PSU’s Shrewsberry aims to get back fleeing players

Passed over for several head coaching jobs in the past, Micah Shrewsberry appreciates the opportunity he’s received from Penn State as its new men’s basketball coach.

Shrewsberry also understands the challenge of trying to lead the Nittany Lions to what director of athletics Sandy Barbour called “sustained success.”

They’ve had just five winning seasons since 2001 and four NCAA Tournament appearances since 1965.

“I think it starts with the guys in your locker room building the character and culture of a program,” Shrewsberry said Tuesday during his introductory press conference. “If you’re giving them everything you have every single day, they’re going to attract more people to your program.

“The fit is the most important thing. I don’t think you can go for the quick fix, or what’s easy or what’s attractive . ... We want to find the right fit for us.”

Shrewsberry, 44, walked into a firestorm earlier this month. Seven players on the Penn State roster entered their names in the NCAA transfer portal shortly after he was hired: leading scorer Myreon Jones, Izaiah Brockington, Seth Lundy, Jamari Wheeler, Strath Haven All-Delco John Harrar, Trent Buttrick and Patrick Kelly. Brockington has since said he’s staying at Penn State.

It appeared they were unhappy that interim coach Jim Ferry was not retained. Ferry accepted the job when longtime coach Patrick Chambers resigned in October after an investigation into allegations of improper conduct.

Ferry guided Penn State to an 11-14 record, including four wins over teams in the NCAA Tournament.

“I’ve talked to every single one of the guys that have entered the portal,” Shrewsberry said. “We are actively trying to get them back. We’re talking about them. We’re talking to them. We’re having conversations over Zoom and on FaceTime.

“There are a lot of great players out there, but we want our own. We also want guys who are two feet in for Penn State, that bleed Penn State, that believe in this, that believe in our vision.”

Once he gets those type of players, Shrewsberry said his teams will rely on defense to become successful.

“To have a chance in the Big Ten, we have to be one of the top defensive teams in our league,” he said. “If you watch the teams that were left in the Elite Eight, they’re all elite defensive teams unless you’re Gonzaga and you’re an elite offensive team.

“You have to have a defensive mindset. That’s how you win in this league . ... ”