The Penn State men’s basketball team opens Big Ten play this week with a pair of December conference games.
First, PSU takes on No. 22 Indiana Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. on FS1
Then, Penn State hosts No. 7 Michigan State inside the Bryce Jordan Center Saturday at noon on the Big Ten Network.
Last season, Penn State dropped two close games against IU, losing 77-71 at The Palestra in Philadelphia and then 83-78 in Bloomington.
Coming into Tuesday night, Indiana has a 7-2 record and is 0-1 in Big Ten play. It most recently lost to No. 6 Louisville this past Saturday in Indianapolis, 87-78, and lost on a road trip to Minnesota, 73-64, Dec. 3.
Indiana is led by 6′-7″ senior forward Tucker DeVries, who leads five Hoosiers in double figures with a team-best 17.8 points per game. Senior, 6′-6″ guard, Lamar Wilkerson follows with 16.0 ppg. Tayton Conerway, a 6′-3″ senior guard is averaging 11.8 ppg. Reed Bailey is a 6′-10″ senior forward averaging 10.3 ppg and 6′-9″ senior forward, Sam Alexis, is scoring 10.0 ppg.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Penn State is off to an 8-1 start for the second-straight year. Over the last three games, Penn State is averaging 91.0 ppg. shooting 54.5% from the field and 41.7% from three-point range. Penn State has also turned up the heat defensively, averaging 11.0 steals per game over the last three contests.
Penn State has garnered national attention by ranking No. 1 in the country in the fewest turnovers per game at 8.2. It also comes in at No. 6 for the fewest fouls per game at 13.4. Penn State’s turnover margin, 5.9, ranks No. 8 in the country. These three statistics show the discipline, fundamentals, teamwork and mental toughness this young Nittany Lion squad endures.
Penn State is led by freshman point guard Kayden Mingo who is the only freshman in America averaging 15+ points (15.0 ppg.), 4+assists (4.2 apg.), 4+ rebounds (4.0 rpg.) and 2+ steals (2.1 spg) per game through games on Dec. 6.
Mingo is followed by redshirt junior Freddie Dilione V., who is averaging 13.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Freshman Melih Tunca is registering 12.8 ppg. Lone senior Josh Reid has been coming on strong lately averaging 10.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, while shooting a stellar 51.6% from the field and 7′-0″ freshman forward, Ivan Juric, has been playing great ball as well averaging 10.6 ppg. while shooting a phenomenal 71.4% from the field and adding 4.3 rpg.
The Nittany Lions open Big Ten play on the road for the 12th time in the last 17 years. The last time the Blue & White won their conference opener on the road was Dec. 2, 2017, when Penn State traveled to Iowa and won 77-73.
