Eleven-straight times it has left the floor after losing a Big Ten game, and with every loss there was a chance for the Penn State men's basketball team to splinter.
There was a chance for the remainder of season to go to waste.
But if anything, the Nittany Lions say they have come closer together while fighting for their first conference win.
"We talked about sticking together," Penn State coach Ed DeChellis said after Saturday's 66-64 loss to Minnesota. "We're going through a very difficult time, but that's who we have. We have each other and we've got to continue to battle."
Losing on a buzzer-beating jump shot, DeChellis said he had a lot to tell his team after the game. The coach talked about toughness, sticking together and building character through the losses.
Despite their record, the players have stood behind their coach, with forward D.J. Jackson calling the team a "family." Guard Talor Battle has supported DeChellis all year and said he just wants to get the first Big Ten win for his coach.
"At this point, in the locker room I feel so bad for coach because he tries so hard," Battle said. "After a loss like this there's not much he can say. I know he's getting sick of telling us we got to keep our heads up and continue to play because we are right there and can't get over the hump."
Battle said at this point, he has stopped looking at the team's record or paying attention to the streak. Instead, the junior goes into every game with the mindset his team is 0-0 and it can compete with any opponent.
Jackson said he felt Saturday's game with Minnesota was going to be "our day" to win after Jeff Brook's hustle play led to Battle's tying basket. Instead, Jackson could only watch as Lawrence Westbrook hit the game winner, another sequence in the Lions' season of falling one play short.
"We did find a way to win. We hit a couple of big threes when we needed to, we made a steal in the end, we made a lay-up and they just made one more play," DeChellis said. "It's kind of been the record all year -- they make one more play, one more rebound, one more defensive stop, whatever it may be."
DeChellis feels a winning streak could be in the team's future, but the Lions have to get win No. 1 out of the way first. With no game until next Saturday, Jackson said it gives the players time to rest but also leaves them with the bad taste of a loss and the desire to go out and reverse their fortunes.
Battle's competitive nature and love of the game prevented the guard from giving up for the season. Battle said while he is frustrated by the losses, he isn't letting the struggles of the season affect his desire to play basketball.
"We are still basketball players, and we love to play the game," Battle said. "When you go out there and you expect to get steamrolled, you may as well quit. Being 0-11 now, that's like the worst feeling ever, but it gives you the stride to want to win."
