It was an odd combination of factors — some early holiday goodwill along with the tug of familiarity and nostalgia — that led to the optimism.
Oh, for the Lady Lions to be good, or even somewhat relevant.
Then, when the Penn State women’s basketball team moved into the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2014 earlier this week, it seemed almost possible. Sure, they just snuck in the poll at No. 25, but maybe the Lady Lions were good.
Eight games into the fifth season under coach Carolyn Kieger, with a roster that includes transfers from seven other Division I programs, the Lady Lions were 7-1 with their only loss to sixth-ranked USC.
That early season success seemed reason enough for some positivity.
That all preceded a trip to Morgantown, W.Va., where unbeaten and unranked WVU waited earlier this week. After 40 minutes of play Monday, WVU had an 18-point victory and Penn State’s spot in the poll seemed likely to be short-lived.
Next up, the Lady Lions travel to play Sunday at No. 12 Ohio State, a place where Penn State has not won since 2014. The Lady Lions are 1-13 against the Buckeyes the past nine seasons.
It was fun while it lasted.
Penn State women’s basketball used to be special — 20 wins a year special. Community support and decent-sized crowds special. It’s been a while, though.
There have not been back-to-back 20-win seasons since 2014 (there’s that year again) and the program’s competition in the Big Ten Conference and nationally has gotten better, making any route back to the Top 25 and national competitiveness bumpy at best.
Kieger’s efforts and impact were initially hampered by any usual program changeover, and crafting some sort of big success was further slowed by the coronavirus pandemic. At least that’s the story those close to the program are embracing. Plus, those seeking a positive spin can point to progress in terms of gradually improving victory totals the past four seasons (7-23, 9-15, 11-18, 14-17).
Getting more victories, and especially gaining traction in Big Ten play (the high-water mark for conference victories under Kieger is six in 2020-21), remain difficult challenges.
Maybe it can be done with the somewhat-height-challenged roster of players who’ve come to Penn State to prove themselves after opportunities other places. Plus, Penn State’s returning core has enough proven talent to give the team reason to hope.
Maybe they just need time to get to know each other better and make the most of their skillsets. It’s possible. After all, more unlikely things have happened in sports.
Honestly, winning more regularly might be an easier lift than building back to the program’s heyday of relevancy in the community accompanying success on the floor. While losing records in four of her last five seasons doomed Coquese Washington, what slipped most during her tenure was a connection with the community.
A long-successful effort to engage children, allowing them free entry at the Bryce Jordan Center as part of a club (thereby ensuring parents’ attendance and budling a connection to fans beyond retirees) was left to wither away. Then, when the team struggled, there was less of a support network to get through the challenges. And maybe Washington’s tenure was beyond help with the losing records, but a stronger connection in some corners might’ve helped.
It’s not clear that Kieger has built significantly stronger connections than her predecessor, but she’s been active with Pa. Pink Zone and in the community. That involvement matters and helps a program in the long run — and the build back has proven to be a long run.
Honestly, the finish line is not a championship, either. Certainly not right now.
What matters first would be reaching the NCAA Tournament again and there’s obviously no need to be in the Top 25 for that to happen because the tournament has 64 teams.
Still, the Lady Lions might not be there yet, either.
It’s a long season, though, giving the team time to figure things out, overcome its limitations and maybe be good enough to start making the tangible progress it wants.
If they can get good enough to reach the tournament, that would be something the program has not done since 2014.
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