Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1525333
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 4 4 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M "We wanted to be a better rebounding team. I think that will improve our de- fense tremendously and our numbers," Rhoades said. "We've got to rebound better as a team. Getting some bigger, more athletic guys definitely should help. I also think we've got some wings and some guards who are bigger and more athletic." The Nittany Lions' biggest offseason addition has been 7-foot, 255-pound ju- nior center Yanic Konan Niederhauser. Playing for Northern Illinois last sea- son, Niederhauser averaged 7.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. His transfer gives Penn State a skill set that suits its offensive approach under Rhoades. The buzz around Niederhauser inter- nally has been unmistakable. His listed size is legit, he's athletic, he moves well with and without the ball, he can stretch the floor as an occasional shooter, and he's imposing defensively in the paint. We won't find out for a few months how his game translates to the Big Ten. For now, he appears to be a major boon to the team following the graduation of 6-11 forward Qudus Wahab, who aver- aged a team-best 7.8 rebounds per game and blocked 50 shots in his lone season with the Nittany Lions. Cautious Approach Taken With Injuries Penn State's health concerns have been on display in recent months. True freshman forward Miles Goodman was seen with his right arm in a sling and missed practice time, while sophomore forward Kachi Nzeh also was hindered by an unspecified injury. Asked about the team's approach to health this summer, Rhoades acknowl- edged that Penn State prefers safe over sorry. "We err a lot [on the side of caution]," he said. "We have a couple guys with some bumps and bruises, so we're sit- ting them out and getting them right. "My number one goal finishing up the summer is to have these guys feeling really good going home so they feel even better when they get back after a couple of days at home, and get ready for an exciting fall semester. You want them to come back with clear minds and healthy bodies, for sure." In addition to Goodman's absence, two transfers — Niederhauser and sophomore guard Eli Rice — did not participate in the portion of the July practice that was open to reporters. Neither health situation was specified to the media. Momentum Grows For NIL Operation This offseason has been critical to Penn State on the NIL front. There are strong indications that significant steps have been taken to help the Nittany Li- ons compete in the name, image and likeness realm. Amid the upheaval of his first year at Penn State, Rhoades and his staff had to prioritize roster construction and couldn't immediately tackle the big NIL challenges that carried over from Micah Shrewsberry's tenure. Since then, the Happy Valley United collective has installed Pat Flannery, Rhoades' former coach at Division III Lebanon Valley, as general manager, and efforts to boost Penn State's NIL pres- ence are underway. The feedback internally is that the work is paying literal dividends. With buy-in from a small but passionate Penn State men's basketball support system, Rhoades and the program have resources that Shrewsberry lacked. Maintaining and replenishing them will be important, but the buzz has been positive. ■ Ace Baldwin Impresses With Offseason Leadership It was unclear following the 2023-24 season whether senior point guard Ace Baldwin Jr. would return for his bonus season or instead pursue a pro career. He ultimately chose to play one more season at the college level, and coach Mike Rhoades has been thrilled with the approach that the 6-foot-1 backcourt standout has taken since opting to come back. "This is the best Ace Baldwin I've ever seen, on and off the court," said Rhoades, who brought Baldwin along with him when he came to Penn State from Virginia Commonwealth last year. "I'm super proud of him. He's been in the gym more than any player on our team this offseason. He's done a great job leading by example on the court, but also helping the young guys." Last season, Baldwin averaged 14.2 points, 6.0 assists, 2.7 steals and 2.7 rebounds per game while also winning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors. He averaged more steals per game than any Big Ten player in 31 years. Baldwin's diligent approach to the team's summer workouts was signifi- cant, and was seen as a major contribu- tor to the marked change in vibes that Penn State has been enjoying this offseason. None of this is a guarantee of com- petitiveness in a Big Ten that, with the addition of Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington, appears likely to have more top-to-bottom balance than it did last season. However, for a team that dealt with off-court distractions a year ago, the picture of Penn State basketball this summer is one of meaningful change, and Baldwin has been doing his part. "I never worried about him competing and getting after it in the gym," Rhoades said, "but I just think his maturity and the way he's interacting with his team- mates and his approach have been really, really good. It has been awesome, and I'm super proud of him." — Nate Bauer Baldwin was Penn State's second-leading scorer last season, averaging 14.2 points per game in his first campaign with the Nittany Lions. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL