Early into the second season of the Mike Rhoades era, it is clear that this is a true team, chasing after the one goal of building a winning program.
Part of building a successful team is teaching players to put the team first, something head coach Mike Rhoades doesn’t have to worry about when it comes to senior forward Nick Kern Jr.
“I think in the world of sports today and everybody trying to get their own and the entitlement and the sensitivity of your where your status and where your place is, Nick is the throwback,” said coach Rhoades during Wednesday’s media availability.
“Nick wants people to respect him for how hard he plays and the type of teammate he is. He’s going to prove himself on the court by how hard he plays and how he tries to impact winning. He should be on the poster for young players and young athletes about how you act, this is how you be a part of a team. It’s about my teammates more than it’s about me.”
Rhoades’ comments followed a question about Kern coming off the bench in the Nittany Lions 108-66 win over Binghamton on Monday night.
Despite his reserve role during that game, Kern still played over 22 minutes and recorded a 4×4 stat line, showcasing his impact on both ends of the floor.
And Kern is just one example of Penn State players being willing to make sacrifices for the betterment of the team.
“I just felt like whatever the team needs me to do or whatever coach needs me to do… I’m going to do it at 110 percent effort,” said sophomore transfer Freddie Dilione V Wednesday afternoon.
Senior guard D’Marco Dunn shared similar thoughts when asked about his new bench role saying “[W]herever coach needs me coming [into the] line up… you could put me in for short bursts and I [can] kind of score instantly [or] I could bring [instant defense]… [I’m going to play] 110 percent.”
During the offseason, Rhoades emphasized that the team’s main priority when it came to recruiting and the transfer portal was to not only get the best talent but also high-character individuals. And in only his second year, Rhoades achieved both of those goals by bringing in players that have a team-first mentality, just like Nick Kern.
