Penn State Hosts Rutgers Clutching the NCAA Tournament Bubble

The Lions are looking for a four-game win streak and a clearer path to the tournament.

Penn State began Saturday essentially as the first team out of the NCAA Tournament, according to ESPN analyst Joe Lunardi. The day's results didn't necessarily help, as fellow bubble riders North Carolina, Arizona State, Mississippi State and Clemson all won.

The Lions still have three regular-season games, two weeks and one conference tournament to make their NCAA Tournament case. Which makes Sunday's game against Rutgers so vital.

Penn State brings a three-game win streak back home against the Scarlet Knights, which has lost four of five. A win would lift the Lions into a tie with Rutgers at 9-9 in the conference and, temporarily, out of a Wednesday game at the Big Ten tournament.

Big night at the Bryce Jordan Center. Here's a look.

pic.twitter.com/JnAVEBVnik

— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) February 25, 2023

Penn State (17-11, 8-9) vs. Rutgers (17-11, 9-8)

• When: 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday
• Where: Bryce Jordan Center
• TV: Big Ten Network
• Streaming: FuboTV (start your free trial)
• Penn State NET Ranking: 56
• Rutgers NET Ranking: 37
• Series History: Penn State leads 45-35
• Last Meeting: Rutgers 65-45 on Jan. 24
• Streaks: Rutgers has won two straight

About the Lions: Jalen Pickett's astonishing February run has been Penn State's top story, but there have been some nice subplots. Senior Camren Wynter has averaged 16 points the past two games, shooting 65 percent from the field and a sturdy 85.7 percent from 3-point range. Wynter and Seth Lundy shepherded the Lions through the first half against Ohio State when Pickett struggled and faced foul trouble. One roster spot to watch Sunday involves Kebba Njie. The 6-10 freshman has started 17 games, including the last four, but was injured at Ohio State. Michael Henn, a 6-8 forward who has made four starts, likely gets more of Njie's minutes if the injury is significant. Also, how long will Andrew Funk wait before attempting a 3-pointer? The Big Ten's 3-point leader (2.93 per game) oddly didn't attempt even one against the Buckeyes.

About the Scarlet Knights: Steve Pikiell's team won at then-No. 1 Purdue as part of a five-game win streak in January. But lately the Knights have been shaky, with a 13-point home loss to Michigan being the most notable. It was a miserable game for Rutgers, which shot 38.3 percent from the field and just 31.3 percent from the foul line. So despite holding Michigan to 58 points, the Knights lost for just the second time this season when limiting an opponent to 65 or less. Further, Rutgers' loss to Michigan dropped this to a Quad 2 game for Penn State (home game vs. a team ranked outside the NET top 30). But the Lions should be plenty motivated, particularly after scoring a season-low 45 in Piscataway in January.

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AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.