Jay Paterno: 10 Reasons to Believe in Penn State Basketball

As I have traveled around the country, I have heard the same question over and over. “Why can’t Penn State seem to get it going in basketball?” When point guard Tim Frazier suffered a season-ending injury, Penn State hoops fans muttered, “Here we go again.”

As a long-time fan I refuse to be a pessimist.

I grew up watching Penn State basketball in Rec Hall, including a triple-overtime loss to top-10 Alabama in December 1982, Memphis State led by Keith Lee and even No. 1 DePaul.

In March of 1991, Rec Hall hosted the Atlantic 10 men’s basketball final; a Penn State win. In the ensuing NCAA Tournament, it defeated UCLA in the first round. In 2001 Penn State made its deepest recent run. Penn State opened the season with a stunning win at Kentucky — yes, at Kentucky. That was a big-time basketball team that defeated Michigan State, Temple and Illinois. In the NCAA Tournament, Penn State defeated Providence and North Carolina to move to the Sweet 16.

This year after Tim Frazier got hurt, there was a silver lining. Next year he returns with a more experienced team around him. This year the team will fight and compete. With perseverance it will find a way to steal some games, gain experience and confidence. That should lead to a better team and a better program.

Here are 10 reasons to believe.

1. Tim Frazier

I’ve been around this young man. He has “it,” He has presence and the unquestioned respect of his teammates. He reminds me of 2005 Penn State quarterback Michael Robinson in that his teammates trust him explicitly. When the tight games are on the line next year, he will drive the lane, take the big hit and make the lay-up. He can be a guy that wills his team to wins.

2. Pat Chambers

Speaking of a guy with the power of will . . . Pat is a force of nature. He is a cyclone, never backing away from challenges or from recruits because one of the so-called “power” programs is recruiting them. He’s embraced the history of this school from Bruce Parkhill to Joe Paterno.

3. Recruiting Energy

There is an energy level in recruiting that is a nearly frenetic pace. They are constantly at it.

4. Location, Location, Location

This has been undersold in the past but this staff talks about it. Penn State is within a four-hour drive of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC — the richest basketball talent in the world.

5. Big Ten Expansion

Bringing in Rutgers and Maryland puts Penn State games on in the television markets I mentioned above. Penn State will play games in those markets every year as well. Those two are good gets for Big Ten basketball, already the country’s best hoops conference.

6. Attitude

Spend any time around Chambers and his staff and you walk away a little tougher, a little cockier. It is infectious. It impacts everyone.

7. Defense

No matter the score this team plays hard defensively. It dives on the floor, it jumps after rebounds and it does the little things, forming habits that can be building blocks to success.

8. Love and Commitment

When Chambers talks about his players you will hear him say, “He may drive me nuts, but I love that kid.” That comes through when he recruits, and pretty soon parents and players will see that.

9. Reasons Why

Many people want to find reasons why it can’t happen, the basketball program right now talks about how it will happen. A wise man, and a pretty good coach, used to tell me, “You can complain about what you don’t have, or you can find a way to get it done with what you do have.” This staff buys that.

10. Fan Base

You may think I am crazy on this one.

But you’re wrong.

The people of this community will get behind this, the students will get behind this. We are all hungry for basketball excellence and when it arrives there will be a stampede. I was in the Bryce Jordan Center for the 2009 White Out game against Illinois. The arena was electric. The first season in the BJC, the team started 13-0 and the arena was packed. I saw the caravan of buses headed out I-80 to Madison Square Garden for the NIT finals. Pat gets the students and this town. They appreciate his engagement of the community. It will mesh.

11. It Will Be Done The Right Way

The commitment to academic and athletic excellence that has always been the way for all of Penn State athletics will ultimately prove a huge selling point with the right student-athletes.

I know I listed 11 reasons to believe, but as anyone around the Big Ten knows, the number 10 is flexible (could be 11, 12 or even 14).

This is a great time for our fans and for recruits to get on board. There comes a time when the dawn is coming, when the first rays are starting to break the darkness over Mount Nittany.

There are bright days just over the horizon.

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