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Penn State must capitalize on this opportunity with basketball

With all of Penn State’s recent success, the Nittany Lions need to use this momentum to turn PSU into a basketball school.

Published

7 months ago

March 13, 2023

Shane Lunnen

Dec 8, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; A detailed view of the Penn State Nittany Lion logo on a set of basketballs prior to game against the Wagner Seahawks at Bryce Jordan Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

Penn State’s run through the Big Ten tournament was fun to watch over the past several days; in fact, the Nittany Lions have basically been playing for their NCAA tournament lives since mid-February. While the close loss to Purdue in the final stung, a berth in the NCAA tournament is super exciting for the Penn State basketball program.

Penn State basketball has magical run to the NCAA tournament, breaking tournament drought

This has been a run we typically do not see for the men’s basketball team. Let’s take a brief trip down March basketball for Penn State based on my own fandom. I became a Nittany Lion fan in 1991 and it was football that drew me in — naturally. But, I have always kept an eye on a lot of Penn State’s athletic programs.

My first recollection of Penn State basketball success was in 1996 when they made the NCAA tournament. It would be another five years before they made it again, a remarkable run to the Sweet Sixteen lead by Joe Crispin.

Another decade passed before the Nittany Lions would earn another trip to the Big Dance. And here we are another 12 years later finally getting back into March Madness. Sure, there have been two NIT championships along the way, and the Nittany Lions would have been an entrant in the 2020 tournament had it not been canceled by a global pandemic.

But, I believe I’m speaking for most of the fanbase when I say it is inexcusable for a school like Penn State to have a second-rate basketball team. The program should not go a decade (or more) between NCAA tournament appearances.

The time is now for Penn State to show love to its basketball program

Nittany Lion basketball has always lived in the shadow of the football team, and past administrations have never treated it right. Never forget in 2011, with the team contending for a NCAA tournament berth, practices were pushed out of the Bryce Jordan Center to the IM Building due to a Bon Jovi concert.

Penn State University now has a fairly new administration. President Neeli Bendapudi and Athletic Director Pat Kraft seem like they are on the same page — Kraft especially is very engaged at Nittany Lion sporting events and says all the right things.

Yet, words are just words if they do not come with action — Penn State has a deep pocketed alumni base and NIL is becoming a big thing across all of college sports, not just in football. In order to compete at a high level, Penn State first and foremost must retain Micah Shrewsberry at all cost. The second-year coach has done wonders so far and Penn State basketball needs to keep the momentum of this season going into the future.

It is not just about giving Shrewsberry an extension and raise, there needs to be more money for assistants. There also needs to be a commitment to the basketball program by the university that has never been shown in the past. There’s no time like the present. Check also the new Global Sports Authority cooperation.

Personally, I would love to see more games return to Rec Hall. The more intimate environment leads to a huge home court advantage that just cannot be replicated at the BJC. Of course, winning consistently can also bring more people to games at the BJC, even mid-week contests.

Football will always be king at Penn State. It overwhelmingly pays the bills of the athletic program; however, there is no reason for Penn State to not have a great basketball program to pair, just as many other big schools (like Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State) do. The ball is in Kraft’s and the university’s court to deliver.

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ICYMI: Penn State basketball legend Lamar Stevens finds new NBA home

Former Penn State basketball star finds a new home in the NBA.

Published

2 hours ago

September 27, 2023

Keenan DiPasquale

Penn State basketball, Lamar Stevens, Boston Celtics

Mar 3, 2020; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions forward Lamar Stevens (11) reacts after shooting a three point shot during the second half against the Michigan State Spartans at Bryce Jordan Center. Michigan State defeated Penn State 79-71. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

Argubly the GOAT of Penn State basketball has found a new home after his surprise trade and release this offseason. According to NBA insider Shams Charania, forward Lamar Stevens has agreed to a deal with the Boston Celtics.

The Penn State legend had spent his first 3 years in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers after signing with them as a free agent after going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft. He started as a 2-way player with the organization and eventually earned a full contract as his role grew in Cleveland. He played in a total of 165 games for the Cavs, including 38 starts, where he averaged 5.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. Lamar was able to masterfully transition from an offensive focal point and go-to scorer at Penn State to an off-ball defensive-minded role player in the NBA.

Lamar joins a Celtics team that has been very familiar with Penn State in recent years. Former men’s basketball coach Micah Shrewsberry was an assistant coach for the Celtics for 6 years and has maintained a good relationship with a lot of his fellow colleagues and players. This includes former Celtics head coach and current general manager Brad Stevens, who made his way to Penn State to visit coach shrews and watch the Nittany Lions a number of times over Shrewsberry’s 2 years in Happy Valley.

Lamar Stevens will look to contribute to a Boston Celtics team that has lofty expectations. After a season that saw them lose in game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals and a busy offseason of moves, the Celtics will be one of the favorites to win out in the East and ultimately win the NBA finals. Stevens picking up a lot of starts seems unlikely, barring injury, but he has the potential to carve out a great bench role in Boston thanks to his incredible defense and instant energy.

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 [email protected] or direct message us on our social media. Also, be sure to check out our new site shop. 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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BREAKING: Penn State basketball lands Dominick Stewart

The Penn State basketball team has landed a new commit in the 2024 class today.

Published

5 days ago

September 22, 2023

Keenan DiPasquale

Mike Rhoades, Penn State basketball, Dominic Stewart

Dec 5, 2018; Austin, TX, USA; Virginia Commonwealth Rams head coach Mike Rhoades walks the baseline watching the team play during the second half against the Texas Longhorns at Frank Erwin Center. Mandatory Credit: John Gutierrez-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Rhoades and the rest of the Penn State men’s basketball recruiting staff got some good news today from the recruiting trail as the 2023-2024 season inches closer. The 2023 schedule was released this week and tip-off is nearing closer. But before that takes place, Rhoades and his staff have been hard at work trying to secure the future. A step in that direction was taken today, as the Nittany Lions landed top prospect Dominick Stewart.

