Blue White Illustrated

n 2013-14, Penn State put together the winningest regular season of the Patrick Chambers era. The Nittany Li- ons went 15-16 overall and 6-12 in the Big Ten. Their six conference victories were the most since the program's 2010- 11 NCAA tournament season. In spite of these relative successes, questions have arisen regarding the on- going challenges and the gradual evolu- tion of the Nittany Lions under Cham- bers' direction. At a school that has struggled to put a consistent winner on the 6oor, Penn State athletic director Dave Joyner said he's been seeing players exhibit signs of progress. "That's coming from coaches who are helping them and teaching them," Joyner said when reached by phone last month. "So I'm very encour- aged." Chambers has certainly faced his share of challenges. A8er the sudden depar- ture of Ed DeChellis in late May 2011, he was initially signed to a 5ve-year deal. According to a source familiar with the program, following the far-reaching turmoil created by the Jerry Sandusky scandal, and in recognition of the cir- cumstances surrounding his late hiring, Penn State extended Chambers' deal by one year. The revamped deal secures him for three more years beyond the 2013-14 season. Saddled with a depleted roster, the Nittany Lions 5nished 12-20 overall with a 1-11 road record in Chambers' 5rst year at the helm. His second season, irreparably harmed when point guard Tim Frazier was lost for the year with a blown Achilles tendon in the fourth game, saw the Lions struggle through a 14-game Big Ten losing streak before knocking o7 eventual national runner- up Michigan at home and Northwestern just a week later. The 2013-14 regular season was up and down. The Nittany Lions amassed nine nonconference wins, the most since their NIT championship season of 2008-09, then lost their 5rst six Big Ten games before bouncing back to win four of their next six. They went 3-6 on the road in the Big Ten and received the No. 10 seed in the conference tourna- ment. "I think we're making progress. I think we're losing some games we expect to win right at the end and we're winning games we don't expect to win. That's an indicator that this team is in a learning phase and that they're starting to 5gure out how to win games, which is really important," Joyner said. "They're start- ing to learn to do that, and I think that's a really good indicator." In games decided by three or fewer points this season, the Nittany Lions started the year with an 0-5 mark but later managed to win two one-point contests, including a 71-70 upset of then-No. 24 Ohio State in January. The win was Penn State's 5rst against the Buckeyes in 19 tries. Two weeks later, the Lions were able to overcome an 11-point de5cit with just 2:30 le8 to play at Assembly Hall to earn a 66-65 victory against Indiana. That win was only the third for Penn State in Bloomington in the program's history. And on Feb. 27, the Lions com- pleted an improbable regular-season sweep of Ohio State, outlasting the Buckeyes, 65-63, at the Bryce Jordan Center. Noting that Penn State is competing in what many believe to be the toughest college basketball conference in the country, Joyner pointed out that, save for an 82-67 loss at No. 9 Michigan State, the Nittany Lions have given themselves an opportunity to win nearly every game on the schedule this season. "It's the best conference in the coun- try. So they're playing in the best con- ference in the country and they're taking some shots, but they're giving some too," Joyner said. "I think the last two years, the conference has probably been as good as it's ever been. I think if you take that into consideration. I think you have to look at it in perspective. "They've had a chance to be in maybe all but two of these games, and they've been close, so I think that's a real indica- tor of them keeping their chin up, and they kind of have a lot of 5ght in the dog there. I think it's a real good sign." ■ Joyner encouraged by Nittany Lions' progress on court I

• Cover