Holy Resume-Boosters, Batman! (PSU Hoops Releases Non-Con Schedule)
![Hopefully next year, when [NAME REDACTED] almost kills Talor Battle again, it wont be a premature NCAA-berth celebration](http://onwardstate.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/rushingthecourt_medium.jpg)
Unless you spent the past basketball season constructing an eco-village, you’re probably well aware that the number one criticism of the Fighting DeChellises last season was the fact that the non-conference schedule was about as weak as (sigh) this year’s football schedule.
Well, “sigh” no more when it comes basketball my friends, because the official non-conference slate has been released and at first glance, I wouldn’t expect us to get screwed over by the selection committee should we win 10+ games in Big Ten play again. So, if [NAME REDACTED] almost kills Talor Battle again (photo, above), it probably won’t end up being a premature celebration of an NCAA tournament berth.
Below, is the official schedule with each school’s final RPI from last season in parentheses.
Penn State 2009 Non-Conference Opponents (per GoPSUSports )
Nov. 6 Slippery Rock (exhibition)
Nov. 13 Penn (258)
Nov. 16 Robert Morris (109)
Nov. 19-22 @ Charleston Classic (Miami 65, South Carolina 57, South Florida 190, Davidson 69, Tulane 188, LaSalle 112, UNC Wilmington 277)
Nov. 25 Sacred Heart (182)
Nov. 30 @ Virginia (114)
Dec. 5 @ Temple (30)
Dec. 8 Maryland Baltimore County (163)
Dec. 12 Virginia Tech (61)
Dec. 19 Gardner Webb (218)
Dec. 21 American (73)
Just looking at the RPI’s alone, the only confirmed opponents that won’t help our cause are Penn and Gardner-Webb, let’s just hope we don’t draw UNC-Wilmington in the Charleston Classic on top of that. You also have to tip your imaginary hat to Tim Curley & Company for scheduling recent NCAA tournament participants from low-major conferences such as Robert Morris and American U. While both teams are certainly beatable, they will not be RPI-killers either, which is something we sorely lacked on the schedule last year and is a long-past-overdue sight.
I only wish we had been able to land Siena as well, since I remember reading on message boards how we were in talks about a home-and-home series starting this year at the BJC with a Battle/Buie backcourt returning to their native Albany in 2010 for the rubber match…Overall though, this schedule is a giant step in the right direction and the Fighting DeChellises will find themselves in a pretty good position for the Big Ten slate should they emerge from November/December with only one or two losses.
I would just like to say, I’m considerably more tan now.
So if I see some Hispanic-looking dude swarming Talor after we lock up an NCAA tourney bid at home next March, then it’s probably you…
No way, man. The SC winter will bring out my paleness again. I’ll still be ghostly white come that time again.
Also, if you were looking for the story on my decrepit-looking left hand…I broke my left index finger twice playing football in HS.
I’m definitely thinkin about stoppin at the CDT when I go back to SC and see if I can purchase this picture and frame it.