Many people around the 'Burgh expected to see this headline in their local newspapers this week, but with a different meaning. While the Pitt Panthers cagers were at home still licking their wounds from a last-second beating from Villanova, the Penn State University hoops team was at Madison Square Garden, clinching their first championship in the not-so-storied history of men's basketball. I know, I know, it's the NIT, but still, would you rather your year end like this...
or this...
Penn State did what a lot of other teams failed to do in the past...instead of sulking over an NCAA Tournament snub, they went into the NIT and decided to go out on top. I don't want to hear about how the NIT is inferior to the NCAA's and all that jazz, they still had to beat some quality teams to win, such as George Mason (the Cinderella of the 2007 NCAA's)...at Florida (only two years removed from back-to-back National Championships)...Notre Dame (featuring one of the best players in the nation, Luke Harangody (by the way, I hate that guy, total meathead. How is he good at basketball? He shoots like a retarded kid)) and Baylor (winners of 7 of their last 8, with big wins over Kansas and Texas in the Big 12 Tournament.) It was also pretty impressive seeing 36 busloads of supporters make the trip to NYC, turning the Garden into Bryce Jordan Center East and giving Penn State a distinct home-court advantage. Even JoePa made the trip, and had some interesting things to say...
And how refreshing is it to see a college stick with a coach and let him build from the bottom up? Ed DeChellis is in his 6th season at the helm of Penn State, and while he's had his struggles, the university had patience with him, instead of canning him after a few lousy seasons. In a game where coaches have become hired mercenaries and it's more business than basketball, it's good to see a team rewarded for sticking to their guns and letting a coach build things his way and not try to find the latest quick-fix big name who would leave as soon as another better opportunity came around. This team loses some of its bigger names next year, such as tournament MVP Jamelle Cornley (this guy would be a beast if he moved to tight end) and guard Stanley Pringle. But with First Team All-Big Ten performer Talor Battle and a host of other talent returning, along with the added boost in recruiting from the NIT win, the future of Penn State hoops is looking brighter than it once did.
I know I said I wouldn't post about basketball anymore but I had to do this. I apologize to everyone and promise it won't happen again.
Penn State did what a lot of other teams failed to do in the past...instead of sulking over an NCAA Tournament snub, they went into the NIT and decided to go out on top. I don't want to hear about how the NIT is inferior to the NCAA's and all that jazz, they still had to beat some quality teams to win, such as George Mason (the Cinderella of the 2007 NCAA's)...at Florida (only two years removed from back-to-back National Championships)...Notre Dame (featuring one of the best players in the nation, Luke Harangody (by the way, I hate that guy, total meathead. How is he good at basketball? He shoots like a retarded kid)) and Baylor (winners of 7 of their last 8, with big wins over Kansas and Texas in the Big 12 Tournament.) It was also pretty impressive seeing 36 busloads of supporters make the trip to NYC, turning the Garden into Bryce Jordan Center East and giving Penn State a distinct home-court advantage. Even JoePa made the trip, and had some interesting things to say...
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