March Madness brackets are being filled out nationwide, and for the first time in a dozen years, people can choose to pick Penn State basketball ย or pick against it.
Hereโs how 10 national college basketball analysts see Penn State doing in its first NCAA Tournament since 2001.
ESPN
JOE ย LUNARDI
No. 10 Penn State vs. No. 2 Texas A&M
โVery scary matchup. But weโre going A&M. Maybe Penn State a little hungover from the Big Ten Tournament.โ
Pick: Texas A&M
โThat is a dangerous 10 (seed),โ Greenberg said on Selection Sunday. โWeโve watched Penn State earn their way into the tournament. You watch Penn State, you talk about a tough matchup, Jalen Pickett is one of the toughest matchups in the tournament.โ
When publicly picking every tournament game, Greenberg went with Penn State to beat Texas A&M.
โI like Penn State,โ he said. โWhy do I like Penn State? Texas A&M does the majority of their scoring by getting to the offensive glass and turning you over. Penn State, secret; they donโt turn it over, they donโt give up second-chance shots. You know what they do? They make a lot of 3s and Jalen Pickett is a matchup problem. I have Penn State advancing.โ
Greenberg then has Penn State falling to second-seeded Texas in the Round of 32.
โIโm going to go with Texas,โ he said. โYou look at Texas, they won the Big 12 conference tournament without Timmy Allen. Theyโre going to get Timmy Allen back. They have Dillion Mitchell. They have an elite backcourt, Marcus Carr is a really good closer.โ
Penn State-Texas A&M
โTexas A&M is more disruptive defensively, but Jalen Pickett is the real deal.โ
Pick: Penn State
Penn State-Texas
โIf Timmy Allen plays after missing the Big 12 tournament, he could be matched up with Jalen Pickett. This will be a battle. Texas can really score, and with Tyrese Hunter playing well again, Texas has the more dynamic backcourt.โ
Pick: Texas
BIG TEN NETWORK
ANDY KATZ
Penn State-Texas A&M
โPenn State will beat Texas A&M. They will not be able able to handle Jalen Pickett. Seth Lundyย and Andrew Funkย are going to make shots. A&M has not seen a team like Penn State.โ
Pick: Penn State
Round of 32: No. 10 Penn State vs. No. 2 Texas
โAgain, Penn State had the run to the Big Ten tournament title game. They knock of Texas.โ
Pick: Penn State
Sweet 16: No. 10 Penn State vs. No. 6 Iowa State
โAgain, I love the offensive execution of Penn State.โ
Pick: Penn State
Elite 8: No. 10 Penn State vs. No. 4 Indianaย
Despite Penn State having beaten Indiana both in the regular season and Big Ten Tournament, Katz sees the Hoosiers beating Penn State to get to the Final Four, citing Indianaโs coach Mike Woodson and star players Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino as the reasons why.
โTheyโve got multiple pros,โ Katz wrote. โThey have a pro coach. Indiana advances.
Pick: Indiana
THE SPORTING NEWS
MIKE DECOURCY
No. 10 Penn State vs. No. 7 Texas A&M
Pick: Texas A&M
CBSSports
Gerry Parrish
Penn State-Texas A&M
Pick: Texas A&M
Jerry Palm
Pick: Texas A&M
David Cobb
Pick: Texas A&M
Dennis Dodd
Pick: Texas A&M
Matt Norlander
Norlander has Penn State getting out of the first round, but falling to Texas Saturday.
Pick: Second-round exitย
Kyle Boone
Boone also has Penn State losing to the second-seed in the Round of 32
Pick: Second-round exitย
