The setting was a visitor's locker room in Chicago's United Center and many of the voices were still upbeat despite losing by 20 points to Iowa in the semi-finals of the Big Ten tournament just nine days ago.

Although Penn State's fate of an NCAA Tournament bid had not yet been determined, things were looking a bit clearer after knocking off the Michigan State Spartans, 65-63, the previous day. The Lions were talking about bigger and better things that lay ahead, even with the loss that had just occurred.

"If we win two games next weekend, we're in the Sweet 16," Penn State guard Brandon Watkins said following the loss to Iowa. "March is crazy. You never know what can happen, because any team can surprise you on any given night."

With that said, the Lions took an early Sunday morning flight home from Chicago to State College and watched the NCAA Tournament Selection with friends, family and teammates.

They watched as at-large teams like Creighton, Georgia and Wake Forest got called before them. In all, 59 teams were unveiled before CBS host Greg Gumbel said, "with the seventh seed in the South bracket Penn State will play host to 10 seeded Providence in New Orleans on Friday."

Cheers, celebration and a little bit of relief broke out among the players and coaching staff.

"I was a little bit nervous," Titus Ivory said following the team's selection. "When you see all those teams get called before yours, you tend to get a start thinking."

Fortunately, the nerves have worn off for Ivory and the Lions as they defeated Providence on Friday, 69-59, and upended last year's Final Four sleeper North Carolina, 82-74, on Sunday — giving Penn State its first Sweet 16 berth in more than 50 years.

Joe Crispin, Penn State's leading scorer, described his team as cocky and almost arrogant after the win Sunday. He told reporters after the win against North Carolina that every time his team walks out on to the court they expect to win no matter whom they face. While Crispin's remarks might be bold — coming from a team that lacks a following, even at home in State College — the Lions have backed it up on the court this season.

Heading into Sunday, the Lions' went into their second round match-up pretty confident. After all, the Lions had defeated two No. 1 seeds (Illinois and Michigan State), a No. 2 seed (Kentucky) and a team that came into the Tournament winning 18 straight in Hofstra. All in all, the Lions had beaten nine seeded teams in the Tournament prior to their win against North Carolina on Sunday.

"I'm very proud of the entire team," Penn State head coach Jerry Dunn said after the win over the Tar Heels. "We are headed into uncharted waters right now."

Uncharted waters are something that seems to be familiar territory for Penn State, since it has handled them all season long.