Micah Shrewsberry brings 'NBA mentality' to Penn State, Nittany Lions broadcaster says

Penn State (12-6) is in the NCAA Tournament picture due to head coach Micah Shrewsberry. The Nittany Lions head coach took steps toward improvement in 2022-23.

Despite a Tuesday night loss to Wisconsin on the road, Penn State was one of the Last Four In, according to ESPN’s latest bracketology. But how did Penn State rapidly improve from Year 1 to Year 2 under Shrewsberry?

Penn State basketball play-by-play man Steve Jones joined Sirius XM Big Ten Radio to discuss Shrewsberry’s impact.

“He brings that NBA mentality to the table,” Jones said. “And I think that’s really important and he’s about passing, flow, getting quality shots. Defensively, he wants to defend and see his team defend in such a way where you’re taking the shots he wants you to take. Offensively, he wants the flow to be in such a way where now Penn State’s taking the shots that he wants them to take. 

“And so he’s about precise angles when it comes to screening. He’s about getting open looks because of the angles they are taking and playing defense in such a way where you’re taking a shot like okay, I can live with that shot. You may have made the shot but I can live with it. And I mean, he is really, to me, a next level thinker, and I think it shows up on the court. I think he’s one of the big reasons why Penn State has a chance every time it goes out.”

Shrewsberry and Penn State went just 14-17 last season but are close on that win total already. However, the Nittany Lions suffered disappointment earlier this week.

When asked to identify what separates teams who come out on the winning end of close games and those who don’t, Shrewsberry acknowledged the reality of the situation for the Nittany Lions regarding officiating against Wisconsin.

“The last shot goes in. I don’t know what more else we could have done. We got stops down the stretch,” Shrewsberry said. “I guess the thing, we shouldn’t have fouled early in half and got them in the bonus for so long. But they went for the longest time without a field goal down the stretch. So, we guarded and I thought we got good looks offensively.”

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Penn State (12-6) is back in action at home Saturday against Nebraska (9-9) at 2:15 p.m. ET.