# 2022–23 Penn State Nittany Lions basketball team

The 2022–23 Penn State Nittany Lions basketball team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by second-year head coach Micah Shrewsberry 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 23–13, 10–10 in Big Ten play to finish in a tie for ninth place. They defeated Illinois, Northwestern, and Indiana to advance to the championship game of the Big Ten tournament. There they lost to Purdue. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2011 as the No. 10 seed in the Midwest region. They defeated Texas A&M in the first round of the tournament, marking their first tournament win since 2001, before losing to Texas in the second round.
On March 22, 2023, Micah Shrewsberry left the school to take the head coaching job at Notre Dame. On March 29, the school named VCU head coach Mike Rhoades the team's new head coach.

## Previous season

The Nittany Lions finished the 2021–22 season 14–17, 7–13 in Big Ten play to finish in a three-way tie for 10th place. As the No. 11 seed in the Big Ten tournament, they defeated Minnesota and Ohio State before losing to Purdue in the quarterfinals.

## Offseason
### Departures

| Name | Num | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Reason for departure |
| Irekefe Oweh | 0 | G | 6'2" | 188 | Sophomore | North Brunswick, NJ | Walk-on; transferred |
| Sam Sessoms | 3 | G | 6'0" | 189 | Senior | Philadelphia, PA | Graduate transferred to Coppin State |
| Greg Lee | 5 | F | 6'9" | 217 | GS Senior | Rockford, IL | Graduated |
| Jaheam Cornwall | 11 | G | 6'0" | 190 | GS Senior | Brooklyn, NY | Graduated |
| Jevonnie Scott | 13 | F | 6'7" | 252 | Junior | Toronto, ON | Transferred to Brock |
| Jalanni White | 14 | F | 6'8" | 205 | GS Senior | New Haven, CT | Graduated |
| John Harrar | 21 | F | 6'9" | 240 | GS Senior | Wallingford, PA | Graduated |

### Incoming transfers

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Previous college |
| Andrew Funk | 10 | G | 6'5" | 188 | GS Senior | Warrington, PA | Bucknell |
| Camren Wynter | 11 | G | 6'2" | 185 | GS Senior | Hempstead, NY | Drexel |
| Michael Henn | 24 | F | 6'8" | 225 | GS Senior | Bellevue, WA | Denver |

### 2022 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Kebba Njie #15 C | Centerville, OH | La Lumiere School | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Aug 18, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 82 ||||||
| Jameel Brown #29 SG | Haverford, PA | The Haverford School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | Aug 23, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 82 ||||||
| Kanye Clary #40 PG | Woodstock, VA | Massanutten Military Academy | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Jun 3, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 80 ||||||
| Demetrius Lilley #57 C | Wynnewood, PA | Lower Merion High School | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | Sep 24, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 78 ||||||
| Evan Mahaffey #47 SF | Cincinnati, OH | Archbishop Moeller High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Aug 11, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 78 ||||||
| 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: "2022 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. ||||||

## Coaching staff

| Position | Name | Year | Alma mater |
| Head coach | Micah Shrewsberry | 2021 | Hanover (1999) |
| Associate head coach | Adam Fisher | 2021 | Penn State (2006) |
| Assistant Coach | Aki Collins | 2021 | Clark Atlanta (1997) |
| Assistant Coach | Mike Farrelly | 2011 | Saint Joseph's (2003) |
| Director of Basketball Operations | Nicholas Colella | 2015 | Penn State (2013) |
| Director of Recruiting | Brian Snow | 2021 | Ohio State (2007) |
| Athletic trainer | Justin Pomar | 2021 | Penn State (2014) |
| Director of player development | Mike Green | 2021 | Butler (2008) |
| Strength and conditioning coach | Greg Miskinis | 2009 | Penn State (2008) |

