Texas Basketball: Analyzing 3 biggest threats Penn State poses

The next matchup for the two-seed Texas basketball and interim head coach Rodney Terry in the NCAA Tournament Midwest Region comes on March 18 against the 10-seed Penn State Nittany Lions. Terry’s squad will battle an upstart Penn State team led by consensus All-American senior guard Jalen Pickett, who does a lot of everything for the Nittany Lions.

Meanwhile, Terry and the Longhorns have really found their stride in the last few weeks. Texas has won five straight games dating back to a convincing double-digit regular season finale win at home over the No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks on March 4.

Texas moved its winning streak to five games by defeating the 15-seed Colgate Raiders in the Round of 64 on March 16, by a score of 81-61.

Penn State had an impressive win of its own, though, pulling off the upset of the seven-seed Texas A&M Aggies in the Round of 64 on March 16 by a commanding score of 76-59. Penn State has now won nine of its last 11 and has taken down some really solid teams in the last couple of months. The Nittany Lions defeated seven tournament teams over the span of eight games within the last five weeks alone.

Threats Jalen Pickett and Penn State pose to Rodney Terry and No. 2 Texas basketball

Here’s a look at a breakdown of the three biggest threats that Penn State poses to the Longhorns in Round of 32 action.

Jalen Pickett’s playmaking

There’s a real argument to be made that Pickett is the best playmaker in the country this season. The First-Team All-American is able to score from multiple levels of the floor, as he’s shooting 51 percent from the field and 39 percent from deep. He’s also able to get it done with his court vision and passing ability.

In fact, he led the Big Ten in assists per game this season (6.7) and assist percentage (40.3). Both of those assist numbers were also good for top five in the NCAA so far this season.

What makes Pickett so dangerous as a playmaker and a facilitator is not just his ability to score from anywhere on the floor, but also to create passing lanes seemingly out of nowhere to find open teammates.

Pickett also uses his size to his advantage. For someone that can play the role of a true floor general, Pickett has great size and strength at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds. He can pull up above opposing defenders or finish through contact at the rim. Pickett ranks in the 85th percentile or higher this season in terms of points per possession on shots at the rim, contested pull-up field goals, and runners (per Synergy).

Texas has certainly faced some very capable scorers in the Big 12 this season, and even during the non-conference slate. Big 12 stars such as Kansas forward Jalen Wilson, Baylor’s Adam Flagler, and Kansas State’s Markquis Nowell, certainly were all worthy opponents for the Longhorns.

But none of those First-Team All-Big 12 selections have quite the dynamic playmaking ability while playing at any position between the one and the three as Pickett.