Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1528325
N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 4 41 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M of how we do things. These guys, even though they're fifth-year guys, they've got to get better so the younger guys get better. … I know that formula has always worked for me, and I believe it's going to work at Penn State." Rhoades, who came to State College last year after going 129-61 in six seasons at Virginia Commonwealth, is eager to begin his second campaign with the Nit- tany Lions. Here's a look at the players he and his staff are counting on to help the team take another step forward. Backcourt Penn State waited weeks to learn of Baldwin's decision. Needing to choose between a return for a fifth season with the Nittany Lions or moving on to a pro- fessional career, the veteran point guard, who previously had played for Rhoades at Virginia Commonwealth, made the momentous call to stick around. The importance of that decision was underscored when Baldwin was chosen by a media panel as one of 10 preseason All-Big Ten honorees. Among the Big Ten leaders last season in scoring (14.2 points per game, 19th), assists (6 per game, second), steals (2.7 per game, first) and minutes played (35.9 per game, first), Baldwin begins his last go-round with heightened anticipation for the upcom- ing campaign. And he's backed it up with one of his best efforts in the time he's been with Rhoades. "This is the best Ace Baldwin I've ever seen, on and off the court," Rhoades told reporters this past summer. "I'm super proud of him. He's been in the gym more than any player on our team this offsea- son. He's done a great job leading by example on the court, but also helping the young guys." Those younger play- ers will ultimately play a crucial role in shaping the Nittany Lions' fortunes this season. Along with Dunn, who returns following a sea- son in which he scored 6.8 points with 1.8 re- bounds over 18.2 min- utes per game, and Kern, who steadily got stronger to finish with honorable mention All-Big Ten sta- tus, the team also turned to the transfer portal for help. The Nittany Lions' most heralded addition was Dilione. Although he was limited in his debut season at Tennessee, the 6-foot-5 guard brings with him the lofty potential of a for- mer On3 Industry Rank- ing four-star prospect. Listed No. 43 overall in the 2022 class, the North Carolina resident was also No. 3 among all shooting guards. The Lions also brought in Rice from Nebraska. The 6-8, 220-pound wing logged 4.2 points and 1.6 rebounds while averaging 9.8 minutes in 17 games with the Cornhuskers last season. They're joined by a pair of true fresh- man guards who are both expected to contribute this season. Carter was the first prospect to join Penn State's 2024 class. He was a three-time all-state honoree at Alcoa (Tenn.) High, with two state championships prior to his summer arrival in State College. Stewart, a three- star prospect out of Southern California Academy, will also vie for playing time. Frontcourt Productive big man Qudus Wahab is gone after leading the Nittany Lions in rebounding at 7.8 boards per game last season, so Rhoades and his staff turned to the transfer portal to deliver size and 2024-25 Schedule Date Opponent Time/TV Oct. 25 Lafayette (Exh.)* 8 p.m. Nov. 4 BINGHAMTON 7:30 p.m./B1G+ Nov. 8 UMBC 6 p.m./BTN Nov. 12 SAINT FRANCIS (Pa.) 7 p.m./Peacock Nov. 15 Virginia Tech** 7:30 p.m./Peacock Nov. 20 PURDUE FORT WAYNE 7 p.m./B1G+ Nov. 25 Fordham^ 4 p.m./CBSSN Nov. 26 Clemson çor San Francisco^ TBA/CBSSN Dec. 1 BUFFALO 2 p.m./BTN Dec. 5 PURDUE 6:30 p.m./FS1 Dec. 10 at Rutgers 7 p.m./Peacock Dec. 14 COPPIN STATE 12:30 p.m./BTN Dec. 21 at Drexel Noon Dec. 29 PENN 1 p.m./Peacock Jan. 2 NORTHWESTERN 7 p.m./Peacock Jan. 5 Indiana^^ Noon/BTN Jan. 8 at Illinois 9 p.m./BTN Jan. 12 OREGON 4 p.m./BTN Jan. 15 at Michigan State 7:30 p.m./BTN Jan. 20 RUTGERS 6:30 p.m./Peacock Jan. 24 at Iowa 9 p.m./FS1 Jan. 27 at Michigan 6:30 p.m./BTN Jan. 30 OHIO STATE 6:30 p.m./FS1 Feb. 4 MINNESOTA 7 p.m./BTN Feb. 8 at UCLA 4 p.m./BTN Feb. 11 at USC 9 p.m./BTN Feb. 15 WASHINGTON 2 p.m./BTN Feb. 19 NEBRASKA 6:30 p.m./BTN Feb. 22 at Minnesota 2 p.m./BTN Feb. 26 at Indiana 8:30 p.m./BTN Mar. 1 MARYLAND Noon/BTN Mar. 8 at Wisconsin 1 p.m./Peacock Mar. 12-16 Big Ten Tournament# TBA * at Lebanon Valley College ** Hall of Fame Series, Baltimore ^ Sunshine Slam, Daytona Beach, Fla. ^^ at the Palestra, Philadelphia # at Indianapolis In his first season after arriving from Virginia Commonwealth, Mike Rhoades guided the Nittany Lions to a 16-17 record and a 9-11 mark in Big Ten play. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL