What do you do when you're a fanboy blogger who can't find the time to tune into coach Chambers' weekly presser? You call in to the Nittany Lion hotline (or in this case, tweet). Chambers' weekly radio show is 6 PM every Thursday during the season with Steve Jones and is brought to you live at Damon's in State College.
One of the unseen aspects of Chambers new program is his scheduling philosophy. The non-conference schedule this year was basically in place before Chambers ever stepped on campus. However, all of PSU's home-and-home series have concluded (Duquesne, St. Joe's, and Ole Miss), so the schedule is open this year with no prior commitments from the previous regime.
As we noticed under DeChellis, how you schedule can determine your postseason fate. The NCAA rules state that any team can play 29 total games or 27 games plus a no-more-than-four game exempt event (like the Old Spice Classic, Hall of Fame Tip-Off, etc.). The Big Ten plays an 18-game conference schedule so you could play 11 games, or 9 games plus a preseason tourney. Most teams participate in the exempt tourneys (mostly run by ESPN) because it offers more games against better competition to prepare for conference play.
I asked Chambers about his scheduling philosophy on the show. His reply was something I've been hoping to hear from a Penn State coach for a long time:
My scheduling philosophy is we gotta go out and compete. We gotta find a variety of styles of play because that’s what the Big Ten is. It always helps recruiting when you play some of the better teams in other conferences.
It should prepare us, because that’s what you need to do, you need to be prepared for the Big Ten and that’s the goal. It’s not about wins for me, it’s about getting these kids ready, preparing them for the Big Ten.
That certainly sounds like he's not afraid to schedule anybody. I'm curious to see how tough he ends up scheduling for next year. Penn State could end with more exciting marquee games than Ole Miss and St. Joe's.
I also asked how the schedule was looking so far for next year. Chambers didn't get into any specifics, but he did mention their plans to play in the 2012 Puerto Rico Tip-Off in November. This 8-team exempt tournament will be played sometime around Thanksgiving in San Juan. The field hasn't been announced yet and might not be until April, judging by last year's announcement.
The exempt tournament will offer PSU four games, but how that's formatted remains to be seen. These 8-team fields were originally designed to just have 3 games, but the NCAA allows a team to play in four-game preseason events. I'd imagine this led to some teams declining invitations to these 3 game contests, so they could get a fourth in another event. ESPN offered a quick fix of this last year by adding a silly fourth game that did nothing but increase the chances two teams played twice. Marquette ended up playing Norfolk State twice this season thanks to the Paradise Jam (a 31 point win at home, and a 2 point win in the tourney).
However, according to the reported field for the 2012 Paradise Jam, ESPN might have created a format for all of their exempt tournaments that will eliminate the possibility of two games against the same team. Presumably, that setup will split the 8 teams into 4-team pools where they could play each pool team once (3 games). The fourth game could be crossover games that would determine placing in the field. This logical theory came from Chris Dobbertean at Blogging the Bracket. The only issue with this is 4 games at one site makes for one lengthy and exhausting trip.
Regardless, PSU will get four games against likely a quality field. The only confirmed entry at this point is Xavier. There is also a rumor of Tennessee. Xavier apparently thought the field was LOADED, but considering they thought it was going to be announced 4 months ago, maybe some teams fell through. From the BtB link above, Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, North Carolina, and Syracuse are all accounted at other preseason events. I'm not sure how loaded a field can be with Tennessee and PSU as the SEC and Big Ten representatives.
We'll keep an eye on potential scheduling news until next year's schedule is released in the summer.
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0 recs | 33 comments
Scheduling
should have 2 of the 3 of Nova, Temple and Pitt every year, a top 25 program, another major conference program, and mid major, and then the usual assortment of 100-250 RPI schools with an emphasis on in-state such as Duquesne, Penn, Lehigh, Bucknell, etc. Of course, that’s assuming they would all deign to play us.
Right now the home schedule generally has one attractive game and 6 or so cupcakes. We can certainly put together a more attractive home slate which not only helps the team prepare, but has the added bonus of generating revenue. There have been a few games on the schedule that have me shaking my head as the what benefit they serve. At least with football you’ll sell the tickets.
