Penn State Basketball: Nittany Lions emerging as a 2021-22 offseason winner

Keeping key players from last season’s roster

Despite the departures of Wheeler, Jones, and Brockington, Shrewsberry and the Nittany Lions managed to avoid the substantial exodus of exits that typically follow a coaching change.  The two remaining starters in the frontcourt, Seth Lundy and John Harrar, have both decided to return, while point guard backup Sam Sessoms and Myles Dread – who saw time in reserve at small forward and power forward – are both opting to come back.

Lundy is the lone double-digit scorer returning, having averaged 10.1 points while maintaining one of the team’s best two-point shooting percentages at 46.2%.  Harrar, meanwhile, was a force inside, ranking in the top 500 in the nation in 2P% (55.3%) while hauling down a team-best 8.8 boards.  The 6-9 big man ranks among the nation’s best in a few statistical categories, per KenPom – including 47th in defensive rebounding percentage (25.3%), 9th in offensive rebounding percentage (16.1%), and fourth in free throw rate (79.7).

Both should return to their starting positions without little competition, and returning reserve Abdou Tsimbila – who saw limited time as a freshman in 16 games – should see an increase in minutes.  Additionally, incoming JUCO forward Jevonnie Scott – who initially committed to Texas A&M after averaging 11 points and five boards at South Plains College – should see time in the post.

Finding depth in the backcourt may be the greatest challenge plaguing Shrewsberry and his staff from here on out.  DJ Gordon, who was expected to see a boost in minutes at point guard after a limited freshman campaign, decided to transfer out in late April, adding to the casualties in the frontcourt that were created by Wheeler and Jones.

Some of that will be alleviated by Sessoms, who was stellar to begin the 2020-21 season with seven-straight double-digit performances – before recording just one of those in his next 15 appearances.  He came on strong in the Big Ten Tournament, however, scoring 11 points in the win over Nebraska before logging a season-high 18 points and serving as the catalyst for Penn State’s near comeback win over Wisconsin.

Rounding out the significant returners is Dread, who supplied notable backup minutes for Brockington and Lundy – and even earned a role in the starting lineup in eight of his final nine appearances, replacing Lundy.  Dread has been a steady cog for the Nittany Lions, alternating between single- and double-digit performances while averaging 24.3 minutes per game.

Penn State will also have to address the departures of players like Trent Buttrick and Kyle McCloskey – but the Nitanny Lions’ core line-up should be enough to keep an already competitive Penn State team float.  Adding Pickett and Cornwall to that core – in addition to the gradually growing depth in the frontcourt – bodes well for Penn State, although Shrewsberry and his squad will need to address the depth issues in the backcourt.