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Regular season |||||||||
| November 7, 2022* 7:00 p.m., BTN+ | | Winthrop | W 93–68 | 1–0 | 23 – Pickett | 6 – Dorsey | 5 – Pickett | Bryce Jordan Center (6,572) University Park, PA |
| November 10, 2022* 7:00 p.m., BTN+ | | Loyola (MD) | W 90–65 | 2–0 | 18 – Wynter | 5 – Funk | 11 – Pickett | Bryce Jordan Center (6,444) University Park, PA |
| November 14, 2022* 8:30 p.m., FS1 | | Butler Gavitt Tipoff Games | W 68–62 | 3–0 | 15 – Pickett | 10 – Pickett | 11 – Pickett | Bryce Jordan Center (6,762) University Park, PA |
| November 17, 2022* 11:30 a.m., ESPNU | | vs. Furman Charleston Classic Quarterfinals | W 73–68 | 4–0 | 20 – Tied | 7 – Lundy | 7 – Pickett | TD Arena Charleston, SC |
| November 18, 2022* 12:00 p.m., ESPN2 | | vs. Virginia Tech Charleston Classic semifinals | L 59–61 | 4–1 | 21 – Funk | 9 – Lundy | 8 – Pickett | TD Arena Charleston, SC |
| November 20, 2022* 6:00 p.m., ESPNU | | vs. Colorado State Charleston Classic 3rd place game | W 68–56 | 5–1 | 17 – Lundy | 11 – Pickett | 3 – Pickett | TD Arena (5,405) Charleston, SC |
| November 25, 2022* 7:00 p.m., BTN+ | | Lafayette | W 70–57 | 6–1 | 18 – Pickett | 7 – Lundy | 8 – Pickett | Bryce Jordan Center (5,652) University Park, PA |
| November 29, 2022* 7:15 p.m., ESPNU | | at Clemson ACC–Big Ten Challenge | L 94–101 $^{2OT}$ | 6–2 | 26 – Wynter | 12 – Lundy | 8 – Pickett | Littlejohn Coliseum (5,861) Clemson, SC |
| December 7, 2022 6:30 p.m., BTN | | Michigan State | L 58–67 | 6–3 (0–1) | 16 – Lundy | 17 – Pickett | 8 – Pickett | Bryce Jordan Center (8,302) University Park, PA |
| December 10, 2022 12:00 p.m., BTN | | at No. 17 Illinois | W 74–59 | 7–3 (1–1) | 20 – Tied | 7 – Tied | 6 – Pickett | State Farm Center (15,544) Champaign, IL |
| December 18, 2022* 12:00 p.m., BTN | | Canisius | W 97–67 | 8–3 | 16 – Pickett | 8 – Nije | 9 – Pickett | Bryce Jordan Center (4,342) University Park, PA |
| December 22, 2022* 4:30 p.m., BTN | | Quinnipiac | W 77–68 | 9–3 | 21 – Pickett | 12 – Pickett | 9 – Pickett | Bryce Jordan Center (3,804) University Park, PA |
| December 29, 2022* 7:00 p.m., BTN+ | | Delaware State | W 60–46 | 10–3 | 15 – Lundy | 10 – Lundy | 6 – Pickett | Bryce Jordan Center (5,454) University Park, PA |
| January 1, 2023 5:30 p.m., BTN | | Iowa | W 83–79 | 11–3 (2–1) | 26 – Pickett | 7 – Pickett | 6 – Pickett | Bryce Jordan Center (6,060) University Park, PA |
| January 4, 2023 7:00 p.m., BTN | | at Michigan | L 69–79 | 11–4 (2–2) | 26 – Pickett | 9 – Pickett | 4 – Pickett | Crisler Center (12,707) Ann Arbor, MI |
| January 8, 2023 6:00 p.m., BTN | | vs. No. 1 Purdue | L 63–76 | 11–5 (2–3) | 26 – Pickett | 9 – Pickett | 8 – Pickett | Palestra (8,722) Philadelphia, PA |
| January 11, 2023 7:00 p.m., BTN | | Indiana | W 85–66 | 12–5 (3–3) | 25 – Lundy | 6 – Lundy | 8 – Pickett | Bryce Jordan Center (8,502) University Park, PA |
| January 17, 2023 8:30 p.m., BTN | | at Wisconsin | L 60–63 | 12–6 (3–4) | 19 – Pickett | 12 – Pickett | 6 – Pickett | Kohl Center (14,236) Madison, WI |
| January 21, 2023 2:15 p.m., BTN | | Nebraska | W 76–65 | 13–6 (4–4) | 23 – Funk | 13 – Pickett | 5 – Pickett | Bryce Jordan Center (11,297) University Park, PA |
