Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1540433
5 0 N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M ferent style of basketball from his Euro roots, on both ends of the floor. The good news for Penn State is that he's im- pressed since arriving, displaying effort- less feel and basketball IQ, good shoot- ing, passing and playmaking, all backed by an impressive work ethic. Mingo, meanwhile, has been mature beyond his years and an instant leader in the locker room. Already showing the skill that made him one of the nation's top prospects, he's been a positive in- fluence on the program throughout the offseason. "The neat thing is, he's a really good player, too. He's going to play and lead us from Day 1 as a freshman point guard," Rhoades said. "He's going to have some growing pains like we all did as freshmen, but the kid is like a pied piper. He can get people to play, he can get people to relax, he can get people to understand what we're trying to do. He has a will about winning. He's fun to coach." With Mingo at the point and Tunca poised to play multiple positions, the Nittany Lions are also expecting contri- butions from the three returning guards. Dilione and Stewart both played key roles last season. Dilione averaged 9.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 28 starts, while Stewart contributed 2.8 points in eight minutes per game. Stewart earned praise this summer for his improvement. Dilione is being urged to lead as an up- perclassman and elevate his defense. They're joined by Rice, who logged just seven minutes last season due to an injury. Named a captain, the 6-foot-8, 230-pound Rice transformed his body in the offseason and is poised to contribute as a three-point shooter and gritty de- fender with strong on-court communi- cation skills. Frontcourt Konan Niederhauser will spend the 2025-26 season with the Los Angeles Clippers, and Penn State will feel that absence on both ends of the floor. Best positioned to handle the Big Ten's size are the 6-9, 255-pound Mirtič and the 6-10, 240-pound Ciani. Named a captain this summer, Ciani averaged 9.9 points and 7.6 rebounds last year at UIC following a transfer from Xavier, where he appeared in 31 games as a freshman. Mirtič boasts a résumé similar to Tun- ca's, having spent last season in Slove- nia's top league, where he averaged 7.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. At Penn State, he's been physical, a good rebounder and a natural fit. "He's one of the older guys on our team, a really good passer, great con- nector on the court," Rhoades said. "He just knows how to play the right way, doesn't hold the ball too long, doesn't over-dribble, doesn't overshoot. "He just has a really good feel about playing basketball the right way. Guys like playing with him because he gets people shots, and he does the little things and just has a good feel." Rhoades added that areas for improve- ment include shooting and adjusting to the speed of college basketball. Reed, another captain, has played well on both ends, showing versatility guard- ing one through four while flashing skill as both a shooter and driver. Blackwood earned buzz through the summer as a workhorse, and despite bumps and bruises, is expected to con- tinue to deliver with his rare Big Ten- ready frame (6-7, 230 pounds) for his age. "He plays his butt off. He goes after everybody. He's very competitive and a physical player. I love him," Rhoades said. "The one thing about Mason is, it's never going to be because of a lack of effort and will and physicality and com- petitiveness, which is cool." ■ 2025-26 Penn State Schedule Date Opponent Time/TV Oct. 19 at Dayton (Exh.) 2 p.m. Oct. 26 SHIPPENSBURG (Exh.) 2 p.m. Nov. 3 FAIRFIELD 7 p.m. Nov. 8 at New Haven 1 p.m. Nov. 11 NAVY 6:30 p.m./BTN Nov. 15 La Salle* 1 p.m./Peacock Nov. 19 HARVARD 6:30 p.m. Nov. 22 Providence** 4 p.m./truTV Nov. 25 BOSTON U. 7 p.m./Peacock Nov. 29 SACRED HEART 6 p.m./BTN Dec. 2 CAMPBELL 6 p.m./BTN Dec. 9 at Indiana 8:30 p.m./FS1 Dec. 13 MICHIGAN STATE Noon/BTN Dec. 21 Pitt^ Noon/BTN Dec. 29 N.C. CENTRAL 1 p.m./BTN Jan. 3 Illinois^^ 7 p.m./BTN Jan. 6 MICHIGAN 7 p.m./FS1 Jan. 10 at Purdue 2 p.m./BTN Jan. 14 UCLA 8:30 p.m./FS1 Jan. 18 at Maryland Noon/BTN Jan. 22 WISCONSIN 7 p.m./FS1 Jan. 26 at Ohio State 7 p.m./FS1 Jan. 29 at Northwestern 8 p.m./Peacock Feb. 1 MINNESOTA 2 p.m./Peacock Feb. 5 at Michigan 6:30 p.m./FS1 Feb. 8 USC Noon/BTN Feb. 11 at Washington 10:30 p.m./BTN Feb. 14 at Oregon 3 p.m./BTN Feb. 18 RUTGERS 6 p.m./BTN Feb. 21 at Nebraska 2 p.m./BTN Feb. 28 IOWA Noon/BTN Mar. 4 OHIO STATE 7:30 p.m./Peacock Mar. 8 at Rutgers Noon/BTN Mar. 10-15 Big Ten Tournament # TBA * at Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia ** Hall of Fame Showcase at Uncasville, Conn. ^ at Giant Center, Hershey, Pa. ^^ at the Palestra, Philadelphia # at United Center, Chicago A consensus four-star recruit out of Long Island (N.Y.) Lutheran, freshman guard Kayden Mingo has impressed the coaching staff in his first few months on campus. PHOTO COURTESY PENN STATE ATHLETICS