Now that everyone understands the power of Penn State Football again, maybe it’s time for college basketball fans to realize the Nittany Lions are, maybe for the first time, in the midst of a serious rebuilding stage. Penn State, who just finished a stretch where they played five consecutive ranked opponents, finally came through in the end and defeated a top-notch program, while boosting the hopes and future of their program as well.Early in Big Ten play, after the Lions finished 8-3 in non-conference play, Ohio State thumped the young team and it seemed as if this season wouldn’t be any different from seasons of the past.
Not since 2001, when Penn State knocked off #2 seed North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament before losing to Temple, have the Nittany Lions finished with a winning record. Let’s just say Penn State hoops haven’t been the strongest of programs throughout the years either. The Men’s team has a very unimpressive one appearance to the Final Four, and that was way back in 1954. They have never won a National Championship, much less ever gotten to the game in the first place. There were many years where the Women’s team could have taken it to their Men’s team anyday, anywhere, while not taking any credit away from the great Lady Lion teams put together by Rene Portland.
When former head coach, Jerry Dunn, resigned after another losing season, Ed DeChellis was brought in to try and stem the tide. Two years later the Nittany Lions were still looking for their 1st Big Ten road win.
Just like that, it happened, at the expense of Northwestern. The win vs. Northwestern was huge for the young and open-minded Nittany Lions.
Entering a stretch that included five ranked opponents in seven games, including Iowa (1st place in the Big Ten, not ranked), the Nittany Lions just hoped to get through the games without getting manhandled at the same time. Well, I think Nittany Lion Nation got more than they could have asked for, and at the same time also got a glimpse of what good things could happen in the future.
The only game the Lions got thumped was in Wisconsin. Otherwise, the Nittany Lions played just as well as their opponents (including Michigan State, scUM and Ohio State). It looked as if for a moment the Nittany Lions would upset the Spartans but Michigan State prevailed after closing out with a 12-2 run, only winning by a modest score of 69-60. Exactly a week later, the Nittany Lions would overcome a 16 point deficit and defeat the Fighting Illini on their home court.
It doesn’t seem like Illini fans are ready to pop the cork in Champaign any time soon after all.
The toughest stretch of the season is over for the young and exciting Nittany Lions but with two games left with Indiana, and one with both Iowa and Wisconsin, any fan knows those games aren’t cake walks in any sense either.
All things considered, the Lions could finish with a good enough record for an NIT appearance. For Nittany Nation, this is a best case scenario and one we would gladly accept.
How the Nittany Lions finish is just a matter of time. With so many young players it is tough for such a small and inexperienced team, in College Basketball’s toughest conference, to stay consistent enough week-in and week-out for a victory, not to mention the end of the season.
Travis Parker has been a great senior leader for the Nittany Lions and junior star Geary Claxton is having a career year. Mix in a little of Ben Luber’s great defense and the bench play of Mike Walker (I’m still trying to figure out why he doesn’t start) and the Nittany Lions could be headed for great things in the future, maybe even as early as this season.
Who would have thought Penn State would defeat Illinois? It just goes to show you how much momentum is a part of all college sports. Can the Nittany Lions grasp that momentum and win the Big Ten Tournament? Doubtful, but not impossible.
DeChellis has done his best to try and turn around the Nittany Lion basketball program. His formula just may be working not only with fans, but with his young players also.
For the record, Penn State actually hasn’t changed much, other than the mood, over the past few years. While the football team is all about the legacy and doing things the Penn State way, the basketball team is still looking for it’s first ever Big Ten Conference title. But while Penn State has always known how to party in State College, the difference now is that everyone wants to party with them, including the basketball team.
Nittany Lion Nation fever is all over the country right now; just ask the Illini how dangerous we can be if taken lightly. The roar is back in Happy Valley, not just for the football team, but for the basketball team too. Will it stick around? Who cares? Right now if you’re a Penn State fan, you are on top of the world.
We are… spectacular right now.
Copyright ©2006 Colin Cerniglia. All Rights Reserved.