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Penn State basketball in the NCAA Tournament: Where do the Nittany Lions play in round one?

nate-mug-10.12.14by:Nate Bauer•03/12/23•

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Penn State's Jalen Pickett at the Big Ten tournament
Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Penn State head coach Micah Shrewsberry had to immediately adjust to the whirlwind of emotions. Dropping a 67-65 decision to Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament final on Sunday afternoon, he was asked to describe his emotions.

Minutes after the disappointment of a loss, the minutes soon to follow would be met with significantly better news. His Nittany Lions had assured themselves of a spot in the NCAA Tournament with their magical late-season run, and would soon revel in it.

“We’re disappointed, but not in their effort and how we played,” he said. “We just didn’t finish the job of what we came here for. We wanted to come here and win the championship, and we didn’t get chance to do it. 

“But this is a really unique position for us where we’re gonna go watch the NCAA Tournament Selection Show, and we hear our name called. And at the beginning of the year, probably nobody other than me and those guys in our locker room, and our staff, was saying this was going to happen. So I’m proud of our team for what they’ve done all year.”

Soon after, they’d learn their destination. Penn State was selected to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. Announced Sunday evening following the loss, their destination was solidified.

Penn State has been placed in the Midwest Region regional and landed a 10-seed. The Nittany Lions open play in Des Moines, Iowa, and will face Texas A&M in the first round on Thursday, March 16. The winner will face the winner of Texas and Colgate on Saturday, March 18.

Scouting the matchup

The Aggies finished as the No. 2-seed in the SEC behind a 25-9 record this year. Texas A&M secured a 15-3 mark in conference play. They ultimately reached the SEC final, dropping an 82-63 decision to overall No. 1 seed Alabama.

The Aggies are No. 25 in the updated KenPom, with an overall NCAA NET ranking of No. 19. They’ve also been a study in contrasts with Penn State this season. They are rated the No. 1 team in the country for free throws made per game, and attempted (against the Nittany Lions’ spot at the bottom of all of college basketball). Meanwhile, Penn State attempts and makes among the most 3-pointers, while the Aggies don’t take, or make, many from beyond the arc.

The Aggies are also among the toughest defensive teams nationally under the direction of head coach Buzz Williams. They’ve been stifling, allowing an average of just 65.7 points per game.

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