Mike Rhoades begins his first season with Penn State tonight as the Nittany Lions host the Delaware State Hornets to open the 2023-24 season.
It’s always exciting when the college basketball season tips off, and for Penn State, the amount of intrigue couldn’t be higher with a new coach and a revamped roster. A year ago, the Nittany Lions beat the Hornets 60-46 at the Bryce Jordan Center to extend their all-time series record to 4-0.
With Delaware State coming off a disappointing season that saw the Hornets go 6-24 overall and 4-10 in Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference play, Penn State can look to implement Rhoades style and get into a rhythm as a team with ten new players.
VCU transfer and reigning Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year Ace Baldwin Jr. figures to be the lead man for a Nittany Lions team looking for a star after the departure of Jalen Pickett to the NBA. Baldwin’s experience with Rhoades’ system and fellow VCU transfer Nick Kern Jr. should be extremely beneficial in quickly getting the team up to speed.
Baldwin’s knack on the defensive end is something to watch for tonight. The former Ram was 19th in steals per game (2.23) last season and is one of the premier on-ball defenders in the country. An aggressive and turnover-forcing defense is exactly the type Rhoades wants to run. If the 16 turnovers forced in the exhibition against Robert Morris is any indication, the unit should show off tonight.
Another thing to watch for tonight is whether North Carolina transfer Puff Johnson suits up for the opener. The 6’8 wing from Moon, Pennsylvania, did not play in the exhibition, and Rhoades lists him as “day-to-day.” Johnson, a co-captain along with Baldwin and returning guard Kanye Clary, is expected to be a key contributor whom Rhoades leans on heavily. If Johnson doesn’t play, watch out for the second North Carolina transfer De’Marco Dunn and Temple sharpshooting transfer Zach Hicks.
In a game not expected to be a close one (an 18.5-point favorite on FanDuel), expect Rhoades to rotate his squad frequently and to experiment with different matchups. The defense, the pick-and-roll game, and Ace Baldwin Jr. are my three items to watch as the season gets started tonight.