"We're trying to do something special, something that Penn State hasn't seen before," head coach Pat Chambers said in his press conference on Saturday.
For decades, the belief in the Penn State basketball program has been non-existent. This year however, that narrative has quickly changed.
This team is trying to accomplish something that hasn’t been done since 2011, and that’s make the NCAA Tournament. It’s a goal that's haunted prior teams and coaches, but make no mistake, this year’s squad is different.
Currently, the Nittany Lions are (20-5) and are (10-4) in the Big Ten. A historic eight-game winning streak has propelled them to play as well as any team in the country right now. This is only the second time in Chambers' tenure that the Nittany Lions have met the 20 win mark. The only other time was in the 2017-2018 season when they went 26-13 and won the NIT.
There’s a lot of signs pointing to why this team is trending in the right direction this season. Here’s why.
Experience and Depth
Senior leadership has driven the Nittany Lions to play aggressive and fearless on both ends of the floor. Seniors Lamar Stevens, Mike Watkins, and Curtis Jones Jr. have played vital roles in the team’s success, and they each do it in vastly different ways.
Lamar Stevens:
Stevens made the decision to return for his senior season after testing the waters of the NBA draft process. Since then, he has embodied a true leader, on and off the court. Stevens ability to have composure and hit big shots in the clutch is a skill that past Penn State teams haven’t had.
Stevens is slowly closing in on the Penn State scoring record set by Talor Battle (2,213), but he has even bigger goals than that.
Winning a championship would validate everything for Stevens. All those hours in the gym putting up shots, his relentless ability to quit, his drive, all of that would come to fruition.
Mike Watkins:
Mike Watkins has been on a journey. It has not been easy for the fifth-year senior, but he’s made it. Through it all, the reinforcement from his teammates and coaches is what propelled “Big Mike '' to rebound to be a premier big-man in the Big Ten. Snatching rebounds left and right, Watkins has been a serious threat down low.
Watkins has been with the program for a long time, and he too knows how special this run has been.
Curtis Jones Jr. :
Curtis Jones Jr. is a graduate transfer. The day of the first game against Maryland Eastern Shore, Jones’ transfer was approved and he suited up to play that night. It took a few games to cultivate the chemistry, but eventually Jones found his fit, coming off the bench. Jones experience and knowledge of the game was absorbed by younger players like Seth Lundy and Izaiah Brockington as they have flourished under his tutelage.
Jones was not afraid to shoot it either, and that is what this Penn State team needed at certain points during the year. In one game in particular, Jones pitched in 18 points off the bench to help the Nittany Lions win a big game on the road against Michigan.
The team's production and depth off the bench is yet another reason why they’ve been having a terrific year.
"The Glue"
This is one of the most talented teams in Penn State history. Each player has defined roles and knows what’s expected of them. For John Harrar, it’s to be the glue that holds everything together.
The junior out of Wallingford, Pa (Strath Haven High School), has seen an increased role due to Mike Watkins getting into foul trouble. In his first two seasons, Harrar had experience, but only would play around 10-15 minutes per game. This season, more recently, he and Watkins have split time, and Harrar has benefited from the opportunity.
Without Harrar, the Nittany Lions don’t execute and perform as well as they have. While not being the most talented player on the roster, Harrar does all the little things that may go unnoticed.
Diving for loose balls, setting good screens, and hustling back on defense are some of the few attributes that complement Harrar’s play. His hard work has allowed for other Nittany Lion players to excel as well, which is why splitting time with Watkins has been beneficial for the team and Harrar down the stretch of the season.
Confidence in Coaching
Athletic Director Sandy Barbour was under fire, again. This wasn’t the first time the AD had received criticism for not firing a Penn State coach. There was a coach that Barbour didn’t fire a few years ago, and he went on to win a Big Ten Championship that same year. The coach, you ask? James Franklin.
Barbour’s confidence in Pat Chambers has remained consistent. She believes in what he is trying to do, similarly to Franklin in 2016. She is patient and optimistic that things will work out, and as for this year so far, it certainly has.
Chambers has grown and matured as a coach over his nine years in State College. There certainly have been ups and downs, but now Chambers is in a prime position to grow and build his program into what he always envisioned; an elite team that defends and rebounds, does all the little things the right way, and plays Penn State basketball.
The confidence doesn’t just come from Barbour, it's passed on to Chambers as well. The trust Chambers has in his staff and players is unwavering, he’s stuck with some of them through thick and thin. It’s shaped Chambers and made him and his program stronger because of it.
There's no guarantees in sports, so for analysts and fans projecting this team to go far is not a realistic expectation. What is realistic is to take things one game at a time. That's certainly the message coach Chambers is presenting to his team, because when you look too far ahead, that's when you lose.
This basketball team is a breath of fresh air for the Penn State community. They will still be viewed as underdogs for the rest of the season, and that’s okay. There’s only one thing that people and fans should do as a result, believe. Believe in this team, believe in these coaches, take things one game at a time, and know this: You better get on board now while you can, because this team is climbing.