Penn State Basketball: 3 Reasons Nittany Lions won’t be dancing this year

Feb 26, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions interim head coach Jim Ferry signals from the bench during the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Bryce Jordan Center. Purdue defeated Penn State 73-52. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions interim head coach Jim Ferry signals from the bench during the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Bryce Jordan Center. Purdue defeated Penn State 73-52. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /
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Penn State Nittany Lions forward Trent Buttrick (Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports)
Penn State Nittany Lions forward Trent Buttrick (Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports) /

John Harrar can’t do it alone …

John Harrar is an absolute menace.

The football recruit is currently tied for fourth in the conference, despite not being the tallest, the fastest or most athletic.

Outside of Kockburn, Dickinson and Williams (Purdue), I’ll take Harrar over any center in the conference.

The problem is what’s around him.

Trent Buttrick has shown some signs of light offensively, but he can’t guard B1G conference centers, and gets burned off the dribble guarding faster wings.

Abdou Tsimbila has shown promise in limited action, but he’s still a true Freshman.  He could benefit GREATLY from another year of learning from John Harrar if Harrar chooses to take advantage of the free year (not predicting that, but really, really, really, hoping).

There was hopes Seth Lundy could defend the four and turn into the next Lamar Stevens. But, the only other post defender is, oddly, Myles Dread.  He’s listed at 6’4″ so he’s probably 6’2″.  That’s not a real answer to guard conference centers either.

And, of course, with absolutely zero recruits signed next year, unless Harrar or Buttrick come back, Penn State Basketball will have one Center next year (Tsimbila) and really no power forwards.  Which leads us to reason number three that this will be a quiet March …