For Penn State, an NCAA Tournament Bid Hinges on Defense

'We just don't have a defensive DNA right now,' coach Micah Shrewsberry said.

One day after Penn State's disappointing loss at Nebraska, a subdued coach Micah Shrewsberry drew a stark line with his team.

"At some point it's got to kick in that, like, this is it," Shrewsberry said. "... I'm going to be here next year. Some of you guys don't get that opportunity. Seasons are over, careers are over. I'm going to be here. I've got a lot more years to accomplish what we want to accomplish."

Penn State took another road gut-punch Sunday, falling 72-69 at Nebraska in a Big Ten road game that punctured the team's NCAA Tournament chances. The team desperately needs to get back on track Wednesday at home against Wisconsin, another tournament bubble team. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.

The Lions (14-9, 5-7 Big Ten) severely narrowed their window by losing a winnable road game at Nebraska, which they've done too often this season. Penn State has lost five straight conference road games after winning at Illinois in December, and the struggles have been consistent: lax shooting, labored defense and the consistent issues that have followed the team all season.

Penn State ranks 13th in the Big Ten in rebounding (14th in offensive rebounds), 14th in free throws attempted an 14th in turnovers forced. The combination leaves coach Micah Shrewsberry without much room to maneuver. If his team can't make range shots and can't run the defensive system, it's in trouble.

That combination surfaced in back-to-back losses at Purdue and Nebraska. The Lions fell behind the Cornhuskers by 15 at one point, leaving Shrewsberry frustrated. And he vented a bit Monday at his weekly media session.

"We need more committed defenders, more reliable defenders," Shrewsberry said. "We just don’t have a defensive DNA right now from anybody."

The coach went on. The Lions aren't consistent defensively, allowing opponents to score "from wherever they want."

Furthermore: "We're not buying into the system. We're not executing it the right way, so there's no protection and people are getting whatever they want."

At this point, Shrewsberry's primary answer is, play better. He has shuffled rotations, replaced starters and adjusted minutes. Jalen Pickett and Seth Lundy have been strong.

Pickett, who's averaging 17.3 points an 7.8 rebounds per game, is a nominee for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year award. At Nebraska, Lundy scored a team-high 24 points on eight 3-pointers.

Otherwise...

"What are you getting from other guys?" Shrewsberry asked.

What now? Penn State returns home Wednesday to face Wisconsin. The Lions are 11-2 at home. The problem is, they have only four games remaining at the Bryce Jordan Center, three against teams with winning Big Ten records (Illinois, Rutgers, Maryland).

Penn State measures success this season by taking an experienced roster with one of the nation's best players to the tournament. With eight games remaining, that window to success is narrowing.

But Shrewsberry wants to start here.

"There won't be a postseason if we don't start guarding people," he said.

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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.