| January 24, 2023 6:30 p.m., BTN | | at Rutgers | L 45–65 | 13–7 (4–5) | 15 – Pickett | 8 – Pickett | 3 – Dread | Jersey Mike's Arena (8,038) Piscataway, NJ |
| January 29, 2023 12:00 p.m., BTN | | Michigan | W 83–61 | 14–7 (5–5) | 25 – Pickett | 8 – Pickett | 8 – Pickett | Bryce Jordan Center (12,047) University Park, PA |
| February 1, 2023 6:30 p.m., BTN | | at No. 1 Purdue | L 60–80 | 14–8 (5–6) | 18 – Lundy | 6 – Lundy | 7 – Pickett | Mackey Arena (14,876) West Lafayette, IN |
| February 5, 2023 4:30 p.m., BTN | | at Nebraska | L 63–72 | 14–9 (5–7) | 24 – Lundy | 9 – Njie | 7 – Pickett | Pinnacle Bank Arena (14,385) Lincoln, NE |
| February 8, 2023 8:30 p.m., BTN | | Wisconsin | L 74–79 $^{OT}$ | 14–10 (5–8) | 17 – Pickett | 9 – Lundy | 8 – Pickett | Bryce Jordan Center (7,213) University Park, PA |
| February 11, 2023 12:00 p.m., BTN | | at Maryland | L 68–74 | 14–11 (5–9) | 17 – Clary | 7 – Lundy | 5 – Pickett | Xfinity Center (17,950) College Park, MD |
| February 14, 2023 7:00 p.m., ESPNU | | Illinois | W 93–81 | 15–11 (6–9) | 41 – Pickett | 7 – Lundy | 8 – Pickett | Bryce Jordan Center (7,297) University Park, PA |
| February 18, 2023 7:00 p.m., BTN | | at Minnesota | W 76–69 | 16–11 (7–9) | 32 – Pickett | 9 – Pickett | 8 – Pickett | Williams Arena (11,693) Minneapolis, MN |
| February 23, 2023 6:30 p.m., FS1 | | at Ohio State | W 75–71 | 17–11 (8–9) | 23 – Pickett | 6 – Wynter | 4 – Pickett | Value City Arena (11,996) Columbus, OH |
| February 26, 2023 6:30 p.m., BTN | | Rutgers | L 56–59 | 17–12 (8–10) | 16 – Wynter | 9 – Pickett | 5 – Pickett | Bryce Jordan Center (12,082) University Park, PA |
| March 1, 2023 9:00 p.m., BTN | | at Northwestern | W 68–65 $^{OT}$ | 18–12 (9–10) | 24 – Wynter | 8 – Funk | 11 – Pickett | Welsh–Ryan Arena (7,039) Evanston, IL |
| March 5, 2023 12:00 p.m., BTN | | No. 21 Maryland | W 65–64 | 19–12 (10–10) | 16 – Pickett | 7 – Pickett | 6 – Pickett | Bryce Jordan Center (10,672) University Park, PA |
| Big Ten tournament |||||||||
| March 9, 2023 6:30 p.m., BTN | (10) | vs. (7) Illinois Second round | W 79–76 | 20–12 | 20 – Funk | 10 – Lundy | 8 – Pickett | United Center Chicago, IL |
| March 10, 2023 6:30 p.m., BTN | (10) | vs. (2) Northwestern Quarterfinals | W 67–65 $^{OT}$ | 21–12 | 16 – Lundy | 9 – Pickett | 2 – Tied | United Center Chicago, IL |
| March 11, 2023 3:30 p.m., CBS | (10) | vs. (3) No. 19 Indiana Semifinals | W 77–73 | 22–12 | 28 – Pickett | 9 – Njie | 4 – Pickett | United Center (18,059) Chicago, IL |
| March 12, 2023 3:30 p.m., CBS | (10) | vs. (1) No. 5 Purdue Championship | L 65–67 | 22–13 | 19 – Lundy | 8 – Lundy | 4 – Tied | United Center Chicago, IL |
| NCAA Tournament |||||||||
| March 16, 2023* 9:55 pm, TBS | (10 MW) | vs. (7 MW) No. 17 Texas A&M First Round | W 76–59 | 23–13 | 27 – Funk | 7 – Pickett | 8 – Pickett | Wells Fargo Arena (16,728) Des Moines, IA |
| March 18, 2023* 7:45 p.m., CBS | (10 MW) | vs. (2 MW) No. 5 Texas Second Round | L 66–71 | 23–14 | 16 – Wynter | 10 – Pickett | 3 – Funk | Wells Fargo Arena (16,796) Des Moines, IA |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. MW=Midwest. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||
Source