Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1495456
A P R I L 2 0 2 3 47 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.+ Pickett collected awards and recognition for his outstanding perfor- mances throughout the season, both in the Big Ten and nationally. Among the highlights were first-team All-Big Ten distinction from both the media and conference coaches, as well as second-team All-America status from The Associated Press, Sporting News and the National Association of Bas- ketball Coaches. While he was eliciting that flood of well-earned praise, Pickett also was helping carry Penn State into the NCAA Tournament with a succession of dazzling performances. Kicking off with a 41-point effort in a must-win game against Illinois on Feb. 14, he strung together a run of 12 games in which he averaged 18.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.8 assists. 2. Andrew Funk | G | Sr.+ Inconsistent at times during Penn State's Big Ten campaign, Funk shined in the homestretch and later in the postseason. Among the highlights were four critical regular-season games against Northwestern (17 points), Maryland (14) and Illinois (20), and he also scored 14 against the Wildcats in the conference tournament. Nothing, however, topped his dazzling 27-point effort versus Texas A&M in the NCAA Tournament. Funk went 8 of 10 from beyond the arc to pro- pel the Nittany Lions to a 76-59 win over the Aggies. 3. Camren Wynter | G | Sr.+ Penn State's successes and failures often mirrored the performances that Wynter was able to deliver this season. In the final week of the regular season, he had game-winning buzzer-beaters against both North- western and Maryland to help Penn State force its way into the NCAA Tournament. Wynter's 24-point outburst at Northwestern on March 1 included a deci- sive three-pointer in overtime, and he also sparked Penn State's win over Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament with 18 points. Key Moment Penn State found itself in a grind against Texas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Unable to recapture the shooting proficiency it had displayed against Texas A&M two nights prior, Penn State instead kept the score within reach and waited for an opportunity to pounce. That opportunity arrived late in the second half. The Lions went on a 10-0 run to take a 58-55 lead and force a Texas timeout. Coach Micah Shrewsberry said he was proud of the effort, but he knew the Longhorns were by no means defeated with five minutes still to play. His message proved prescient when Texas senior forward Dylan Disu brought an end to Penn State's impressive March run. Immediately out of the break, Disu scored at the basket, again late in the shot clock, and most impressively, on a turnaround jumper. His three consecutive baskets turned Penn State's 3-point advantage into a 3-point deficit in less than 2 minutes, effectively snuffing out a Sweet 16 opportunity for the Nittany Lions. Best Highlight Funk couldn't miss against Texas A&M in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. On one of the best shooting nights in program history, the transfer guard hit 80 percent of his three-point attempts to shut down any chance of an Aggies comeback. With his 8 makes from deep, Funk became one of only 13 players to make more than 7 three-pointers in an NCAA Tournament game and the first to do so since 2015. Bold Prediction Penn State's activity in the transfer portal this offseason will again be fruitful. Following the success of Pickett, Funk and Wynter, all of whom ar- rived in State College via the portal, the program has a compelling story to tell potential targets, of which there will be many. — Nate Bauer PENN STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL SUPERLATIVES FEB. 14-MARCH 18 In his lone season at Penn State, transfer guard Andrew Funk led the Big Ten in three-point field goal percentage (41.2) and three-pointers made per game (3.0). He also made 8 of 10 threes to help the Lions to a 76-59 first-round NCAA Tournament win versus Texas A&M. PHOTO BY DANIEL ALTHOUSE