No sense in burying the lede here: David Jones is reporting that Chris Babb will transfer from Penn State. Along with the much-speculated departure of Andrew Ott–which Ed himself hinted at, Ed DeChellis’s frantic recruiting efforts of late make perfect sense.

It’s funny, when Ed-supporters compare DeChellis’s tenure to that of Dunn, they’re sure to point out that by the end, Dunn had players jumping ship left and right–even after that Sweet Sixteen run in 2001, Jon Crispin bailed for UCLA.  At the very least, Ed had been able to keep his players at Penn State.

Babb might have been maddeningly inconsistent with his shot, but the sophomore really came into his own as the season went on.  Babb averaged 9.3 points over the course of the season, but scored in double figures in the final four games of the year, when he hit 14 of 27 from beyond the arc. The best 3-point shooter for the Lions all year at 37% and 40% in conference play, Babb was also Penn State’s best on-ball defender. A big, physical, guard, Babb had a lot of learning to do on the court, but unarguably possessed the best raw basketball talent on the team, aside from Talor Battle.

And now he’s gone. I bet when he signed up to come here all the way from Texas–spurning schools like Iowa, Iowa State, TCU, in the process–he didn’t expect to be on a team that would start Big Ten play 0-12, finish 3-16, and then give the clearly over-matched head coach a vote of confidence.  How much do you think Babb wishes he’d committed to Baylor, to New Mexico–two teams that have advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament in the last two days?

Mike Babb said his son met with PSU coach Ed DeChellis on both Thursday and today (Friday) to talk about the situation. Mr. Babb wished not to speak for his son about his reasons for the transfer. But it’s easy to speculate the Nittany Lions’ 11-20 season that included a 3-16 record against Big Ten competition certainly didn’t help.

Usually I’d get indignant about a player who leaves a team that he gave his commitment too, but in this case, I wholeheartedly support Babb’s decision. Why the hell would anyone stay in this program, that’s going nowhere fast.  Babb will never be an NBA player, but now he could at least get a chance to play in the Big Dance.

So now, all you Ed apologists, when’s the cut-off? This is just going to be another excuse to keep DeChellis here for the forseeable future–I can see it now: “You can’t fire Ed, sure, he didn’t make the NCAA tournaments, but he lost one of his most important pieces.” Then, after Talor Battle, David Jackson, Jeff Brooks, and Andrew Jones graduate following next season, he’ll get another 3 years to build the program up.  And then, when he makes the NIT, it’ll be hailed as a great accomplishment, and he’ll get another extension.

[Although, anyone who thought Penn State actually had a shot at the Big Dance next season was kidding themselves. Chris Babb's departure doesn't change the fact that Andrew Jone couldn't be softer or a worse rebounder and that Jeff Brooks is afraid of the paint. The problem this year wasn't the guards, but rather painfully bad post play.]

Taran Buie has been already hailed as Ed DeChellis’s biggest “get” ever, even though God knows he wouldn’t have considered Penn State if his brother didn’t come here.  Even so, nobody expected him to step right into the lineup and play the 2. I hope you’re ready, kid, because Penn State is counting on you. But even if you suck, it’s no sweat off Ed’s back.

Welcome to the Jerry Dunn era, part 2. Except that Dunn made the NCAA Tournament twice in his 8 years. As long as Ed’s at the helm, we never will again. I hope Talor Battle declares for the draft. I hope Taran Buie somehow backs out of his commitment. The only way Tim Curley will do anything is for Ed to be publicly and roundly mocked, and that’s the only way it can happen.

Releated Posts:

1. Sorry, Ed, but it’s time for a change
2. Further Proof that Ed Can Not Coach
3. FIRE ED NOW: Bill Edwards Also Transferring
4. Ed DeChellis Signs Contract Extension
5. The Glass is Half Full

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