Together they sat, fresh off the heels of their 71-70 win over Michigan State. The junior -- center John Amaechi, and the senior -- guard Steve Wydman. For one last time this season sat the present and future of Nittany Lion basketball.

They spoke of the season gone by, and of seasons yet to come.

Amaechi, named yesterday to the third team All-Big Ten teams by both the media and the coaches, spoke of how the win would propel the Lions into the off season.

"The way you finish always leaves a taste in your mouth," Amaechi said. "I think it was important for us to finish off with a win."

"So what kind of taste do you have?" Wydman joked.

It may not have been the sweet taste of victory in Amaechi's mouth, but chances are it wasn't the sour taste of defeat either.

Season number two in the vaunted Big Ten conference was now over -- completed in thrilling fashion with a last second three-point bucket by Rahsaan Carlton.

The victory was a fitting punctuation to a season marked by unbelievable highs, and at times, unbelievable lows for both the team and individuals.

With a young team such as Parkhill had, a coach has to expect certain growing pains. But as the season progressed, adversity mounted --injuries to key players, a five game losing streak -- the coach wasn't sure how his young charges might react. After the win over the Spartans, Parkhill seemed pleased with the result.

"I'm as proud of this team as any team I've ever coached," Parkhill said after the Michigan State game. "In only our second year in the league, being a young team and then having some adversity in February with Matt (Gaudio), and Amaechi lately -- just the way these guys hung tough and have shown the ability to bounce back has been terrific."

Parkhill admittedly didn't know what to expect. But a strong non-conference showing and two gargantuan home wins over ranked opponents Minnesota and Purdue would give any coach a reason to be positive.

Then came February, a month Parkhill would admittedly like to write off completely. The five game losing streak began, Gaudio came down with a mysterious stomach ailment, and starter Michael Jennings went down first with a concussion, then a knee injury.

But through it all, they hung tough.

"Practices were very physical, a lot of trash-talking in practice, and I think that's where it all starts," Wydman said. "If you see people folding in practice they're gonna fold in games and we never did in practice, and I think that really helped us through the season."

Amid all of the problems, the Lions never folded. The Lions held tough and finished the season with three consecutive home wins.

"We're one game from a winning season which is really unbeliveable in just our second year in the league -- and this is a pretty young team," Parkhill said with the knowledge of his 13-14 overall record, 6-12 conference mark.

The Lions certainly served notice to the rest of the league.

"I think after you come into the Big Ten it's gonna be hard in the beginning," said Michigan point guard Jalen Rose. "But I think they have a good coaching staff and I think they'll be a good team."