I still like the idea of a Pennsylvania state championship tourney. With everyone playing in different conferences there is slim chance you’d see an opponent twice, unless they are already on the OOC schedule. Make a big T-day weekend tourney that rotates around the state and invite Pitt, Temple, PSU, Villanova, and any 4 of St Joe, Lasalle, Drexel, Duquesne, Robert Morris, and UPenn. That would be a whole lot more exciting than a deodorant tournament in Puerto Rico. I know, I know, the Big 5 are already entrenched in their ways, so it would probably never happen.
PSU Mudder - February 3, 2012
I agree about in-state teams.
There are so many PA D-1 programs, many of them legit. Bucknell particularly needs to get back on as a guaranteed game. I’d imagine we’ll see Pitt or Villanova soon, too. I know Chambers has already expressed interest in playing Pitt.
Eric Gibson - February 3, 2012
Coach Chambers emits positive energy
I have a dream that one day PSU Men’s BB will be a perenial 5 or better seed in the NCAA tournement. I think Coach Chambers really brings the attitude to get this done. It is really refreshing.
I would not say that this years team is anywhere close to making the tournemnt let alone getting a decent seed but I do think we have exceeded expectations. Especially at home in the Big 10. It will be exciting once we start scheduling good teams out of confernece and be really competetive.
psuboy - February 3, 2012
An improvement of the schedule can be made but I don't think they have to go overboard with it
I think the philosophy of last year’s schedule – a few challenges, not so many cupcakes that will kill RPI was a good way to get into the tournament and led to a top 5 schedule in the nation.
I see no benefit to playing a team like Kentucky and losing by 35 points. You can say that PSU can use that as a learning experience – but I don’t how a team can “learn” how to get taller, faster, and more talented.
I think you can find a happy medium with some more mid level teams, less cupcakes, and hopefully a good draw in the B10-ACC Challenge.
mundyscorner99 - February 3, 2012
There is some benefit
If you bring Kentucky to town you put butts in seats. That raises revenue, excitement, recruiting interest, the whole bit. See: Pitt’s interest in playing Penn State in football.
PSU Mudder - February 3, 2012
Kentucky isn't coming here
PSU would have to go there. Like when Jerry Dunn took them there and won. The best PSU would get is a neutral site game.
Hey, i would love to see more marquee games at home and I think that will only happen if PSU becomes a consistently good team. Since you made the comparison to football, Boise St is a perennial top 10 team and they can’t even get a home game against a big name school. And PSU is far from a top 10 team in basketball.
My point is that it isn’t going to improve a team by getting smashed. Yes those things may be valid but a recruit watching a team get smashed isn’t going to make them want to come to school there either.
mundyscorner99 - February 3, 2012
I still think there's something to be said for being willing to play top 5 teams.
To be the best, you have to beat the best. Yes, there’s a much greater chance we get blown out, but the Big Ten will have top 5 teams, too. It’s all about preparation for conference play. A 30 point shellacking doesn’t look good on the surface, but there are lessons to be learned about what it takes to reach that level.
Besides, I don’t think we’ll ever be this bad with Chambers as head coach again.
Eric Gibson - February 3, 2012
Well, no guts no glory.
We’ll never pull off an upset win if we don’t play anyone good enough to upset. I’d be curious to see how far this goes, though, and if we ever manage to get anything remotely resembling a home game from a big name program.
Watching Coach Chambers is great because there are a million little ways he reminds you how far we’ve come. It’s hard not to get excited when you hear him speak. We’ve still got a ways to go, though.
dwf5095 - February 3, 2012 via mobile
Well, no guts no glory.
We’ll never pull off an upset win if we don’t play anyone good enough to upset. I’d be curious to see how far this goes, though, and if we ever manage to get anything remotely resembling a home game from a big name program.
Watching Coach Chambers is great because there are a million little ways he reminds you how far we’ve come. It’s hard not to get excited when you hear him speak. We’ve still got a ways to go, though.
dwf5095 - February 3, 2012 via mobile
Thanks Eric, you're killing it today.
