Penn State NITtany Lions

Selection Sunday has come and gone and it was a disappointment for Penn State. While I was pulling for them to make the tournament, I cannot argue keeping them out.

Considering their poor strength of schedule (a product of poor out of conference scheduling used primarily to put together a 20-win season), a fatal regular-season finale against Iowa, a demoralizing loss to Purdue in the Big Ten tournament, and the way some conference championship games ended (USC winning the PAC-10 and Mississippi State winning the SEC hurt), it should be no shocker that Penn State is on the outside looking in.

The Nittany Lions will be playing some form of post season basketball, in the NIT. Penn State is a two seed in the tournament and will host seven seed George Mason tomorrow night. Game time is 8 PM on ESPNU, so you likely will not be watching it.

As for Villanova and Temple, they will be dancing in the big tournament. Villanova will be playing their first (and second?) game at the Wachovia Center as a three seed. Villanova was placed in the East bracket and will play American University, Patriot League champions, on Thursday night.

A win would set up a matchup with either UCLA or VCU.

Temple received a tough draw and was probably given a raw deal when looking at the bracket, but the Owls will not care. Temple is headed to Miami for the first round and will play a tough Arizona State team. Temple received an 11 seed in the South bracket.

A win against the Sun Devils could pit Temple against Syracuse, barring an upset by Stephen F. Austin in the first round.

The Big East has three top seeds in the tournament, with Louisville, Connecticut, and Pittsburgh. Why Memphis was disrespected with not just a two seed but also being placed outside of the South bracket (which will crown a champion in Memphis) is beyond me.

Personally I would have placed Memphis as a one seed over Pittsburgh. I always feel that Pitt is overrated.

Good luck to Villanova and Temple. I would love to see a pair of Big Five squads in the Final Four. And good luck to the Nittany Lions. An NIT championship would still be a good stepping stone for the team.

Brackets: NCAA | NIT