STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Penn State basketball took steps forward this season and after Pat Chambers' team cut down the nets at Madison Square Garden Thursday night there was no denying it.
The Nittany Lions routed Utah 82-66 to win the NIT and in the process capped a season where the Lions had NCAA Tournament hopes that lasted until the end of the season and for the first time in a long time head into the offseason with realistic visions of being a team that could push for a Tournament spot next season. The NIT championship was the second in program history, joining the Lions' 2009 season send off.
We Are... The Champions ??⚪️
Still Climbin' #ClimbWithUs pic.twitter.com/8IY69Y9EpI
— Penn State Men’s Basketball (@PennStateMBB) March 30, 2018
Sophomore Tony Carr wrapped up a season where he was clutch time and time again and in the process has put himself in conversations about being a potential early departure for the NBA. If Carr stays though, this team should return several key pieces and what made this NIT run -- one where the Lions beat Temple in the Bryce Jordan Center and then went on the road to dispatch Notre Dame and Marquette before beating Mississippi State in the semifinals to set up the title game with Utah -- more impressive is that it was done without starter Mike Watkins.
That was a key loss that hampered Penn State down the stretch late in the regular season, but also gives hope for the future.
Carr finished one rebound shy of a triple-double against Utah while teammate, classmate and high school teammate Lamar Stevens was on fire, scoring 28 points. Defensive specialist Josh Reaves scored 18 and added six rebounds. Penn State realistically could return all four of them while senior Shep Garner ended his collegiate career with an 8-point performance and in the process became the Big Ten's single-season leader for most 3-pointers.
But even during Penn State's celebration the looming question about the future of the program's star was well, plastered down the side of the arena's ladder that Carr climbed to cut down the net.
A lot to unpack here. pic.twitter.com/CBRhkjoBwW
— Ben Jones (@Ben_Jones88) March 30, 2018
Stevens was named the NIT's Most Outstanding Player, an accolade that comes at the end of his sophomore season. As a key piece of the Philadelphia to Penn State pipeline along with Garner, Carr and Nazeer Bostick, the challenge now is building off this foundation that some could argue is better for the program in the long run than going one and done in the NCAA Tournament. Penn State was forced to go on the road and gained valuable experience that's important for a team that should return the bulk of their starters.
The way this season concluded also should end the speculation that popped up earlier in the season about the status of Chambers' job. In late December, following a loss to Rider, athletic director Sandy Barbour said Chambers' job would be based off how the conference slate went. Thursday night as Chambers hoisted the NIT trophy and his players applauded it's safe to say that noticeable progress was made and that, especially for this program, is a step forward.