NCAA Tournament, Second Round: How to watch Penn State vs. Texas
For the first time since 2001, the Penn State men’s basketball team is playing for a spot in the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.
After a big win over Texas A&M in the first round on Thursday night, Jalen Pickett, Andrew Funk and the Nittany Lions take on Big 12 Tournament champion Texas in the second round on Saturday evening in Des Moines, Iowa.
During Penn State’s hot streak, the team has won six of its last seven games against NCAA Tournament teams, including two wins over a Northwestern team that also advanced to the second round.
The Nittany Lions will face a Texas team that flirted with a No. 1 seed in the tournament with a 26-8 season capped by a 76-56 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks in the Big 12 championship game.
Penn State and Texas lit their opponents up from 3-point range in their first-round victories. Funk drained eight 3-pointers against Texas A&M, and Sir’Jabari Rice connecting on seven for the Longhorns against Colgate. We could be in for a fun battle with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line between Penn State and Texas.
Here’s how to watch the second-round action on Saturday.
Broadcast and stream info
Date: Saturday, March 18, 2023
Time: Estimated 7:45 p.m. ET (game follows the conclusion of Kansas vs. Arkansas, which starts at 5:15 p.m. ET)
TV Channel: CBS
Live Stream: fuboTV (watch here)
Penn State vs. Texas injury report
Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Penn State continues to be without forward Caleb Dorsey due to an undisclosed injury that has lingered throughout the season. There is no timetable for his return to the lineup, so Penn State looks to move on without him as long as necessary.
Texas has no known injuries to report.
Updated college basketball injury updates can be found on the USA TODAY Sports injury report.
Stat leaders
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
POINTS
Jalen Pickett, Penn State: 17.9 ppg
Marcus Carr, Texas: 15.9 ppg
REBOUNDS
Jalen Pickett, Penn State: 7.3 rpg
Timmy Allen, Texas: 5.4 rpg
ASSISTS
Jalen Pickett, Penn State: 6.7 apg
Marcus Carr, Texas: 4.1 apg
ESPN BPI Outlook
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
For the sixth game in a row, Penn State is the underdog. Texas is favored against the Nittany Lions in this second-round matchup, but Penn State has been on a respectable hot streak in this underdog role. Can it continue for another game to get to next weekend?
According to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, Penn State has a 21.1% chance of getting the win against the Longhorns, who have a solid 78.9% chance to win. But as Han Solo might say, never tell the Nittany Lions the odds.