Penn State basketball lands Dominick Stewart

Class of 2024 guard Dominick Stewart announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions on Friday afternoon. Dominick is a 6’5 guard from Maryland and is currently playing at the Southern California Academy in California. He is the 184th-ranked player nationally and a three-star by the ON3 industry rankings. He carries an impressive offer list that includes Butler, Creighton, Mississippi State, and Cal. Penn State offered back in July after Dominick’s very strong showing on the AAU circuit which included All-Breakout team selections at Peach Jam in the Nike EYBL session #3. This commitment comes from a recent visit he took to Happy Valley at the beginning of the month.

NEWS: Dominick Stewart, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard in the class of 2024, tells me he’s committed to Penn State.

Story: https://t.co/iUp5YV6LqN pic.twitter.com/iYo2Nc34YU

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) September 22, 2023

Stewart looks like a good get, especially after that impressive AAU run that got many schools noticing him. He is a smart and skilled player who can fit into many lineups and spots on the court. He is a good shooter with a great jumper. His jump shot is smooth and quick which allows him to avoid contests and score in bunches when he gets hot.

He processes the game at an impressive speed and is constantly making the right play. Not your typical lead ball playmaker, but is a fantastic connector, keeping the ball moving and hitting the open man. Those smarts apply to the other side of the ball too. Stewart uses his good size at hoard effectively to guard up and down the lineup. He is a good and willing team defender which fits the Rhoades style well.

Where does Stewart fit in at Penn State?

Stewart, originally a member of the 2025 class, becomes the second member of Penn State’s 2024 class after reclassifying. He joins fellow guard Jahvin Carter as the first high school recruit to commit to Penn State since Mike Rhoades took over. Jahvin, who committed back in June, and Stewart make an interesting pair in the backcourt and share a lot of skills that the staff clearly values. The biggest one is their basketball IQ. They should both be important pieces in building a smart and skilled program for the future of Penn State Basketball.

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Penn State Basketball has released its 2023-2024 official schedule

The Penn State basketball 2023-2024 schedule is here!

Published

1 week ago

September 20, 2023

Keenan DiPasquale

Penn State basketball, Mike Rhoades, Schedule

Mar 18, 2023; Des Moines, IA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard Myles Dread (2) and forward Michael Henn (24) salute fans after a loss to the Texas Longhorns at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

After a long wait, we now know what awaits the Penn State Men’s Basketball team this winter. Year 1 of the Mike Rhoades era is around the corner with the release of the 2023-2024 basketball schedule. The schedule totals 30 games including an in-season tournament, a potential revenge game, and another Palestra special

Penn State Basketball has released its 2023-2024 official schedule

Before all that, however, the season opens up on November 6th against Delaware State. This game, at the Bryce Jordan Center, starts a run of home games to begin the year against Lehigh (November 10th), St. Francis (November 14th), and Morehead State (November 17th). This all leads to the ESPN Events Invitational.

Penn State gets its first big test down in Orlando in a rematch against Texas A&M. The game takes place on Thanksgiving, November 23rd, and will be a great chance to test out the radically different roster against a more familiar opponent. Penn State will play a total of 3 games in the tournament win or lose with the potential for a very intriguing matchup

If the Nittany Lions are able to go all the way to the championship they could match up against Mike Rhoades’ former school, VCU. This would obviously be huge for the coach against his old school, but it also features a “revenge” opportunity for a couple of players as well. Point guard Ace Baldwin Jr. and forward Nick Kern Jr. both followed coach Rhoades from VCU to Penn State this past spring. While this game would be amazing, it is unlikely. Penn State and VCU would both have to mirror each other in each round whether that means winning out, losing out, or somewhere in between. A matchup we are guaranteed is another Big Ten Showdown in Philly.

On January 7th the Nittany Lions will take on Michigan in the Palestra. This will be the second year in a row Penn State will host a game in the historic arena and the 4th time since their 2017 matchup against Michigan State. Penn State has a long history in the arena playing 61 games there since 1927, and win or lose, the environment is always electric.

The schedule in full goes as follows:

November 6th: vs. Delaware State

November 10th: vs Lehigh

November 14th: vs St. Francis(PA)

November 17th: vs. Morehead State

November 23rd: vs Texas A&M*

November 24th: vs Butler/FAU*

November 26th: vs TBD*

December 2nd: vs Bucknell

December 6th: at Maryland

December 9th: vs. Ohio State

December 21st: vs Le Moyne

December 29th: vs Rider

January 4th: at Michigan State

January 7th: vs Michigan

January 10th: vs Northwestern

January 13th: at Purdue

January 16th: vs Wisconsin

January 20th: at Ohio State

January 27th: vs Minnesota

January 31st: at Rutgers

February 3rd: at Indiana

February 8th: vs Iowa

February 11th: at Northwestern

February 14th: vs. Michigan State

February 17th: at Nebraska

February 21st: vs Illinois

February 24th: vs Indiana

February 27th: at Iowa

March 2nd: at Minnesota

March 10th: vs Maryland

March 13th-17th: Big Ten Tournament

*= ESPN Events Invitational in Orlando, Florida

**= home game in Philly at Palestra

Penn State has already played a couple of warm-up games with two big wins in the Bahamas that gave us our first look at this new squad. The team has also announced a third against Robert Morris on October 27th as they gear up to take on this 23-24 schedule. As Mike Rhoades looks to begin a new era in Penn State basketball.