Just do it

• TWEET
• SHARE
• SHARE

Saint Peter's and Loyola Marymount all lost this evening, the latter of the three coming in excruciating fashion on a missed layup with a second to go. So it is tempting to think that the door is closing on Penn's chances to move up the S-Curve from a projected 14-seed to a 13-seed.

But the Quakers still have the best way possible to give themselves a boost in the eyes of the selection committee, and that is the one in their own hands: beat Princeton. It may not be enough, but it would likely boost Penn's RPI from the 90's into the 80's, which would help quite a bit. So while there may be some out there who think the big work is done just by getting to the NCAA Tournament, let there be no doubt that this is far from the case.

It might not be easy for the Quakers to get up for the game if they aren't running out in front of a full house, and Jadwin Gym hasn't been sold out for Penn's visit since 2002. Given Princeton's struggles this season, I suspect that trend will continue tomorrow. So it might just be worth remembering a comment that senior guard Eric Osmundson said before the season started: "I know we say it every year, but I truly feel in my heart that we can make it a couple games in the tournament, at least."

If Osmundson wants to have even a tiny chance of making those words come true, Penn had better win tomorrow night. That would be the easiest way to improve Penn's standing on Selection Sunday, no matter what you think of cliched slogans.