Penn State looks like an athletic department that doesn’t care about hoops

We’ve seen a lot of embarrassing moments from the Penn State athletic department that has proven time and time again one important truth: They do not care about their basketball program.

We’ve seen forcing an NCAA tournament bound team to practice in an intramural building because a touring concert needed their practice gym in 2011.  We’ve seen Penn State hoops forced to play a road game in the CBI (yes, the tournament lower than the NIT) Quarterfinals, burning in our eyes images of the Siena student section storming the court after upsetting our Nits in 2014.

But what we saw Wednesday confirmed Penn State Basketball is the worst managed program in the nation.

Just a week prior to opening the season (hosting Drexel), Penn State hosted the press for the program’s annual media day  Keep in mind this was the first media availability for any member of the team since Head Coach Pat Chambers was fired.  One can assume players were directed to speak honestly of course, but to tread carefully when discussing the firing.  Either they didn’t listen, didn’t care, or both.  Check these quotes out:

"“I was shocked and hurt by the decision that (was) made but as a team, we are all committed to this season…as a team, we decided we want to play this season out for Coach (Chambers) and for each other.  It was shocking, it was emotional, but he left us with the message to stick together at the end of the day.”"

– Isiah Brockington [Analysis: Reasonable, professional comment, but were just getting started]

"” I’m not at peace with it (the firing).  I will not be at peace with it until everybody has answers as to why.”"

– Myles Dread [Analysis: You don’t often hear a player admit they are unsure why their coach had to leave…and this still isn’t the most shocking]

"“I’m still confused and don’t understand what happened.  I just want to give a shoutout to [Pat] and we love him so much…he’s one of the best coaches I ever played for.  I know there’s a bunch of things about him being racist.  I’ve been here four years — a Black athlete…all the way from Florida — not one time was Coach racist or anything like that.”"

– Jamari Wheeler [Analysis: WOW.  This is a current player saying the reason his former coach was let go is flatly inaccurate.  But Jamari isn’t done…]

"“It was hard because earlier that day, before he announced it, we had a meeting with a couple people on the staff because we knew something was kind of off…so we have a private meeting with a couple staff members that’s up above and we were told that everything was good.”"

– Jamari Wheeler

At this point, a Penn State spokeswomen CUT OFF Wheeler and didn’t answer a follow-up question about Wheeler’s answer.

Analylsis:

The press conference was so awkward, Penn State Athletics released a statement afterwards stating they “have always encouraged student-athletes to use their voice…they all have a relationship with Pat and wanted to share their support.”

The cherry on top?  NBA prospect and former Penn State star Lamar Stevens posted this picture today:

It’s never easy playing little brother to Penn State Football.

But, today’s press conference was an absolute embarrassment for an athletic department that considers itself among the best in the nation.  AD Sandy Barbour, recently named one of the “100 Most Influential Women in Business”, must immediately address this situation.  We have a team seemingly comprised entirely of players who are confused, stunned and frustrated that their Coach is no longer a part of their team.  Worse than those emotions, today’s revelations make it seem they were flat out lied to.  And let’s not forget the entire 2021 class have reopened their recruitment in the four weeks since Chambers was fired.  And the NCAA just extended the dead period for recruiting until April.

Fun times.

None of this is the fault of current interim Head Coach Jim Ferry.  At the most, very little of this is the fault of former Head Coach Patrick Chambers,   None of this is the fault of his predecessor Ed DeChellis.  The athletic department has time and time again proven they do not care one iota about Penn State Basketball.  And today’s press conference cemented the sad truth:  Penn State Basketball is the worst managed basketball program in the nation.