No one to blame but themselves
The Lions had 2 good opportunities to lock up a spot in the Dance. All they had to do was win against Iowa and/or beat Purdue. They weren’t able to accomplish either and it bit them in the end by forcing them onto the proverbial bubble.
But my initially outrage directed at the Selection Committee and their selection of Arizona, is really misplaced. We can only blame ourselves (and by ourselves I mean Tim Curley and the scheduling gurus for Penn State), for our horrendous non-conference schedule. The Selection Committee clearly made an example of ASU last year and Syracuse in 2006, and yet we didn’t heed the warning seeing as we aren’t really tournament regulars. But all the blame rests with those responsible for scheduling at Penn State.
Way to go Tim Curley.
Releated Posts:
what is it with Curley’s poor scheduling? Does he not see the importance of a respectable schedule now?
Let’s be honest though. Basketball needs to build a foundation at PSU. Maybe this year was used as the stepping stone? But I suppose we have seen that before too.
It’s all about money. Why share revenues 50/50 with a big basketball name team like Xavier when we can pay Mount St. Mary’s School for the Deaf and Mute a mere $10,000 to show up at BJC. Tim Curley has mastered the art of squeezing every last penny out of its sports programs. And it has come to bite us in the ass.