When Penn State collapsed away a 19-point lead to Rutgers in February, it seemed as though the Nittany Lions’ NCAA tournament bubble had bursted. Micah Shrewsberry and crew had little wiggle room if it wanted to book the program’s first ticket to March Madness since 2011, and by blowing that golden opportunity, their backs were quite literally against the wall. Matchups against Northwestern and Maryland were still on the docket and represented reprieve for the gaffe against Rutgers, but the prospects of picking up the pieces and reigniting the spirit of a team that experienced an on-the-court nightmare seemed improbable at best.
Hope Is A Good Thing
