As CBS Insider Jon Rothstein says, “This is March.”

Before the madness that is the NCAA Tournament gets underway next week, Penn State men’s basketball and the 13 other Big Ten schools will head to Indianapolis to decide the conference champion.

The No. 11-seeded Nittany Lions get things underway Wednesday night when they face No. 14 Nebraska. Unfortunately for Jim Ferry’s team, they failed to finish in the top 10, which would have ensured at least one bye.

That means, despite thwarting Maryland’s seniors out of a nice goodbye on Sunday, the Nittany Lions will have to play five straight days if they’d like to win the Big Ten.

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It's official, #B1GMBBall fans. The 2020-21 #B1GTourney bracket is set!

Action begins 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 on @BigTenNetwork. March Is On

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— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) March 9, 2021

First Round: Nebraska (Wednesday, 9 p.m.)

The first test for Penn State is a tricky Wednesday night matchup against Nebraska. The Cornhuskers had a tough season and are now without star player Teddy Allen, but the Nittany Lions can’t focus on Thursday just yet.

Nebraska's Teddy Allen is leaving the program, per release. Averaged 16.5 PPG and 4.7 RPG this season.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 1, 2021

“The first game without Teddy, they beat Rutgers by 30,” Ferry said. “Teddy is a real talented basketball player, but their offense has been playing so much better. The ball moves. It’s not sticking. They become so much harder to defend.”

Nebraska got off to an 0-9 start to the conference slate before winning its first Big Ten game. The opponent? Penn State at the Bryce Jordan Center.

The two programs have now played twice, with the away team winning on both occasions. The contests have been close, with Nebraska winning 62-61 before the Nittany Lions got the 86-83 victory in the midwest.

Needless to say, the teams have played two absolute nail-biters this year.

No matter how good Nebraska’s offense has looked since losing Allen, Penn State will be breathing easier without him on the opposing end of the court. Fred Hoiberg’s former star player certainly had Penn State’s number, hitting the game-winner in the win before dropping 41 points in the return leg on February 23.

This game! pic.twitter.com/5dsNVc8GR3

— Nebraska On BTN (@NebraskaOnBTN) February 14, 2021

Nebraska has had to adapt without its star, becoming a more well-balanced team. In its three games since Allen left, there have been many different players shouldering the scoring.

6’9″ forward Lat Mayen has become one of the better options for the Cornhuskers. The Australian has averaged 8.7 points per game this season but put up 25, 14, and seven points in the last three appearances.

Mayen, who averages 4.6 rebounds per game, also showed he could go up against the likes of Luka Garza in the post. Despite getting thrashed 102-64 by the Hawkeyes, Mayen grabbed 13 boards in spite of the Wooden Award finalist’s presence.

Wednesday night will be a do-or-die game for both teams, which is what makes March the month it is. In the end, the hotter team will have the edge. Luckily for Ferry’s squad, the two-game win streak coming into the postseason is crucial for the team’s confidence.

“We won a great game on the road against a really good Maryland team,” Ferry said. “Our guys are coming in with a lot of confidence. That is all you can ask for at this time of year.”

Second Round: Wisconsin (Thursday, 9 p.m.)

Should the Nittany Lions advance, the next opponent would be No. 6 Wisconsin.

Wisconsin is one of the oldest teams in college basketball and certainly plays like it. Led by seniors (and fifth-year seniors) D’Mitrik Trice, Micah Potter, Brad Davison, and Nate Reuvers, the Badgers play a sophisticated style under coach Greg Gard.

The Badgers are another team that Penn State split with this season, so it is plausible the Nittany Lions have a chance to make a substantial run.

The Nittany Lions won the initial home game 81-71 in gritty fashion before falling in Madison four days later. In the return game, Penn State was down two at the half before a 19-4 start to the closing period saw Wisconsin run away with it.

“We just couldn’t overcome [Wisconsin’s second-half start],” Ferry said after the loss last month. “I thought we had some really good shots. We didn’t make them, and our defensive energy was affected by us not making shots.”

If Penn State is still in the tournament by Thursday, the team can’t allow Wisconsin to make a sustained run. Penn State has been hampered by second-half droughts this season. Wisconsin, a team where its starters average 22.84 years old, is bound to pounce if the opposition isn’t locked in for a full 40 minutes.

NCAA Tournament Hopes

As we alluded to last week, it is highly unlikely that Penn State will go to the big dance this year. Sitting at 10-13 overall, the Nittany Lions still need to win many games this week, despite their ridiculous strength of schedule.

However, some think it may require less than the Big Ten’s automatic bid in order for Penn State to prolong its stay in Indianapolis.

https://twitter.com/ivybball/status/1368916587231776769?s=20

There is always the conversation of a possible NIT bid should the team fall short. But if the Nittany Lions make it to Friday, or possibly beyond, the selection committee may have to take a look at the below-.500 program.

For now, Ferry’s attention is squarely on the Cornhuskers.

“We can win as many games as we can and give ourselves a chance at the NCAA Tournament,” Ferry said. “If not, are we eligible for the NIT and can we go for that. Right now though, all of our focus is on Nebraska.”