The Big Ten Conference held its men’s basketball 2025 Media Day today at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago, Ill. Players Josh Reed and Eli Rice represented Penn State in the Windy City.
Penn State was the first of the eighteen teams to be interviewed. Reed and Rice were interviewed after their Head Coach, Mike Rhoades, was interviewed by the Big Ten Network.
The players were first asked what the preseason has been like to get into the condition to play at the tempo Coach Rhoades wants to play at. Reed responded, “It has been a lot…doing the conditioning on the court and conditioning outside. We started that over the summer. We knew Coach wanted to play fast and trying our best to get in shape and playing fast at practice every day.”
Rice responded, “One thing Coach always says is having an army of guys that can come in and stay conditioned and go out there and do what we do in a game.”
In response to missing the Big Ten Tournament last year, Rice stated, “You can look at it as it’s only up from here. You learn all the things you shouldn’t do. We definitely talk about it……we’re not going to be in that position again. Obviously, last year, I was out. I couldn’t play. I was hurt, so I want to come in and make a big impact so that doesn’t happen again.”
Reed was then asked, “What do you bring to this team coming over from Cincinnati?” Reed said, “My leadership, my experience, just trying to help the younger guys along as they learn to play college basketball and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to help my team win, whether that means guarding, rebounding, scoring, whatever it is.”
Reed continued about transferring to Penn State, “Coach’s biggest thing for us has been building and bonding. That’s what he said Day 1…bonding with the new guys off the court, creating that chemistry and it’s showing up on the court as well.
Rice then responded to the same question, “I would say communicating in practice. Building that habit every day of ‘I got you, I’m here, I’m helping’… just building that habit of communication.”
When Rice was asked about what Kayden Mingo brings to the floor, he said, “He’s super-mature beyond his age, he comes in and you would think he was a senior on how he plays and sees the floor. He gets me tons of shots in practice and then when he’s open he gets his shots, so I love playing with Kayden.”
Reed was then asked where he was looking forward the most to playing on the road. He said, “I don’t know if I can name just one spot, kind of everywhere. I’ve never been to any of these places. Playing in these kinds of places with the atmosphere and the energy the fans bring I’m excited for that.”
What does it mean to play for Penn State was the final question and Rice said, “You just have to know what you’re representing. Penn State pride is crazy. You have to bring it every game, and if you don’t, then you know the fans will be on your back, so I love it. I love the pressure.”
Penn State opens up the regular season at home against Fairfield on Monday, November 3 at 7:00 PM. The game will be televised on B1G+.
