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 or pick against it.
Here’s how 10 national college basketball analysts see Penn State doing in its first NCAA Tournament since 2001.
ESPN
JOE LUNARDI
No. 10 Penn State vs. No. 2 Texas A&M
”Very scary matchup. But we’re going A&M. Maybe Penn State a little hungover from the Big Ten Tournament.”
Pick: Texas A&M
”That is a dangerous 10 (seed),” Greenberg said on Selection Sunday. “We’ve 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.”
When publicly picking every tournament game, Greenberg went with Penn State to beat Texas A&M.
”I like Penn State,” he said. “Why 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 don’t turn it over, they don’t 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.”
Greenberg then has Penn State falling to second-seeded Texas in the Round of 32.
”I’m going to go with Texas,” he said. “You look at Texas, they won the Big 12 conference tournament without Timmy Allen. They’re going to get Timmy Allen back. They have Dillion Mitchell. They have an elite backcourt, Marcus Carr is a really good closer.”
Penn State-Texas A&M
”Texas A&M is more disruptive defensively, but Jalen Pickett is the real deal.”
Pick: Penn State
Penn State-Texas
“If 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.”
Pick: Texas
BIG TEN NETWORK
ANDY KATZ
Penn State-Texas A&M
”Penn State will beat Texas A&M. They will not be able able to handle Jalen Pickett. Seth Lundy and Andrew Funk are going to make shots. A&M has not seen a team like Penn State.”
Pick: Penn State
Round of 32: No. 10 Penn State vs. No. 2 Texas
“Again, Penn State had the run to the Big Ten tournament title game. They knock of Texas.”
Pick: Penn State
Sweet 16: No. 10 Penn State vs. No. 6 Iowa State
“Again, I love the offensive execution of Penn State.”
Pick: Penn State
Elite 8: No. 10 Penn State vs. No. 4 Indiana
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 Indiana’s coach Mike Woodson and star players Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino as the reasons why.
“They’ve got multiple pros,” Katz wrote. “They 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 exit
Kyle Boone
Boone also has Penn State losing to the second-seed in the Round of 32
Pick: Second-round exit
