Penn State Basketball: 2021-22 season preview for Nittany Lions

Season outlook

This is a transition year for Penn State as it looks to firmly move past the Pat Chambers era and reinvent itself under Micah Shrewsberry. There were promising developments in the offseason, but it’s probably going to take a little bit of time.

It’s going to be impossible to replace Myreon Jones’ production. He left for Florida in the offseason and the Nittany Lions will be relying on a group to try and make up for what it lost in their leading scorer.

Jalen Pickett will be the first to step up to the plate. While the former Siena star wasn’t on his A-game last season, he should still be able to capitalize on this opportunity. John Harrar and Seth Lundy should also play big roles on this team.

One factor working in Penn State’s favor is the relative experience of the team. All of the projected starters are upperclassmen, mostly either seniors or seniors with an extra year of eligibility remaining. This group should be able to come together for the collective relatively quickly.

The flip side to that is that it’s not easy to see where Penn State will go after this season. There are a few sophomores on the roster who will find ways to contribute, but none are expected to start. There are no freshmen at all. Shrewsberry has already made some good strides on the recruiting trail for next year, which is a positive sign.

The Nittany Lions should be able to avoid the Big Ten basement, but probably not by much. The glory days of 2019-20 area already deep in the rearview mirror – thankfully, Shrewsberry has all the makings of a coach that could get the program back on the right track.