2020–21 Penn State Nittany Lions basketball team

The 2020–21 Penn State Nittany Lions basketball team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by interim head coach Jim Ferry and played their home games at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pennsylvania as members of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 11–14, 7–12 in Big Ten play to finish in a tie for 10th place. As the No. 10 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, they defeated Nebraska before losing to Wisconsin in the second round.

2020–21 Penn State Nittany Lions basketball
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
2020–21 record11–14 (7–12 Big Ten)
Head coach
Associate head coachKeith Urgo
Assistant coaches
Home arenaBryce Jordan Center
2020–21 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 4 Michigan143 .824235  .821
No. 2 Illinois164 .800247  .774
No. 8 Iowa146 .700229  .710
No. 20 Purdue136 .6841810  .643
No. 7 Ohio State128 .6002110  .677
Wisconsin1010 .5001813  .581
Rutgers1010 .5001612  .571
Maryland911 .4501714  .548
Michigan State911 .4501513  .536
Indiana712 .3681215  .444
Penn State712 .3681114  .440
Northwestern613 .316915  .375
Minnesota614 .3001415  .483
Nebraska316 .158720  .259
2021 Big Ten Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

On October 21, 2020, head coach Pat Chambers resigned after an internal investigation by the school into inappropriate conduct by Chambers.[1] It had been reported in July that former player Rasir Bolton had left the program due to inappropriate comments to him by Chambers.[2] New allegations surfaced after a later investigation by the school that led to Chambers resigning.[1][3] Assistant coach Jim Ferry was named interim coach for the season.[4]

Following the end of the season, the school hired Purdue assistant coach Micah Shrewsberry as head coach.[5]

Previous season

The Nittany Lions finished the 2019–20 season 21–10, 11–9 in Big Ten play to finish in a four-way tie for fifth place. Their season ended following the cancellation of postseason tournaments due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Offseason

Recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Dallion Johnson
SG
Haverhill, MA Phillips Academy 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Jul 15, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

    Roster

    2020–21 Penn State Nittany Lions men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    G 0 Myreon Jones 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)180 lb (82 kg) JrLincoln Academy (GA) Birmingham, Alabama
    F 1 Seth Lundy 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)219 lb (99 kg) SoRoman Catholic High School Paulsboro, New Jersey
    G 2 Myles Dread 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)220 lb (100 kg) JrGonzaga College High School Detroit, Michigan
    G 3 Sam Sessoms 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)187 lb (85 kg) JrBinghamton Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    F 4 Caleb Dorsey 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)230 lb (104 kg) FrThe Hill School Westminster, Maryland
    G 5 Jamari Wheeler 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)170 lb (77 kg) SrRock School Live Oak, Florida
    G 10 Kyle McCloskey 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)212 lb (96 kg) JrGermantown Academy Lower Gwynedd, Pennsylvania
    G 12 Izaiah Brockington 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)200 lb (91 kg) RS JrArchbishop Ryan High School Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    F 14 Patrick Kelly 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)215 lb (98 kg) RS FrIMG Academy Raleigh, North Carolina
    F 15 Trent Buttrick 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)240 lb (109 kg) SrCommunity School of Naples Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
    G 20 Taylor Nussbaum 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)175 lb (79 kg) SrCheshire Academy South Salem, New York
    F 21 John Harrar 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)240 lb (109 kg) SrStrath Haven High School Wallingford, Pennsylvania
    G 22 Dallion Johnson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)175 lb (79 kg) FrPhillips Academy Haverhill, Massachusetts
    G 23 DJ Gordon 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)175 lb (79 kg) FrFirst Love Christian Academy Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    F 30 Abdou Tsimbila 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)235 lb (107 kg) FrSt. Maria Goretti High School Yaoundé, Cameroon
    G 33 Andy Christos 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)175 lb (79 kg) FrMadison High School Madison, New Jersey
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)

    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster
    Last update: April 10, 2021

    Coaching Staff

    Position Name Year Alma mater
    Head coachJim Ferry2017Keene State (1990)
    Associate Head CoachKeith Urgo2011Fairfield (2002)
    Assistant CoachTalor Battle2020Penn State (2011)
    Assistant CoachRoss Condon2011Villanova (2007)
    Director of Basketball OperationsNicholas Colella2015Penn State (2013)
    Director of RecruitingKevin Hudash2018Penn State (2017)
    Athletic trainerJon Salazer2001Penn State (1993)
    Director of Player DevelopmentDavid Caporaletti2011Philadelphia (1993)
    Strength and conditioning coachGreg Miskinis2009Penn State (2008)
    Graduate AssistantK.J. Baptiste2019Brandeis (2018)

