Penn State senior forward Puff Johnson is listed as out while freshman forward Hudson Ward is listed as questionable ahead of Friday’s game against Iowa (9 p.m. ET, FS1), per the Big Ten availability report.
Penn State basketball injury report:
Puff Johnson (hand) OUT
Hudson Ward QUESTIONABLERhoades said Wednesday that Johnson would be out “long term” but did not provide a time frame. pic.twitter.com/gf6t9TevZ3
— Brennan Valladares (@Valladares7B) January 25, 2025
Johnson — who was averaging a career-high 10.2 points and 4.4 rebounds — exited the first half of a game against No. 12 Michigan State on Jan. 15 with a right-hand injury. During his media availability Wednesday, head coach Mike Rhoades said “He’s going to be out for a while. Hopefully, everything will get him right, go from there. But he’ll be out long term.”
Johnson will miss his third game this season on Friday. In his place, Rhoades has started Nick Kern Jr. In three starts this year, Kern is averaging 16 points, 6.3 rebounds and two assists while shooting 48.6% from the field.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Ward has appeared in six games so far this season for Penn State, playing a total of 17 minutes. He has been out the last six games.
Penn State and Iowa split the season series last year, with the Hawkeyes winning the most recent matchup at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Nittany Lions haven’t won on the road against Iowa in seven years, and have only two such wins over the last 23 years. Friday’s game is the lone regular season matchup between these two programs.
