Penn State Basketball Update

[abpk2903]

There are only 2 teams in the Big Ten that have no chance at the NCAA's right now and that is Indiana and Iowa. Everyone else (yes, and including NW) has a chance and are pretty good basketball teams. Penn State is hovering in the top 5 in the big ten right now which is huge because the tourney this year will be brutal and the top 5 get the first day off. It will be hard enough to win 3 in a row in this conference tourney, impossible to win 4 in a row.

[abpk2903]

The win at Mich State is really starting to get the nittany lions recognized. They received 13 votes in the coaches poll today and are in the tourney right now according to braketology on ESPN.

[El-Moldo]

Yes, RPI is important. There are LOTS of polls and rankings. Take for example Jeff Sagarin's basketball rankings. Did anyone know that he has this season's Penn State's basketball schedule ranked 140th in the country. That's gotta help with the old win-loss record, now doesn't it?

[Coach]

Yes it does and we admit it...too bad you are just hung up on it.

I already posted why I think this happened and now it looks like a smart move by state because the team grew up a bit at the beginning of the year. Should they not make the tourney because of it...well then, so be it.

[El-Moldo]

And when you consider how POWERFUL the Big Ten is based on the conference RPI info, what does that say about PSU's overall schedule. I mean since the Big Ten is so tough, and PSU's schedule is 140th with it, how much of a joke then is their ooc schedule?

[deliverance]

PSU's RPI as of last night was 68. That is borderline for getting in the tournament with a decent record. I really think they will make it. Pitt's non-conference schedule is only a little better than PSU's to be completely honest. Pitt had one quality non-conference win and that was at Florida State. However, the Big East has 7 quality teams whereas the Big 10 has 2.

[El-Moldo]

So let me get this straight. Pitt's schedule was ranked 17th by Sagarin, PSU's was 140th. Now after we've heard that the Big Ten has the best conference RPI, then how can you say that Pitt's non-conference schedule isn't much better than Penn State's? If Pitt is playing in a lower rated RPI conference, then Pitt's non-conference schedule MUST be night and day HARDER than PSU's. NIght and day!!!!

[deliverance]

Moldo, I wasn't saying Penn State's non-conference schedule was harder than Pitt's. I was saying you can't brag about Pitt's non-conference schedule. You are very knowledgeable about sports and you can tell they player a weak non-conference schedule. Take a look at who they have played since. Now that's a brutal schedule. That's why their RPI is so high. It's definitely not due to a tough non-conference schedule.

[El-Moldo]

Wait a minute. You just told us that Pitt's non-conference schedule "wasn't much better" than PSU's. Obviously it is when you compare the rankings of schedules. And what is so brutal about Penn State's recent schedule. Michigan at home? Iowa at home? Indiana on the road? The MSU win was a coup, but what's so brutal about the other games. Do you honstly think the wins against Indiana, Iowa and Michigan significantly improved their RPI?

[deliverance]

Titan, you totally misunderstood what I was saying. I was talking about Pitt's schedule being brutal lately. They have played some very good opponents. That's why Pitt's RPI is so high. I wasn't talking about PSU. You read this board enough to know I'm not a PSU lover. I am just pointing out that Pitt's non-conference schedule is just barely above PSU's non-conference schedule. At some point, if Pitt ever wants to take it to the next level in the NCAA tournament, they will have to schedule tougher non-conference games. Pitt has a nice team. I have said that all year. They play very well every year in the Big East. However, they schedule next to no one before conference games. That won't get you ready for the tournament to play teams like UNC. Will it show again this year? I guess we will see.