A Penn State Tournament Rally? It's Happened Before

In 2001, the Lions blew a 20-point halftime lead vs. Ohio State. Then they went to the Sweet 16.

Looking for silver linings after Penn State blew a 19-point lead to Rutgers on Sunday? Well, Penn State's best NCAA Tournament run of the 64-team era followed a blown lead of 20 points. Perhaps Penn State has a similar rally ready this year.

The Lions closed the 2001 regular season by falling to Ohio State 93-87, a game they led by 20 points at halftime. Penn State also led the Buckeyes by 18 with 11 minutes remaining but watched that advantage dissolve — and an NCAA Tournament bid potentially go with it. The loss was Penn State's third in four games to close the regular season.

What happened next might inspire this current Penn State team. Undeterred by the loss, the Lions reached the Big Ten tournament semifinals by defeating Michigan and second-seeded Michigan State to earn a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament. There, they defeated Providence and second-seeded North Carolina to reach their first Sweet 16 of the expanded tournament era.

The current Penn State team has more time, but perhaps less breathing room, than its 2001 counterpart. The Lions have two regular-season games to improve their resume before the Big Ten Tournament. Penn State's 59-56 loss to Rutgers on Sunday, in a game it led by 19 points with 17 minutes remaining, certainly still stings. But on Monday, after an admittedly sleepless night, coach Micah Shrewsberry said, "I'm ready for what's next."

Are the Lions? They can make a pretty big statement with a road win at Northwestern on Wednesday. And perhaps inspire some 2001-esque confidence in the process.

Penn State (17-12, 8-10 Big Ten) vs. Northwestern (20-9, 11-7)

• When: 9 p.m. ET Wednesday
• Where: Evanston, Illinois
• TV: Big Ten Network
• Streaming: FuboTV (start your free trial)
• Penn State NET Ranking: 59
• Northwestern NET Ranking: 41
• Series History: Penn State leads 36-20
• Last Meeting: Penn State 67-60 in February 2022
• Streaks: Penn State has won three straight

About the Lions: Shrewsberry made a point to note that Seth Lundy, who remains the Big Ten's leader in 3-point percentage (41.7 percent), stayed late Sunday and arrived early Monday to shoot. He had a forgettable game against Rutgers, going 1-for-16 from the field and 0-for-11 from 3-point range. And Shrewsberry wants him to do just that — forget it. "There's absolutely zero quit in this group," he said. Doesn't mean the Lions can't be sharper. Shrewsberry has pushed this group to play better defense all season, something Rutgers exploited by averaging 1.52 points per possession in the second half. Shrewsberry also wants the Lions to move the ball better on the perimeter and recapture the quick extra-passing strategy it used effectively at times this season. "That makes us harder to defend, gets us attacking more," the coach said. After not taking a shot in the second half against Rutgers, Penn State's Jalen Pickett might see more of those double teams that forced him to give up the ball quickly. How Penn State responds will dictate its success vs. Northwestern.

About the Wildcats: Chris Collins is a Big Ten coach-of-the-year candidate after reviving a program that finished 10th in the conference last season and lost some key transfers. The Wildcats could be a No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament if they win out, a remarkable turnaround from last year's 15-16 team. However, Northwestern has lost two in a row, albeit both were road games. The Wildcats are 13-4 at home, though, where they beat Purdue, Indiana and Iowa as part of a remarkable five-game win streak. Boo Buie leads the Wildcats in scoring (17.2 per game), and Chris Audige is a semifinalist for the Naismith defensive player of the year award. He leads Northwestern with 69 steals.

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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.