Penn State Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for Nittany Lions

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 13: A general view of the Penn State Nittany Lions bringing the ball up court against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the championship game of the 2011 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse on March 13, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Ohio State won 71-60. (Photo by Chris Chambers/Getty Images) /

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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 03: Lamar Stevens #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts in the second half while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on January 03, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 68-55. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Lamar Stevens is one of the best players in the conference

Aside from how the season ended, one of the biggest reasons people have raised expectations is that of the ten players that played at least ten games, eight of them return. The problem is the two players not returning are Rasir Bolton who transferred to Iowa State and Josh Reaves who is now in the NBA. The duo averaged over 22 points, seven rebounds, 4.4 assists, and three steals.

Lamar Stevens is a 6-8 senior forward who tested the NBA waters but decided to return to school. The big man led the team in scoring and rebounding with 19.9 and 7.7 respectively and he was third on the team handing out 2.1 assists per game. Also returning is Stevens’ frontcourt mate Mike Watkins who enjoyed a solid junior year with 7.8 points and 7.4 rebounds while being the team’s top shooter at 56%.

Other key returning players are guards Myles Dread and Jamari Wheeler, Wheeler at 6-1 did a little bit of everything while he was on the floor, averaging 3.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.5 steals in 23 minutes per game. Dread is the team’s top returning long-distance shooter at 35.6%, the Michigan native was fourth on the team in scoring with 8.3 per game. Also back are sophomore guard Myreon Jones and junior forwards John Harrar and Trent Buttrick.

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