Penn State junior transfer Yanic Konan Niederhauser is listed as questionable ahead of Saturday’s game at UCLA (4 p.m. EST, BTN), per the Big Ten Availability Report. Puff Johnson remains out with a wrist injury.
Konan Niederhauser missed Tuesday’s game against Minnesota after spraining his left ankle during practice. He was seen with a boot on his foot before tipoff. Following the loss — Penn State’s fourth straight — Mike Rhoades said the big man was day-to-day.
WHAT IF KONAN NIEDERHAUSER CAN’T GO?
Konan Niederhauser was enjoying a career year with Penn State before his injury, averaging career highs in points (12.7), rebounds (6.2) and field-goal shooting (62.2%). His last game against Ohio State was his best in the Big Ten. He scored 21 points (8-of-14 shooting) and grabbed five rebounds.
Against the Golden Gophers, the Nittany Lions struggled to convert on at-rim attempts, going 10-for-27. PSU’s opponent, meanwhile, shot 12-for-19 on layups and 60% on two-pointers.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.If Penn State is without its starting center against UCLA, the offensive struggles could continue for PSU. UCLA is one of the top defenses in the nation but has had difficulty against post-ups. According to Synergy Sports, the Bruins are in the top 10 in defended post-ups (121), points allowed on post-ups (104), and points per post-up (0.860). Konan Niederhauser has been one of the more efficient post-up scorers in the country, ranking in the 81st percentile in points per post-up.
Kachi Nzeh got the start Tuesday against Minnesota with Konan Niederhauser sidelined. Nzeh played nearly 17 minutes and corraled three rebounds, blocked a shot, and had three fouls. Rhoades closed the game with a smaller lineup, though, with Dominick Stewart playing the final two minutes and 11 seconds.
Penn State-UCLA will tip off inside Pauley Pavilion on Saturday. It is the first of two games in Los Angeles for PSU, as it will stay in town for a matchup with USC on Tuesday.
