this team had. I don't expect them to beat Notre Dame. What I am a little worried about it is whether or not DeChellis will ever have a better year than he had this season.

I mean yes, it is disappointing that PSU is not in the tourney. And in all reality the NIT championship does not even compare in the NCAA's. But losing in the first round of it most definitely does not help out in the long run. Looking at some positives though Brooks, Babb, and Jones have all posted career highs in the NIT. They will all return. The players that return will benefit greatly for just playing and not it being NJIT or St. Francis. A first round loss by 15 is not really much better. Their season would have ended 2 weeks ago and younger players would have gotten 0 playing and practice time.

If Pitt ever wants to take their team to the next level, they may want to actually schedule a quality non-conference schedule that amounts to something. As you all know, I am a very big Texas fan. I watched Texas beat Villanova by 9. I watched them lose to Michigan State by 4 this season, even though they should have won that game. Izzo is a better coach than Rick Barnes, but Michigan State took their game to the next level. Anyone watch Avery Bradley win the Slam Dunk Competition tonight on ESPN2? I doubt it. This Texas team is going to go a long way. Mark it down.

If anyone watched Avery Bradley tonight, he put up a ridiculous number over all other recruits. That's because he has amazing atheticism and not very many other players can compare. He showed that he'll be the next Kevin Durant and Rick Barnes has brought many others that will represents themselves very well for Texas.

deliverance wrote:If Pitt ever wants to take their team to the next level, they may want to actually schedule a quality non-conference schedule that amounts to something. As you all know, I am a very big Texas fan. I watched Texas beat Villanova by 9. I watched them lose to Michigan State by 4 this season, .

and they still lost in the conference tourney for the 73rd consecutive yr. & got bounced early in March Madness. But they had a heckuva non conference schedule???????????? Give it up!

If I was a PSU fan, I'd worry more about Stan Pringle trying to pick up a freshman girl in the library studying for his hotel and restuarant magagement mid-term or which football players will get arrested tonight...

http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/penn-stat ... rary-16971

UNREAL.