Texas Basketball: Looking at the challenge Penn State presents

Penn State is an entirely new challenge than the Longhorns have faced.

Texas cruised past its first opponent in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday. Winning likely won’t come as easily in the team’s second game.

The Longhorns will face the No. 10 seeded Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday night. The two teams gave perhaps the most impressive performances of the tournament so far. Albeit, Texas’ performance paled in comparison to what Penn State accomplished against Texas A&M.

The matchup problem the Aggies had against the Nittany Lions is the same issue many Penn State opponents have ran up against of late. Penn State facilitator Jalen Pickett’s old fashioned style of play creates mismatches teams aren’t accustomed to facing.

The staple plays for Pickett revolve around backing down opponents and scoring or dishing to the open man. Three-point threat Andrew Funk was one of the beneficiaries of Pickett’s offense against Texas A&M, but even Nittany Lion post players got involved.

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Texas might need to make difficult decisions in what it allows on the defensive side of the floor. The Longhorns can provide help to stop Pickett or defend his role playing scorers, but they cannot do both.

The two teams will face off Saturday at 6:45 p.m. CT on CBS.

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