I love Chambers’ #attitude about scheduling. You don’t pull punches on your players if you can spin a blowout loss into motivation to improve.
Now, if only we could find a way to get our shooting to an average level.
dbl5030 - February 3, 2012
I think saying "to be the best..." is nice, but I don't really think that is a realistic goal now or in the near future
Coach Chambers is trying to build something, and I think it takes some time. Based on the fact that there is literally no offense on this team for large stretches of time I think that taking small steps is a better way to go. I see this team as a 5-6 B10 win team next year too. Consistency in making the NCAA tournament more frequently than the census should be the goal, and I think that can be done by scheduling a certain way (i.e. not like 2008-09, but like last year) and then after the program is in better shape taking on more of those challenges. I think it is really based on the make-up of the team, with a more veteran team, sure, playing a marquee name could provide something to build off of. Conversely, I think building confidence in a young team can be better achieved by playing more equivalent talent early on before building up to B10 play.
mundyscorner99 - February 3, 2012
reply fail to above
mundyscorner99 - February 3, 2012
I understand what you're saying.
Neither one of us is right or wrong. I just prefer to take the chance to be relevant in the early-going of the season. It offers the chance to really get the fan interest and momentum going. If we lose by 20+, we still can fall under the ’we’re young’ excuse.
You’ll have a hell of a time convincing PSU fans that Iona would be a great game to watch. Even if the RPI benefit is better in the long run.
Eric Gibson - February 3, 2012
We can certainly agree on trying to generate fan interest
Besides the free first game of the season, I’d be curious if the “actual” (not announced) attendance of the other non conference games would be enough to actually create a full BJC of 15K+. It is a fun place to be when there is a good game. I was fortunate enough to be at the Illinois game (when you tackled Talor Battle) and it was an unbelievable scene – the best hoops game I’ve ever been to. I hope they can build a consistent program where people will not only come out for big names but for all games. When I turn on other B10 games and see the sellout crowds for EVERY opponent – it is embarrassing when conversely it looks like a thousand people for even some of the B10 games.
And I agree with everything you are saying to, I appreciate the discussion.
mundyscorner99 - February 3, 2012
I think a good example of fearless scheduling was Michigan in 2009.
They beat Duke and UCLA in the non-con, jumpstarting their first NCAA season in years. Most teams, even the best ones, are in a lull to start the year. If PSU plays Kansas at the start of the year, the game is infinitely more meaningful to PSU. You just never know what might happen and the reward outweighs the risk IMO.
That said, I don’t think the best team in the country would ever fill the BJC in December. But we gotta get rid of these 1000-2000 person crowds. The student turnout from the past two games are what we should be aiming for first. Play Duke or somebody of that caliber, and they’ll come.
Eric Gibson - February 3, 2012
I understand not everyone is a basketball fan but I definitely think the crowds can be improved
I’m not going to tell people what to do with their money but I think PSU tries to do what they can with giveaways and promotions to get people to come out. Although I didn’t go to PSU, my college years were from 1993-97 and I guarantee I would’ve been at pretty much every game, especially because you could only see a few on TV each year back then. I think PSU basketball is on a similar level to that period of time, so I’m sure why the crowds are what they are, but I think people will come out if they are a consistent winner.
My vote is for North Carolina since I’m a huge fan of the team, but they rarely go to true road games like that (although they did play a home and home with Rutgers in recent years) and a lot of the bigger names seem to be doing neutral sites like MSG. Or PSU may have to travel there. It would be nice to have them at home though.
I did figure out which game will be my annual trip up for a game this season and it looks to be the final game vs Michigan. Hopefully they can pull a big upset.
mundyscorner99 - February 3, 2012
UNC played Rutgers...
so that recruits in NYC and North Jersey could see them play in person and the staff could get some other recruiting in.
Esteban d' Amur - February 3, 2012
That's correct
Same way Duke seems to make a trip every year to NYC.
mundyscorner99 - February 3, 2012
Not many recruits..
in central Pa.
Esteban d' Amur - February 4, 2012
Duke ain't playing...
at the BJC. They’d probably pay PSU in Philly if PSU work out a deal to play at the Wells Fargo Center.
