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Penn State Basketball: Previewing and Predicting the 2019-20 season

By Dylan Burd

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 03: Lamar Stevens #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts in the second half while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on January 03, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 68-55. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 03: Lamar Stevens #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts in the second half while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on January 03, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 68-55. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 14: John Harrar #21 of the Penn State Nittany Lions puts up a shot against Daniel Oturu #25 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers at the United Center on March 14, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 14: John Harrar #21 of the Penn State Nittany Lions puts up a shot against Daniel Oturu #25 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers at the United Center on March 14, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Returning Role Players:

John Harrar, F: Going into his junior season, John Harrar is Penn State’s other true big man aside from Mike Watkins. Harrar started 18 of 32 games last season and has provided some nice minutes over the past two seasons, notably when he had 12 rebounds in the NIT Championship his freshman season. When Watkins head to the bench, Penn State is in good hands with Harrar.

Trent Buttrick, F: Buttrick only averaged 7.4 MPG last season despite appearing in 26 games. In those games, he shot 35.9% from the field and 8/28 from beyond the arc. He’s expected to play a bit of a bigger role this season off the bench. In the scrimmage vs. Delaware, Buttrick played 18 minutes, scoring six points and grabbing four rebounds. He also hit two of his four 3s. If Buttrick can be another reliable shooter off the bench for the Nittany Lions, that would be ideal.

Kyle McCloskey, G: The former Villanova QB played his first season for Penn State basketball last season and averaged 7.5 MPG off the bench. In his limited time on the floor, he shot 5/12 from the field and 2/6 from downtown. He’ll likely play a limited role again.

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