ESPN's Graham Hays on Penn State

Ignatius L Hoops

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http://www.espn.com/womens-college-...65/rebuild-taking-shape-penn-state-lady-lions

The Lady Lions are currently trailing 39-22 in the second half at Purdue.

When she initially committed to Penn State, Amari Carter's résumé read like that of a player who would keep a program among the sport's upper crust.

Whatever it lacked in national championships, after all, Penn State made up for in baubles such as Big Ten titles, including three in a row under Coquese Washington from 2012-14, and NCAA tournament trips. Ranked by ESPN Hoopgurlz as the nation's No. 32 recruit, Carter seemingly epitomized the line of succession that puts such programs on top season after season.

But by the time the point guard completed a college game for the first time a few months ago, two ACL injuries and two full seasons removed from that initial verbal commitment, she embodied the program in a rather different manner. She has no desire to relive her past two basketball seasons. Neither does Penn State.

What can be lost in the blink of an eye is more slowly recovered...


...After at least a share of three consecutive Big Ten regular-season titles, after four trips in a row to the NCAA tournament and 25 appearances overall, Penn State cratered to a 6-24 record in the 2014-15 season. Only one school in a major conference had fewer wins. The Lady Lions then won just 12 games a season ago.

There was no great scandal within the program. There weren't mass transfers. A strong senior class moved on. A player here or there doesn't develop as anticipated. A recruit such as Kia Nurse chooses another school. A newcomer such as Carter or a veteran such as Sierra Moore is lost to season-ending injury.

Half a dozen smaller factors combine to reveal how small a margin for error there really is for most programs.
 




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