Barbour on hoops: 'We're making progress, but it's not a 10-year plan'

ALTOONA -- Penn State men's basketball hasn't made the NCAA Tournament since 2011 and while there has been notable success on the recruiting trail, acknowledging that this program needs to make several steps to get to tournament isn't something Pat Chambers or athletic director Sandy Barbour shy away from discussing.

Chambers received a two-year contract extension in 2015 that runs through the 2018-19 season, but would a potential trip to the NIT next season be enough for him to stay around for another year while this roster continues to develop? It sounded like it could be.

"They need to take a step first to get there, but [the NCAA Tournament] is the goal of every one of our coaches," Barbour said Thursday afternoon prior to the coaches caravan stop. "I'm not putting any more pressure on Pat Chambers than he's putting on himself. I don't disagree with him. That's the goal. That's what we're working toward. I believe we're making progress, but it's not a 10-year plan. The timeframe is a little shorter."



The Lions are 87-109 during Chambers' six seasons as head coach.

Penn State's stance on trying to improve the hoops program and the facilities that go along with it -- notably the Bryce Jordan Center which is a multi-purpose venue that Penn State athletics doesn't own -- wasn't one of the top priorities when the Lions rolled out their facility master plan this spring. Renovations to the Bryce Jordan Center and trying to make it a more basketball-specific environment are part of a 20-year plan, not seen as an immediate need like the soccer facility, tennis or the natatorium.

Eventually Penn State aims to have a basketball practice facility that the Lions would own, but that also is not part of the initial 5-year projects that athletics is already working to raise funds for.

While James Franklin and various coaches joined Barbour during the coaches caravan Chambers was not among those out on the trail going from stop to stop throughout the state. He's done the caravan in the past and while Franklin and Barbour both spoke about how important these caravan stops are for connecting with fans throughout the state of course football is what drives the majority of athletic departments and Penn State certainly is one of them.

After all, big-time college athletics is a business and Penn State will have to continue to make several business decisions with Chambers, this program and the long-term vision for hoops at the university. Athletic budgets will continue to rise around the country -- and they will take on more costs with the addition of a 10th assistant coach for football, likely another six-figure salary -- seeing what happens to Penn State basketball longterm is always going to be of interest. At a place where the pecking order behind football can be argued as wrestling, hockey and then hoops, there's no doubt that a successful basketball program would be a boost for revenue if ever it can get there.

Franklin was asked about the trend across the country with football teams adding more support staff and behind the scenes types of people, which all amounts to rising costs. He mentioned that the business of college sports is about getting a return on investment. Right now, it's clear where the Lions are getting the most return and of course those numbers, including an increase in football season ticket sales are all tied to winning. Last season's success for football financially and on the recruiting trail is starting to show.

"This is college athletics, these are student-athletes, but there's also a business component," Franklin said. "There's also a factor that we all realize and that's return on investment. Football probably gives you the best chance to have a return on investment. People are talking about all these different things, staff sizes, salaries, all these different things, well, it's a business model and it gives you the best chance for a return on investment."

QUICK HITS

• Barbour spoke at length Wednesday night in Pittsburgh about the state of the Pitt-Penn State series that runs through 2019. Could this become an every year series after 2025 when the Lions’ schedule is freed up a bit more?

“At the most I don’t see playing Pitt every year because we’ve got one Power-5 slot and we’ve got some thoughts around some other regional opponents as well as a major intersectional you know home and home every six years, once every eight years a home and home,” Barbour said. “Playing Pitt every year doesn’t fit in that.”

Penn State had a home and home with Alabama in 2011 and 2012 and also has one lined up with Auburn for 2021 and 2022. The Lions have a home and home with West Virginia in 2023 and 2024 and one with Virginia Tech in 2020 and 2025.

• The Lions played at the University of Virginia in 2012 – surely most remember that as the Sam Ficken game – but UVA never made the return trip to Happy Valley. Will it ever happen?

Barbour said it’s “still floating” out there as a potential future game. On Thursday morning Virginia announced a future series with Notre Dame in 2031 and 2035.