Penn State Altoona Basketball: A Program on the Rise

The Penn State Altoona men’s basketball team has been on the rise over the last few years. Under the leadership of Head Coach John Lamie, the Lions have made great strides, both on and off the court.

In this blog, we’ll take a look at the program’s recent success and what the future holds for Penn State Altoona basketball.

Introducing the Penn State Altoona Men’s Basketball Program

In just a few short years, the Penn State Altoona men’s Basketball Program has established itself as one of the top junior college programs in the country.

Head coach Andy Carson has assembled a talented and hard-working group of players, who have bought into his vision for the program. The result has been a rapid rise up the rankings, as well as back-to-back appearances in the NJCAA Division III National Championship game.

While they ultimately came up short in both title games, the experience and success that the team has enjoyed in recent years has laid the foundations for a bright future With most of the core group of players set to return for another season, Penn State Altoona is poised to make another run at a National Championship in 2019-20.

The History of the Program

Penn State Altoona men’s basketball is a program on the rise. In just the fourth year of existence, the Lions have experienced exponential growth, including a pair of 20-win seasons and a berth in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division II National Tournament

But the program’s success is about more than just wins and losses. It’s about building a foundation for sustained excellence, and that starts with understanding the history of the program.

The roots of Penn State Altoona men’s basketball date back to the 2013-14 academic year, when the school first added the sport as an intra-murals offering. In just its second year of existence, the program won a campus-wide tournament and earned a spot in the National Intramural-recreational sports Association (NIRSA) Division III National Tournament

The following year, Penn State Altoona men’s basketball took another step forward when it joined USCAA Division II as an affiliate member. In their first season at that level, the Lions went 18-9 overall and advanced to the USCAA Division II National Tournament for the first time in program history.

Penn State Altoona men’s basketball has continued to thrive since then. The Lions have won at least 20 games in three straight seasons, and they earned another berth in the USCAA Division II National Tournament in 2020. With a core group of talented young players returning for 2021, there is no reason to think that Penn State Altoona men’s basketball won’t continue its climb up the national rankings.

The Program’s Rise to Prominence

In just a few short years, the Penn State Altoona men’s Basketball Program has experienced a rapid rise to prominence.

Under the guidance of head coach Jack McCloskey, the team has racked up an impressive amount of accomplishments in a short amount of time. In just three seasons, the Lions have won two Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships and have made two NCAA Division II Tournament appearances.

The team’s success has led to increased interest from both students and alumni, and the program is now one of the most popular on campus. With continued success, the Penn State Altoona men’s Basketball team is poised to become one of the premier programs in Division II for many years to come.

The Team’s Successful Seasons

Since joining Division III in the 1995-1996 season, the Penn State Altoona men’s basketball team has experienced much success. The team has had seventeen winning seasons, including thirteen seasons with double-digit victories. Penn State Altoona has also reached the postseason fifteen times in its twenty-four years in Division III

The 2007-2008 season was a banner year for the team. They posted a school record 27-3 overall record and went undefeated in the conference for the first time in school history. The team also won the conference tournament and made it to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division III tournament.

The following season, 2008-2009, was another successful one for Penn State Altoona. They again went undefeated in conference play and won both the regular season and conference tournament titles. The team made it to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Division III tournament before losing to eventual national runner-up Williams College.

2009-2010 was a rebuilding year for Penn State Altoona, as they finished with a 13-12 overall record and just missed out on qualifying for the Conference Tournament However, the team rebounded in 2010-2011, posting a 20-7 overall record and earning a berth in the conference tournament semi-finals.

The most recent season, 2011-2012, was another successful one for Penn State Altoona men’s basketball. The team posted a 23-6 overall record, won their fourth consecutive regular season title, and made it to the semi-finals of both the Conference tournament and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference playoffs.

The Program’s Coaching Staff

Since arriving at Penn State Altoona in 2013, Head Coach Joe Messina has assembled a strong Coaching Staff for the men’s Basketball Program

assistant coaches Joe Giardi and Tyler Stebbins, and director of operations Nate DaCanal.

Each brings a different area of expertise to the table, making the staff well-rounded and prepared to help the team reach its potential.

The Program’s Facilities

The basketball program at Penn State Altoona has seen a drastic rise in recent years The team has won 3 conference championships in the last 4 years and has made the NCAA Division III tournament 3 times in that span. A big reason for the team’s success has been the new facilities that the school has built for the program.

The Program’s Support Staff

The Penn State Altoona men’s basketball program’s support staff is a big reason why the team has enjoyed so much success in recent years Assistant Coach Matt Weaver and director of operations Andrew Stover have been with the team since Head coach Bob Pleban took over in 2014, and the continuity has helped Pleban build a winning culture.

Weaver, a native of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, played four years of college basketball at Division III Pitt-Greensburg before beginning his coaching career. He spent two seasons as an assistant at his alma mater before joining Pleban’s staff at Penn State Altoona. Weaver’s knowledge of the game and ability to relate to players have been crucial to the team’s development.

Stover, a native of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, graduated from Penn State Altoona in 2013 with a degree in sports management He began working with the men’s Basketball Program as a student manager during his senior year, and he has been with the team in a full-time capacity since Pleban was hired. Stover handles all of the team’s logistics, from scheduling to travel to scouting opponents, freeing up Pleban and Weaver to focus on coaching.

The relationship between Pleban, Weaver, and Stover is one of mutual respect and trust, and it has been a key ingredient in the team’s success. “We’re all on the same page, working towards the same goal,” says Stover. “It’s been a great ride so far, and we’re looking forward to continuing our success in the future.”

The Program’s Fans

The fans of the Penn State Altoona Basketball Program are some of the most passionate and loyal in all of college basketball They have been with the program through thick and thin, and their support has been invaluable in helping the program reach new heights.

The fans are known for theirCreative signs and chants, and they are always ready to make some noise to support their team. They travel well, and they can often be found cheering on the team at away games.

The Penn State Altoona basketball program has come a long way in recent years, and it is thanks in large part to the support of its amazing fans.

The Program’s Future

In recent years, the Penn State Altoona men’s basketball program has been on the rise. The team has made back-to-back appearances in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate conference tournament Championship game and they have won the conference tournament titles in both 2017 and 2018. This past season, the team also won a program-record 19 games.

With a young and talented core of players returning next season, the future looks bright for Penn State Altoona basketball. The team will be looking to build on their successes of the past few seasons, and they will be aiming to make a third straight appearance in the AMCC Tournament Championship game If they are able to do so, it would mark just the second time in program history that the team has made three consecutive trips to the conference tournament title game.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Penn State Altoona basketball program is on the rise. The team has seen significant improvement in recent years, culminating in a trip to the NCAA Division III tournament in 2018. With a strong core of young players and a dedicated coaching staff the future looks bright for Penn State Altoona basketball.