#102 Penn State Men's Basketball 2025-2026 Preview

Jacob Young
Fri, 07/25/2025
 
Penn State Nittany Lions

2025-2026 Overall Rank: #102
 
Conference Rank: #17 Big Ten
 
 
2024-25 Record: 16-15, 6-14
2024-25 Postseason: None
Coach: Mike Rhoades
Coach Record: 32-32 at Penn State, 405-221 overall
 
Key Departed Players:
Ace Baldwin, Guard, 14.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 7.1 apg
Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Center, 12.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 0.8 apg
Zach Hicks, Forward, 11.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.0 apg
Nick Kern, Forward, 11.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.3 apg
Puff Johnson, Forward, 10.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.6 apg
D’Marco Dunn, Guard, 8.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.0 apg
Kachi Nzeh, Forward, 2.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg
 
Key Returning Players:
Freddie Dilione V, Junior, Guard, 9.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.7 apg
Dominick Stewart, Sophomore, Guard, 2.8 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 0.4 apg
Eli Rice, Sophomore, Forward, Redshirt in 24-25
 
Key New Players:
Mason Blackwood, Freshman, Forward
Sasa Ciani, Junior, Forward, Transfer from Illinois Chicago
Justin Houser, Freshman, Center
Ivan Juric, Freshman, Center
Kayden Mingo, Freshman, Guard
Tibor Mirtic, Freshman, Forward
Josh Reed, Senior, Forward, Transfer from Cincinnati
Melih Tunca, Freshman, Guard
 
Projected Postseason Tournament: CBC/CBI
 
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 79.1 (53rd in nation, 5th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 73.2 (214, 12)
Field-Goal Percentage: 47.9 (30, 4)
Field-Goal Defense: 45.1 (255, 13)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.2 (238, 13)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 34.3 (165, 10)
Free-Throw Percentage: 75.6 (55, 5)
Rebound Margin: 0.3 (202, 10)
Assists Per Game: 16.0 (39, 4)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.4 (244, 17)