Penn State Sports Magazine
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M A R C H 2 0 2 5 6 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M "Sometimes it's just playing with a clearer mind. When you play with a clearer mind, that ball gets moving. No- body cares who gets the credit. Nobody thinks, 'I've got to make a play for us.'" During a season in which this Penn State team sought to dramatically im- prove on last year's campaign, with the NCAA Tournament firmly in mind, the pressure proved to be too much. Though stung by close losses to Clemson at a Thanksgiving tournament and at Rutgers a few weeks later, Penn State had been well-positioned for a competitive Big Ten campaign. The Li- ons wrapped up their nonconference slate with a 10-1 mark and were 2-1 in conference play after edging North- western, 84-80, on Jan. 2. The unwinding began at the Palestra in Philadelphia, where the Nittany Li- ons fell to Indiana, 77-71, on Jan. 5. Hampered by injuries, PSU lost its way offensively for much of the Big Ten sea- son. In November and December, the Li- ons averaged 18.8 assists and 88.2 points per game. Subsequently, the assists dropped to 12.7 per game, with a steadily decreasing scoring output to match. "I thought for a stretch we were just playing with so much pressure. You could see it, and it didn't go well," Rhoades said. "You've got to work through that, and some guys are bet- ter than others with it. They think their [identity] in life is being a basketball player, and when it's not going well, they think, 'I'm a failure. I'm not doing it right.' And it gets harder." The win over the Cornhuskers helped everyone refocus, and the positive en- ergy was still evident three days later, when the Nittany Lions bounced back from a lackluster start to beat Min- nesota, 69-60, in Minneapolis, lifting their record to 15-13 and 5-12 in confer- ence play. "I thought we played with more free- dom and more spirit," Rhoades said. "When that ball's hot, that ball is mov- ing, and guys give up a good shot to give a teammate a great shot. I was really proud of them for that." ■ 2024-25 Schedule Date Opponent Time/TV Oct. 25 Lafayette (Exh.)* W, 79-64 Nov. 4 BINGHAMTON W, 108-66 Nov. 8 UMBC W, 103-54 Nov. 12 SAINT FRANCIS (Pa.) W, 92-62 Nov. 15 Virginia Tech** W, 86-64 Nov. 20 FORT WAYNE W, 102-89 Nov. 25 Fordham^ W, 85-66 Nov. 26 Clemson^ L, 75-67 Dec. 1 BUFFALO W, 87-64 Dec. 5 PURDUE W, 81-70 Dec. 10 at Rutgers L, 80-76 Dec. 14 COPPIN STATE W, 99-51 Dec. 21 at Drexel W, 75-64 Dec. 29 PENN W, 86-66 Jan. 2 NORTHWESTERN W, 84-80 Jan. 5 Indiana^^ L, 77-71 Jan. 8 at Illinois L, 91-52 Jan. 12 OREGON L, 82-81 Jan. 15 at Michigan State L, 90-85 Jan. 20 RUTGERS W, 80-72 Jan. 24 at Iowa L, 76-75 Jan. 27 at Michigan L, 76-72 Jan. 30 OHIO STATE L, 83-64 Feb. 4 MINNESOTA L, 69-61 Feb. 8 at UCLA L, 78-54 Feb. 11 at USC L, 92-67 Feb. 15 WASHINGTON L, 75-73 Feb. 19 NEBRASKA W, 89-72 Feb. 22 at Minnesota W, 69-60 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 THREE STARS 1. D'Marco Dunn | G | Sr. While Penn State struggled through the bulk of its February schedule, Dunn served as one of a few bright spots. Shining on both ends of the floor, he averaged 12.2 points over a six-game stretch and played his way into a starting role. 2. Yanic Konan Niederhauser | F | Jr. Konan Niederhauser missed two games with an injury, further hindering the Nittany Lions' chances for success. But when he returned in mid-February, his impact proved undeniable. The junior forward scored 19 points against Nebraska to help PSU snap a seven-game losing streak, and he followed with 24 points, 7 rebounds and 5 blocks in a win at Minnesota. 3. Jahvin Carter | G | Fr. At Minnesota, Carter took advantage of one of the biggest opportunities of his debut campaign. Spelling graduate guard Ace Baldwin Jr., the fresh- man played 14 minutes and knocked down a key three-pointer in the second half while adding 2 rebounds and an assist. KEY MOMENT Penn State took an all-gas, no-brakes approach against a vulnerable Nebraska team on Feb. 19, quickly building a lead it wouldn't relinquish. Against the Cornhuskers, PSU evoked memories of the season's hot start. The result was a domi- nant 89-72 win predicated on an attacking ap- proach at both ends of the hardwood. BEST HIGHLIGHT Traveling to Minnesota for a Saturday matinee on Feb. 22, the Nittany Lions turned the ball over, left shooters open for made three-pointers and dug themselves an early hole. Those sorts of recurring problems were a big part of the reason why the Lions had lost 11 of 12 before knocking off the Cornhuskers, but this time they were able to reverse the game's early trajectory. Penn State built an 18-6 advantage in points in the paint during the first half, and it did so by neutralizing the Gophers' big man, Dawson Garcia Senior forward Zach Hicks and senior guard Nick Kern Jr. repeatedly forced Garcia and his team- mates into bad looks, with the result being a 69-60 victory. BOLD PREDICTION With Penn State's highest aspirations all but unattainable, the objective going into the final games of the regular season will be to avoid a last-place finish and to reach the Big Ten Tourna- ment. Games against Indiana, Maryland and Wis- consin — all NCAA Tournament hopefuls — will put that goal to the test, but the Lions could end up playing a spoiler role. — Nate Bauer MEN'S BASKETBALL SUPERLATIVES J A N . 2 0 – F E B . 2 2