Penn State menโs basketball is just barely in the NCAA Tournament according to CBS Sportsโ Bracketology.
New bracket, new No. 1 https://t.co/J4ouVZyuL5
— Jerry Palm (@jppalmCBS) January 20, 2023
Coach Micah Shrewsberryโsย team is among the eight teams in the First Four, as a 12-seed playing Wake Forest.
Penn State is on the bubble at the moment and looking to make its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2011.
Although making the big dance would be a big milestone for the program regardless of how it happens, a 12-seed would be Penn Stateโs second-lowest rating of any of the teamโs tournament appearances in the modern seeding era. Penn State was a No. 5 seed in the 1996 NCAA Tournament, a No. 7 in 2001 and a No. 10 in 2011. In 1991, Penn State was a 13-seed and upset No. 4 UCLA in the first round before falling to No. 12 Eastern Michigan. Penn Stateโs 1996 and 2011 tournaments both ended without a win. But the 2001 squad made some noise, making it to the Sweet 16 in a run highlighted by a second-round upset over No. 2 North Carolina.
Of course, this yearโs team has to play itself into position to make the tournament. Penn State is ย 12-6 overall. The teamโs had an up-and-down Big Ten season so far, sitting at 3-4. Penn State is coming off a disheartening three-point loss at Wisconsin this past Tuesday night. Saturdayโs game against Nebraska at the Bryce Jordan Center is pivotal for Penn State. A win would get Penn State back to .500 in the Big Ten. A loss would be Penn Stateโs fourth in five games.
Thereโs still plenty of work for Penn State to do this season. Weโve not yet reached February. Shrewsberryโs squad has 13 games left counting Saturdayโs game against Nebraska.
Nonetheless, menโs basketball being projected as a tournament team in late January is something that should excite any Penn State fan for the winter ahead.
