Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1486024
4 2 D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 2 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M THREE STARS 1. Jalen Pickett | G | Sr.+ Rattling off Pickett's statistics atop nearly every Penn State category doesn't effectively tell the story. Yes, he leads in points, assists, rebounds, minutes, shots made and shots attempted, and he secured the program's second-ever triple-double (15 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists) in a 68-62 win over Butler. But it's Pickett's ability to dictate the terms of every game he plays that is truly uncanny. When the Nittany Lions need a facilitator, his post play opens up shots on the perimeter. When they need a bucket, he provides stability. Off to an ex- cellent start to the 2022-23 campaign, Pickett has delivered in every respect. 2. Andrew Funk | G | Sr.+ Penn State brought in Funk, a graduate transfer who starred on a less-than- stellar Bucknell team, with an opportunity to specialize as a three-point assas- sin. Leading the team in attempts and makes from deep, Funk has done exactly that. He scored 22 points against Furman to open the season and totaled 21 in a loss to Virginia Tech in the Charleston Classic. 3. Seth Lundy | G/F | Sr. The pressure of doing it all has been relieved for Lundy this season. Points, rebounds, assists, and three-point percentage are up, turnovers are down, and his breakout defensive performance from the 2021-22 season has carried over seamlessly. On a team lacking in interior size, Lundy's embrace of a "three-and- D" role has paid dividends both for him individually and for the Nittany Lions this season. KEY MOMENT From the jump, Penn State established who and what it wanted to be this season in its 93-68 win over Winthrop on opening night. Coming off a 2021-22 season in which they were among the nation's slowest-paced, lowest-scoring teams, the Nittany Lions shattered the program record for three-point makes in a game with 18 against the Eagles. They did so off 24 assists for the game, a demonstration of the ball-sharing, open-shot-seeking offense that they intend to deploy for the duration of the season. "This is how we want to play," Pickett said. "Last year, we had to play slow. This year, I think we have a lot of guys we can rotate and it's just going to help us play a more exciting brand of basketball." BEST HIGHLIGHT There are plenty of highlights to choose from out of Penn State's 6-1 start to the season. Twice, the Lions eclipsed 90 points, and they knocked down double-digit three-point makes in all but one of their first seven games. Still, given the sheer infrequency of triple-doubles, Pickett has to get the nod here. In a litmus test game against Butler on Nov. 14, his offense helped PSU build a lead of as many as 16 points. When the Bulldogs rallied to take a 42-40 edge midway through the second half, the veteran's leadership helped PSU fight back. "He settled us. When they're on the run, when you need a tough bucket, to be able to throw him the ball in the post and have him just go score it for you, that's what really good teams have," head coach Micah Shrewsberry said. "That's the Purdue model, that's the Wisconsin model, that's Michigan. We don't have [Michigan's] Hunter Dickinson, and we don't have [Purdue's] Zach Edey, but we can throw the ball to somebody in the post with our shooters around him and get the same result. "That's a luxury for us. I'm happy for him that he got the triple-double. I know he probably doesn't care and he's more excited about winning, holding serve here at home in our first three games. He's probably [unsatisfied] with how he played." BOLD PREDICTION Penn State will announce its place as one of the Big Ten's better teams this season in its two-game conference teaser in December. Set to host Michigan State on Dec. 7, then travel to Illinois three days later, the Nittany Lions could make a big statement by knocking off either one of the Top 25 opponents. Here's guessing they will snatch a surprise win in at least one of those games. — Nate Bauer PENN STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL SUPERLATIVES NOV. 7-25 Through Penn State's first seven games, super senior guard Jalen Pickett was leading the team with averages of 15.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest. PHOTO BY DANIEL ALTHOUSE