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Penn State Basketball Heads to Columbus for Crucial Tilt with Ohio State

Published

4 weeks ago

February 22, 2023

Feb 18, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard Jalen Pickett (22) drives to the basket while Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Dawson Garcia (3) defends during the second half at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

In what can easily be called the biggest game for Penn State basketball since the 2019-20 season, the Nittany Lions (16-11, 7-9 Big Ten) head to Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. The game will be nationally televised on FS1 with a 6:30 PM (EST) tip-off.

Scouting the Opponent

This has not been a typical season for Ohio State (11-16, 3-13 B1G), a team that has made the last five NCAA tournaments. They are in the midst of an eight-game losing streak, their last win coming over a month ago at home against Iowa. Ohio State got a further blow on Wednesday afternoon when it was announced that junior forward Zed Key, who was averaging 10.8 PPG this year, would miss the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury.

One of the lone bright spots for the Buckeyes has been freshman forward Brice Sensabaugh, who is Ohio State’s leading scorer at 16.5 PPG. He is a projected top-20 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Ohio State currently sits at No. 64 in the NET rankings, meaning if the Nittany Lions were able to win, it would count as a Quadrant I victory.

Keeping Momentum (and Hope) Alive For Penn State Basketball

Penn State comes into this game winners of their last two. They picked up a Quadrant I win over Illinois last Tuesday at the BJC and then their second road win of the year at Minnesota on Saturday. The Nittany Lions will look to keep the momentum rolling Thursday night, however this will be easier said than done despite Ohio State’s struggles. Penn State has not won in Columbus since the 2017-18 season.

The last time these two teams met was on a neutral site for last year’s Big Ten Tournament. Penn State overcame an 11 point deficit in the second half to stun the Buckeyes. Before that meeting, Ohio State swept the two-game regular season series. If Penn State is able to win, they will keep themselves in the conversation for an NCAA tournament berth. While a loss won’t necessarily eliminate them, it will make an already uphill battle that much more steep.

Pickett Shines, Brings Penn State Basketball Close to Record

Jalen Pickett is coming off arguably the most successful week a Penn Stater has ever had on the basketball court. He collected Naismith National Player of the Week, Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week (USBWA), and ESPN National Player of the Week honors, among others, in addition to being named the Big Ten Player of the Week. Pickett was in some truly rarefied air.

Per OptaSTATS, Pickett, LeBron James and Steph Curry are the only three players in NCAA Division I or the NBA in the last 25 years to have had a two-game span with 70+ points, 15+ assists, 10+ rebounds, 65.0+ FG% and 90.0+ FT%. Not bad company, being mentioned among this generation’s two greatest players. He averaged 36.5 PPG, including 9 three pointers. Those three pointers have brought Penn State within two triples shy of the single-season program record for three pointers.

The record is currently held by the 2017-2018 NIT Championship team, which hit 294 three pointers. Given the Nittany Lion’s style of play, that record is more than likely to fall in Columbus on Thursday night.

Penn State Basketball Keys To Victory

Start Hot, Stay Hot

It is a secret to no one that the Nittany Lions live or die by the three ball. They have really struggled with the three ball on the road this year. If they want to walk out of Columbus with a win, they are going to have to buck that trend and shoot lights out.

Shut Down Sensabaugh

With the Buckeyes losing other key scoring options to injury, the offense is going to run through Brice Sensabaugh. It is not going to be an easy task to shut him down, especially considering the Nittany Lion’s struggles in the interior all year. Penn State is going to have to employ some double teams and creative defensive looks to shut down the stud freshman.

Jalen Pickett

Not much more to say here besides Jalen Pickett. If Jalen Pickett is able to continue the run of play he has been on, he can will this team to victory against just about any opponent.

Prediction For Penn State basketball At Ohio State

The Nittany Lions have been awful on the road all year, even struggling with a really bad Minnesota team in Minneapolis on Sunday night. However, Ohio State is awful and it seems that Penn State is perhaps rounding into form at just the right time for the stretch run. It’ll be a nail biter, but Pickett wills this team to another road victory and gives Penn State a real chance to dance.

Final Score Prediction: Penn State 77, Ohio State 72

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REPORT: Penn State Basketball Coach Micah Shrewsberry Decision Coming ‘in Next 36 Hours’

Penn State head coach Micah Shrewsberry is expected to decide on his coaching future in the coming days, according to reports.

Published

20 hours ago

March 21, 2023

Matt Thomas

Penn State basketball, Micah Shrewsberry

Mar 18, 2023; Des Moines, IA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Micah Shrewsberry reacts during the second half against the Texas Longhorns at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

State College — It’s been a whirlwind month inside the men’s basketball facility at the Bryce Jordan Center. In February, it looked like Penn State basketball was in for a post season letdown. But then, Micah Shrewsberry led the Nittany Lions on a 5-1 run to close out the regular season. Penn State made it all the way to the Big Ten Tournament Championship, and won the program’s first NCAA Tournament game since 2001.

All the while, tension built as to Shrewsberry’s future in Happy Valley. Reports surfaced Monday that Shrewsberry was in talks with Notre Dame. Speculation swirled as to AD Pat Kraft’s push to keep Shrewsberry as the Penn State basketball coach.

And after all the reading of tea leaves, it appears that an answer is coming soon.

Penn State Basketball Coach Micah Shrewsberry Decision Imminent

According to a report from ESPN on Tuesday afternoon, Micah Shrewsberry is expected to decide on his future “in the next 36 hours or so.”

The article notes that Shrewsberry has also emerged as a candidate for the Providence job, after the Friars’ coach Ed Cooley took the Georgetown job on Monday. However, headlines quickly pinpointed that Shrewsberry was either considering staying at Penn State or going to Notre Dame.

