NCAA Basketball: Seniors who never got their moment in NCAA Tournament

Lamar Stevens and Mike Watkins – Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State has never been good under current head coach Pat Chambers. In fact, they have been a bottom feeder in the Big Ten for a long time. This year was finally the year that they were able to turn the corner and find themselves in the NCAA tournament. Penn State was built to potentially make a run in the NCAA tournament as well.

Lamar Stevens and Mike Watkins are always going to be remembered as the two players who helped Penn State turn the corner. Stevens had a tremendous year and is responsible for one of the best years by a Nittany Lion ever. Even with no NCAA tournament games to play Penn State still had a season that all their fans are going to remember. The end of the season in the Big Ten did not go as many of their fans hoped but they did enough to make the NCAA tournament as an at large.

Mike Watkins saw his minutes decrease the last two seasons due to some personal health issues that he was dealing with but when he did play Penn State was one of the better defensive teams in the country. Watkins was a rim protector and great rebounder and when paired with Lamar Stevens they make for a memorable duo. Stevens is also going to be remembered as the main catalyst in putting Penn State basketball back on the map and helping Coach Chambers get a foothold in the hotbed of Philadelphia. The effect Stevens and Watkins had on the program will be long-lasting even if they never got their senior moment in the NCAA tournament.