Esteban d' Amur - February 3, 2012
You're probably right.
Doesn’t mean you can’t try with a 2-for-1 or something.
But yeah, I don’t want it to sound like I’m implying Chambers can call up a Duke and get them on the schedule for next year like its nothing. That is not how it works.
Eric Gibson - February 3, 2012
Duke only plays...
teams like St. John’s because they get to play in the Garden.
Esteban d' Amur - February 4, 2012
There's got to be a balance.
If you start scheduling cupcakes, you’ll end up with a young and overconfident team. If you schedule too ambitiously, you’ll end up 12 Robert Boldens. I’m all about building a bit of confidence against weak competition, but there also has to be a tangible goal to aspire to. Getting beat down by Kentucky allows for a “this is what real basketball looks like, this is what you guys need to be striving for” teaching moment.
dbl5030 - February 3, 2012
As a student, we need games to get excited about
Sorry, but playing Vermont Community College is not going to cut it. We need to play either a team that is recognized nationally, or a PA team.
If Chambers starts winning consistently, the fan support will be there. Look at the NIT run a few years back, the support for the team was off the charts. We start getting recruits and winning games I have no doubt the student section will rally behind Chambers and make the BJC a formidable place to play.
BTW – there was a good article posted on twitter by Ben Jones about how PSU averages more students in the student section than Duke. Granted, the numbers are probably skewed by great turnouts at the THON game and some Big Ten games, but PSU has some real potential to be a good basketball school, and I think Chambers can do it for us.
psubach2013 - February 3, 2012
I was sitting right behind Battle
when he made that redonk 3 to win the George Mason game in the first round. The crowd went absolutely nuts. The interest in basketball is definitely there, it just needs to get coaxed out every once in a while. I think Chambers is the guy that can do that on a consistent basis, it’s just a matter of how long it takes him to get the right talent to win.
LAPSU - February 3, 2012
I believe that trey
was to send the game to OT.
Three of us were watching at a bar in Jacksonville.
We went nuts – and evreryone looked over and thought we were nuts.
Awsome.
TonyLion - February 4, 2012
Forgot to mention
Most of the Jville alumni club made the one hour trip to Gaineville for the Florida Game.
We had a bunch of Gator alums and friends with us. It was Sweet.
TonyLion - February 4, 2012
You sir, are very right
Revisionist history on my part there. It felt like a game winner though, haha
LAPSU - February 5, 2012
This potential you speak of. Why hasn't it been developed yet. We have been playing big ten hoops for almost 20 years now and this program hasn't evolved to the level it should be.
Slawsc - February 5, 2012 via mobile
We haven't had a coach that was capable of doing that.
Parkhill was close, but he bailed. Dunn was atrocious. DeChellis was very, very average, and that’s not the kind of guy you need to boost a program up a level or two.
Chambers has the energy that’s needed to recruit at the level necessary. Hopefully he’s the guy.
Adam Collyer - February 5, 2012
Bring them on.
Even two or three marquee games a year will do wonders.
misdreavus79 - February 3, 2012
I'm still upset at things like this
Penn State didn’t make the NCAA Tournament in 08-09 because they had the 8th best resume of any Big Ten team, and the selection committee simply wasn’t going to take 8 teams from an 11 team league, period.
If you don’t believe me, compare the resumes and schedules of 10-11 Cinci (who got a 6 seed) and 08-09 PSU.
Penn State had a lackluster RPI and putrid OOC SOS that year (due in no small part to ONE GAME against NJIT that wasn’t even scheduled; it was part of a tournament), but the SOS overall was very solid. Replace the game against NJIT with a game against somebody in the #240-#280 range and it still would have been a bad opponent, but those numbers would have looked much better. It says more about just how bad NJIT was that year than anything else.
The OOC SOS and the ridiculous loss to Iowa were the excuses that allowed the selection committee to keep PSU out without media backlash, but make no mistake, they were not the reasons.
ckmneon - February 4, 2012
I think Jake Kelly
Had a lot to do with keeping PSU out of the dance that year.
But it’s all hypothetical; we’ll never really know for sure.
TonyLion - February 4, 2012
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