Busting Brackets
Fansided

Big Ten Basketball: Badgers to turn NCAA Tournament momentum into Big Ten title

By Bryce Bennett

Dec 28, 2014; Madison, WI, USA; The Big Ten Conference logo on the Kohl Center Court during pre-game warm-ups before the Wisconsin Badgers take to the floor to play the Buffalo Bulls at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2014; Madison, WI, USA; The Big Ten Conference logo on the Kohl Center Court during pre-game warm-ups before the Wisconsin Badgers take to the floor to play the Buffalo Bulls at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 16
Next
Feb 28, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Pat Chambers stands on the court during the first half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Pat Chambers stands on the court during the first half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

11. Penn State Nittany Lions

2015-16 record: 16-16 overall, 7-11 in Big Ten

Head coach: Pat Chambers

Notable departures: Brandon Taylor, Donovon Jack, Devin Foster, Joe Hampton (freshman – left during summer).

Notable returnees: Shep Garner, Payton Banks, Josh Reaves, Julian Moore Isaiah Washington

Notable newcomers:  Four-star F Lamar Stevens, four-star PG Tony Carr and three-star SF Nazeer Bostick, redshirt freshman F Mike Watkins, UConn transfer G Terrence Samuel

Could Pat Chambers be turning Penn State around? The Nittany Lions have been a sexy sleeper pick in the Big Ten, and there is an argument for it. Chambers brought in the best 2016 recruiting class in the team’s history, two of their top three leading scorers are back and the team markedly improved as the season went on in 2015-16.

So why are they so low in our preview? They still lost leading scorer Brandon Taylor, their front court could be messy and recruiting rankings are still just projections.

The team won seven conference games last season with upset victories over Indiana and Iowa. That feels about right again this season. Expect this team to improve their non-conference record though and to finish anywhere between 16-19 wins.

Big Ten play could be troublesome for the young Nittany Lions, however, it will be an interesting year in Happy Valley.

Home/Big Ten