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Penn State star Jalen Pickett joins the Hoops Show

Headshot 5x7 reduced qualityby:Thomas Frank Carr•02/22/23•

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Jalen Pickett Penn State basketball On3
Penn State guard Jalen Pickett has only shot 47 free throws in Big Ten games despite playing in the post much more than the average guard. Check out the show to see what he has to say about that. (Photo: Dan Althouse/BWI)

After his explosive two-game performance in which he scored 41 and 35 points in back-to-back wins, Penn State point guard Jalen Pickett joins the Blue White Illustrated Penn State Hoops Show. The National and Big Ten player of the week sits down with basketball insider Nate Bauer to discuss his recent performance and the team’s winning streak.

Bauer also asks Pickett how his style of play affects calls he gets on the court, his health at this point in the season, and the team’s chances of making the NCAA tournament. Check out the show for the entire conversation and stick around afterward for the after-discussion between host Thomas Frank Carr and Bauer.

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Pickett takes advantage of his reputation at Penn State

Shooting has been a resurgent part of Pickett’s game during last week’s offensive explosion. He hit nine three-pointers in the two wins over Illinois and Minnesota after only taking eight in the previous three games. Pickett is aware of his reputation as a post-up guard and said that the way teams were guarding him initiated the change,

“You know, shooting the basketball is one of the most important things you can do now, playing basketball, and basically everybody shoots threes. So Taaj (graduate assistants Taaj Ridley) and JT (Josh Towsend) do a great job in openness to workouts and different things like that of taking these types of shots. So definitely been a big emphasis, and it just came back like recently because we see how people are guarding. People are going to away under, so you know, they want to go that far under, I’ve got to make them. I gotta make them pay,” Pickett said.

Pickett has a pro mindset about recovery

The basketball season tipped off in October, and after nearly 30 games, it’s reasonable to expect some wear and tear for a player who plays almost every minute for Penn State. So, how is Pickett feeling physically with only four games left in the regular season? It’s something he stays on top of.

“That’s definitely something I picked up throughout my career. I mean, when I came in as a freshman, I told those guys I never went to the training room and things like that. You know, maybe caught up to me around COVID. But, you know, I’m just in all the time now just taking care of my body, and it just helps you feel better, play better,” he tells Bauer.

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