The men's basketball team won't be doing any dancing in the NCAA tournament this season.

But the Lions will get a shot at their cross-state Big East rival Pitt. The Panthers (17-15) will come to Rec Hall Wednesday night at 9:30. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.

"I know they have Sean Miller," guard Freddie Barnes said. "I'm looking forward to that. He's a great player."

The independent status of the team finally took its toll as its 21-7 mark wasn't good enough to receive a bid to the NCAAs. Instead the Lions will head to the National Invitation Tournament for the third time in four seasons.

"I was disappointed but not totally suprised," Coach Bruce Parkhill said of the Lions not receiveing an NCAA bid. "I knew from the beginning of the season that being an independent it would be difficult to get into the NCAA Tournament."

The 1992 tournament marks the first time that an independent didn't make the field. It appeared that the Lions chances of making the tournament increased during their two-week layoff.

Penn State received three votes in last week's Associated Press poll and teams that were "on the bubble" with the Lions lost. Notre Dame lost its final two games to drop to 14-14 and Villanova and Pittsburgh lost their first games in the Big East Tournament.

"I felt we had a legitimate shot," Parkhill said. "I knew it would be real tough. Everything had to break exceptionally right for us."

Even with the supposed good fortune during the week, college basketball analysts weren't even listing Penn State as an "on the bubble" team. Parkhill said he had a bad feeling about the team's chances after the Lions suffered an 82-69 overtime loss to James Madison on Jan. 8.

Another overtime loss perhaps hurt Penn State even more. The Lions lost to Temple in double overtime 73-72 on Feb. 9 which was the Lions' last loss as they went on to win their last five games. Temple received an NCAA bid and that surprised some players.

The Lions, though, aren't disheartened with an NIT bid. Barnes said one of his fondest memories was when the Lions went to New York City for the NIT Final Four in 1990 and would like another trip to the Big Apple.

"It's great to go," DeRon Hayes said. "Anything's better than nothing. It will especially be great for Freddie, Monnie and Dave. Some teams will be sitting home watching the games."

Parkhill said, "I hope (the players) put things in perspective. I hope they realize they've had a good year."

Notes: The sale of student tickets will begin at the Rec Hall office at 8 a.m. Student tickets are priced at $4. Adult and senior citizen tickets cost $9.

-- Even with a four-day spring break last week the injury bug continued to plague the Lions. Center Dave Degitz's back injury worsened when he returned to his home in Clearwater, Fla. Degitz, who suffered the injury after the Feb. 24 Old Dominion game, has not worked out with the team since practices resumed on Wednesday.

-- Not surprisingly, forward Elton Carter also received another dent in his armor. Carter strained his neck on Wednesday. He continued to practice with the team even after reinjuring his neck on Friday.

-- A new name on the walking wounded list appeared. Eric Carr injured his groin muscle on Thursday and did not scrimmage with the team over the weekend, but did participate in shooting drills. In addition, Jon Dietz turned his ankle on Wednesday but practiced with the team on Saturday.

"You would think the days off would let them heal up," Parkhill said. "Physically it didn't, but mentally it did."

Brown added, "(The injuries) haven't really affected us mentally. It's been hard to practice though because we have no subs."