PSU Goes “Slumdog Millionaire” At The Big Ten Hoops Awards
It’s been six years in the making but the man who puts the “Fighting DeChellis” in the Fighting DeChellises is being handsomely rewarded as “Big Ten Coach Of The Year” and deservedly so, I might add. Also making their presence known were Talor Battle (First team all-conference), Jamelle Cornley (Second team all-conference), and Stanley Pringle (Honorable mention all-conference, Best ball handler).
We're not sure whether it was the numerous years spent in the slums of East Tennessee State finally paying off, but Ed DeChellis had the magic touch this year.
Yep, it’s been THAT kind of year for the Fighting DeChellises: A Space Mountain-style roller coaster in the dark where you have no fucking clue what’s going to happen next and nothing is beyond the realm of possibility. All the Kool-Aid drinking in the world wouldn’t have been enough to convince Yours Truly that this team was a legitimate NCAA tournament team, I was merely hoping they would take “baby steps” and qualify for and make a run in the NIT. Lo and behold though, here we stand on the cusp of making the NCAA tournament with at least a victory over Indiana in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament standing in our way.
Speaking of which, I’m not shocked that PSU failed to earn themselves “lock” status in Iowa City. Iowa had been giving opponents a run for their money at home all year long and were due for a big win at some point…what better victim than an opponent less than 48 hours removed from its most emotional win in recent history having to fly out of town the very next day and prepare for their next opponent the day after, weary legs and all? The only thing I’m pissed about is how we, the fans, were teased by another improbable comeback to reclaim the lead in regulation only to lose in double OT (thanks in large part to Iowa’s Jake Kelly hitting several H-O-R-S-E shots that normally would have a snowball’s chance in hell).
As for our Big Dance chances at this point: We’re still in good shape compared to our fellow bubble mates. The consensus from all the self-proclaimed “bracketologists” is that we are still in the tournament as of right now, provided there aren’t a slew of upsets in the conference tournaments (i.e. Butler losing, Maryland or Miami getting to the finals in the ACC tourney, Providence or Notre Dame getting far in the Big East tourney). With that being said however, it’s within PSU’s best interest to take absolutely nothing for granted and just win, baby…Keep on winning until your legs pump battery acid…And then win some more.