It is widely believed in Penn State circles that the university made as good of a push as it could to retain Shrewsberry after the season ended in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 Saturday. Now, Penn State must wait and see what Notre Dame can offer and if the opportunity to counter exists.

Notre Dame coach Mike Brey left the program after going 11-21 this season. He is expected to become the new head coach at South Florida.

Notre Dame could be an appealing job to Shrewsberry, an Indiana native who has spent much of his professional career coaching in the state. Shrewsberry was the head coach at Indiana University-South Bend from 2005 to 2007 before coaching at both Butler and Purdue.

We will provide updates as the situation evolves.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics.

For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at basicbluesnation@gmail.com or direct message us on our social media. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!

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Regardless of the outcome, Penn State needs to go down swinging for Shrewsberry

The Nittany Lions need to prove that the school is ready to take hoops seriously.

Published

1 day ago

March 21, 2023

CJ Mangum

Penn State basketball coach Micah Shrewsberry

Dec 10, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Micah Shrewsberry reacts off the bench during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

STATE COLLEGE, PA — Yesterday, we reported that Penn State’s head basketball coach is currently in talks with Notre Dame for their coaching vacancy. This is bad news for Nittany Lion basketball fans; however, regardless of the outcome, Penn State University needs to fight to keep Micah Shrewsberry in town. If nothing else, the school needs to show fans, players, and its potential next head coach that they are ready to take Penn State basketball seriously.

Penn State basketball sees a marvelous turnaround in just two seasons

Since 2001, the Penn State basketball team had appeared in the NCAA tournament twice (2001, 2011) and won a tournament game once (2001). That all changed when Micah Shrewsberry was introduced as Penn State’s new basketball coach. In just two seasons at the helm in State College, Shrewsberry took Penn State from a doormat program to the Big Ten title game, an NCAA tournament berth, and even a tournament win over Texas A&M.

On top of Shrewsberry’s on-court success, he also managed to pull two of the best recruiting classes that Penn State basketball had ever seen, and used the transfer portal to bring in some of the team’s best players (such as Andrew Funk). If the 2022-23 season proved anything, it is that the Nittany Lions should be ready to go all out to keep Micah Shrewsberry in town.

Notre Dame might be an offer that Micah Shrewsberry cannot refuse

Micah Shrewsberry has spent the majority of his life in Indiana — many of his coaching jobs have been in IN as well. While State College is still in the midwestern area, it is not truly home for Shrewsberry, which is something that has been cited as possibly being a reason that he eventually leaves for a school in Indiana. Notre Dame is also willing to spend good money on basketball and has very nice facilities to work with; if you want to build a winner, the Notre Dame job likely looks more appealing than Penn State does right now — for basketball, that is.

If Notre Dame puts a solid offer on the table for Shrewsberry, offers him enough to pay his staff well, and gives him a chance to coach in a place that he calls home, there might not be much that Penn State basketball can do. Still, Penn State needs to go down swinging even if this is the case.

Penn State University needs to go down swinging

Pat Kraft is a fantastic athletic director, and right now, he is facing his biggest test to date. Even if Micah Shrewsberry decides to leave, Kraft and the administration need to go all out in keeping him around — if nothing else, it sends the right message for whoever is next.

If the Penn State basketball program ever wants to be successful, they need to find someone that is willing to put the work into building a winner — if the school goes down swinging trying to keep Micah in town, it shows the fans, recruits, and even the next head coach that Penn State is ready to become a contender. PSU has the money to put into hoops, now its time to find a coach that wants to build something special in State College. If that person is Micah Shrewsberry, that is great news; however, even if it’s not, it is time that Penn State takes the program seriously.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics.

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Micah Shrewsberry reportedly in talks with Notre Dame

According to reports, the Nittany Lions’ head coach is in talks with Notre Dame.

Published

2 days ago

March 20, 2023

CJ Mangum

Mar 18, 2023; Des Moines, IA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Micah Shrewsberry signals to his players during the first half against the Texas Longhorns at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

STATE COLLEGE, PA — On Monday, Penn State fans got some news that they likely did not want to hear. According to David Jones of PennLive, Penn State basketball coach Micah Shrewsberry began talks with Notre Dame for its head coaching vacancy. Jones also claims that the Nittany Lions have likely already made their pitch to Shrewsberry, so the ball is in his court.

Penn State basketball coach Micah Shrewsberry reportedly in talks with Notre Dame

Micah Shrewsberry has done magical things with the Penn State basketball program over the past two seasons, so it comes as no surprise that he is a top target for many major schools like Notre Dame. Before the Shrewsberry era, the Nittany Lions had not made a trip to the NCAA tournament since 2011, and had not won a tournament game since 2001.

In just two seasons at the helm, Micah Shrewsberry turned Penn State basketball into a tournament team — the Nittany Lions went 23-14 in 2022-23, and made an appearance in the Big Ten title game. Penn State also beat Texas A&M in Round 1 of the NCAA tournament; the program’s first tournament win in over two decades. If that was not enough, Shrewsberry also pulled the two best recruiting classes in Penn State history during his two seasons in State College, and is already working on a brand new transfer and freshman class that could be just as special.

Right now, the Penn State basketball program needs to do everything that it can do to keep Shrewsberry. If the Nittany Lions are to lose out on an incredible head coach like he has been, the program will lose all momentum and begin to regress back to the state it has been for decades now. Assuming Jones’ report is accurate, Penn State basketball fans need to cross their fingers that Pat Kraft’s offer is better the what the Fighting Irish are putting on the table.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics.