The Penn State men’s basketball team has closed out the 2025 calendar year with a 9-4 overall record. Here are my 10 pressing hot takes and thoughts from the season so far.
#1. If this team of eight freshmen, two sophomores and two juniors stick together for their entire collegiate career, they will be a major problem for other teams
If these young kids stay in Happy Valley and don’t decide to enter the transfer portal or chase more NIL money, this team will no doubt put Penn State on the map as a basketball school, and PSU will not be seen as just a football and wrestling school.
#2. Kayden Mingo is very, very good.
The 6′-3″ freshman point guard leads the team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals. He’s averaging 14.8 ppg., 4.1 rpg., 3.3 apg. and 2.4 steals per game. Mingo leads the Big Ten in steals per game and had the program’s single game record-tying eight steals against Sacred Heart Nov. 29.
#3. Ivan Juric is also very, very good
Coach Mike Rhoades stated earlier in the year that the young player from Croatia has been their biggest surprise so far. He said he knew Juric was good, but he didn’t realize how good the 7-foot freshman from Croatia was going to be so soon. Rhoades also stated that Juric probably has the highest basketball IQ on the team. He’s currently averaging 8.4 ppg. and 3.8 rpg. and has great footwork around the rim and has also shown he can knock in 3s from deep.
#4. Freddie Dilione V. would be neck and neck with Mingo for my Team MVP so far
There is a reason that Dilione has earned the nickname “Steady Freddie.” Dilione, until the most recent game against NC Central, was Penn State’s sixth man. He has been a consistent, absolute spark for the Nittany Lions averaging 14.5 ppg. while shooting 50% from the field and also averaging 3.5 rpg.
#5. Penn State has shown it can defeat good, solid, mid-conference teams
Penn State’s four losses, though, are against power conference schools: Providence, Indiana, Michigan State and Pitt. Even though PSU has already shown it can play and hang with the big boys, hence its great showing against Tom Izzo and the Spartans on Dec. 13, they will have to defeat some Big Ten teams in 2026 to show all of their untapped potential.
#6. Extra depth and experience will no doubt be beneficial to the Nittany Lions in the Big Ten
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Freshman Mason Blackwood is a 6′-7″ forward and 7′-0″ freshman Justin Houser is a much-needed inside depth player, especially after losing Yanic Konan Niederhauser to the NBA last year.
#7. The Big 10 is absolutely loaded this year
Currently, the conference has six teams ranked in the Top 25, with two in the top five, three in the top 10 and five in the top 15.
#8. Inside depth players, Sasa Ciani, Tibor Mirtic and Justin Houser will need to step up and help Juric around the rim in 2026, both offensively and defensively
Juric cannot do it all on his own, especially in Big Ten play with Big Ten size. All three players have definitely shown their potential, but they need to do so with more impact and consistency. It’s “big man by committee” to help fill the void left by Neiderhauser, who was a huge threat around the rim offensively and defensively.
#9. Team defense needs to improve to compete in the Big Ten
There have been too many uncontested 3s shot and too many points given in the paint. Penn State’s team defense needs to tighten up. The average field goal percentage for opposing teams so far this season is at 48.2%.
#10. The lone senior on the team, Josh Reed, has been the glue for Penn State
Reed transferred from Cincinnati to finish his collegiate career in State College. Reed’s veteran, savvy leadership has been very apparent for Penn State this year and will need to continue in 2026. His stat sheet won’t always be stuffed, but his consistent, solid play has kept the team together this year. Reed is averaging 9.1 ppg. along with 3.8 rpg.
So there you have it. My top 10 most pressing thoughts on the Penn State men’s basketball team as we near the mid-point of the season.
Stay tuned to Nittany Sports Now for all your PSU men’s basketball news and coverage.