    Schedule and results

    Date
    time, TV
    Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Regular season
    November 25, 2020*
     BTN
    Drexel Cancelled due to COVID-19 protocols Bryce Jordan Center 
    University Park, PA
    November 28, 2020*
    1:00 pm, BTN+
    VMI W 86–65  1–0
     18  Wheeler  9  Harrar  3  Sessoms  Bryce Jordan Center (248)
    University Park, PA
    December 2, 2020*
    5:00 pm, FS1
    VCU W 72–69  2–0
     32  Lundy  8  Tied  6  Jones  Bryce Jordan Center (283)
    University Park, PA
    December 6, 2020*
    8:00 pm, BTN
    Seton Hall L 92–98 OT 2–1
     23  Lundy  8  Harrar  6  Sessoms  Bryce Jordan Center (264)
    University Park, PA
    December 8, 2020*
    9:00 pm, ESPNU
    at No. 15 Virginia Tech
    ACC–Big Ten Challenge
    W 75–55  3–1
     24  Brockington  8  Brockington  6  Wheeler  Cassell Coliseum (250)
    Blacksburg, VA
    Big Ten regular season
    December 13, 2020
    2:00 pm, BTN
    at Michigan L 58–62  3–2
    (0–1)
     14  Brockington  7  Buttrick  4  Wheeler  Crisler Center (0)
    Ann Arbor, MI
    December 23, 2020
    6:30 pm, BTN
    No. 18 Illinois L 81–98  3–3
    (0–2)
     21  Tied  7  Buttrick  5  Wheeler  Bryce Jordan Center (158)
    University Park, PA
    December 30, 2020
    8:30 pm, BTN
    at Indiana L 85–87 OT 3–4
    (0–3)
     20  Jones  10  Harrar  3  Tied  Assembly Hall (0)
    Bloomington, IN
    January 17, 2021
    1:00 pm, BTN
    at Purdue L 72–80  3–5
    (0–4)
     23  Jones  14  Harrar  3  Tied  Mackey Arena (168)
    West Lafayette, IN
    January 19, 2021
    8:30 pm, BTN
    at No. 22 Illinois L 65–79  3–6
    (0–5)
     20  Jones  9  Harrar  3  Brockington  State Farm Center (148)
    Champaign, IL
    January 21, 2021
    7:00 pm, BTN
    Rutgers W 75–67  4–6
    (1–5)
     17  Tied  11  Harrar  6  Wheeler  Bryce Jordan Center (209)
    University Park, PA
    January 23, 2021
    7:00 pm, BTN
    Northwestern W 81-78  5-6
    (2-5)
     21  Brockington  10  Harrar  4  Wheeler  Bryce Jordan Center (273)
    University Park, PA
    January 27, 2021
    7:00 pm, BTN
    No. 4 Michigan Postponed due to COVID-19 issues at Michigan[6] Bryce Jordan Center 
    University Park, PA
    January 27, 2021
    7:00 pm, BTN
    at No. 13 Ohio State L 79-83  5-7
    (2-6)
     26  Lundy  10  Harrar  3  Tied  Value City Arena (0)
    Columbus, OH
    January 30, 2021
    3:00 pm, BTN
    No. 14 Wisconsin W 81-71  6-7
    (3-6)
     20  Jones  9  Brockington  5  Wheeler  Bryce Jordan Center (260)
    University Park, PA
    February 2, 2021
    8:30 pm, BTN
    at No. 19 Wisconsin L 56–72  6–8
    (3–7)
     14  Jones  5  Harrar  2  Tied  Kohl Center (0)
    Madison, WI
    February 5, 2021
    7:00 pm, FS1
    Maryland W 55–50  7–8
    (4–7)
     13  Brockington  12  Harrar  2  Tied  Bryce Jordan Center (279)
    University Park, PA
    February 9, 2021
    7:00 pm, ESPN2
    at Michigan State L 58–60  7–9
    (4–8)
     17  Harrar  14  Harrar  4  Harrar  Breslin Center (0)
    East Lansing, MI
    February 14, 2021
    3:00 pm, BTN
    Nebraska L 61-62  7-10
    (4-9)
     18  Jones  11  Harrar  3  Sessoms  Bryce Jordan Center (245)
    University Park, PA
    February 18, 2021
    8:00 pm, BTN
    No. 4 Ohio State L 82–92  7–11
    (4–10)
     18  Jones  7  Wheeler  7  Brockington  Bryce Jordan Center (244)
    University Park, PA
    February 21, 2021
    5:00 pm, FS1
    at No. 11 Iowa L 68–74  7–12
    (4–11)
     11  Tied  7  Brockington  6  Sessoms  Carver–Hawkeye Arena (566)
    Iowa City, IA
    February 23, 2021
    8:00 pm, BTN
    at Nebraska W 86–83  8–12
    (5–11)
     29  Jones  14  Harrar  4  Tied  Pinnacle Bank Arena (0)
    Lincoln, NE
    February 26, 2021
    7:00 pm, FS1
    Purdue L 52–73  8–13
    (5–12)
     11  Jones  6  Wheeler  6  Wheeler  Bryce Jordan Center (261)
    University Park, PA
    March 3, 2021
    7:00 pm, BTN
    Minnesota W 84–65  9–13
    (6–12)
     17  Jones  11  Harrar  5  Tied  Bryce Jordan Center (258)
    University Park, PA
    March 7, 2021
    7:00 pm, BTN
    at Maryland W 66–61  10–13
    (7–12)
     31  Lundy  8  Lundy  3  Wheeler  Xfinity Center (0)
    College Park, MD
    Big Ten Tournament
    March 10, 2021
    9:00 pm, BTN
    (11) vs. (14) Nebraska
    First round
    W 72–66  11–13
     19  Wheeler  14  Harrar  4  Harrar  Lucas Oil Stadium (5,909)
    Indianapolis, IN
    March 11, 2021
    9:00 pm, BTN
    (11) vs. (6) Wisconsin
    Second round
    L 74–75  11–14
     18  Sessoms  10  Harrar  4  Jones  Lucas Oil Stadium (6,769)
    Indianapolis, IN
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Eastern Time.

    References

    1. "PSU's Chambers resigns after probe into conduct". ESPN.com. 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
    2. Washington, Jesse (2020-07-06). "Noose comment by Penn State basketball coach points to larger NCAA problem". The Undefeated. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
    3. "Penn State coach Pat Chambers resigns from position following internal investigation into conduct". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
    4. Leah Asmelash. "A remark about a noose around a player's neck led to Penn State basketball coach's resignation". CNN. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
    5. "PSU hoops hires Shrewsberry as head coach". ESPN.com. 2021-03-15. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
    6. Svoboda, Kurt (January 23, 2021). "University of Michigan Athletics Enters Department-Wide Activity Pause". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
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