The Nittany Lions beat North Carolina, 82-74. This was not North Carolina-Wilmington. Nor North Carolina-Charlotte. Nor any other Carolina. No matter what else happens in this playoff season, Penn State beat a team they clearly had less talent than.
Fingers usually point to the coach in similar circumstances elsewhere.
And I don't want to minimize the magnificence of Penn State's win yesterday, but North Carolina was arrogant in their superiority. For the Nittany Lions, that must be the most satisfying aspect of yesterday's win. They beat a team that was counting on their reputation to get them by. Brandon Hayward was too much for Penn State to handle. Until he got tired.