The 2026 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Media Day took place Thursday inside the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.
Penn State was represented by Head Coach Mike Rhoades and players Ivan Juric and Brant Byers.
Entering his fourth season at the helm, Rhoades first commented on his team needing to get stronger and tougher.
He then went on to answer questions about his excitement for second year player, Ivan Juric, and being able to get sharpshooter Brant Byers from the transfer portal out of Miami (OH).
Rhoades was then asked what other players he was excited about. Rhoades said, “I’m really excited about Roko Prkacin. Roko is a very versatile player. Francois Wibaut from France is a Big Ten wing…big, physical, strong guy that can guard multiple positions. Roberts Blums, who transferred from Davidson, a winning-cultured program is going to give us lots. So we went out and got different guys from all over the world, but guys that love to play basketball and love to compete…it’s really helped us, it has been fun coaching these guys, I can’t wait to get started.”
Byers was asked how he was going to translate the winning and success from Miami (OH) over to Penn State. The 6′-8″ guard/forward from Chambersburg, Pa. said, “I think it just starts with me personally. Bringing over those values and those things that we did every day last year that gave us a chance to be successful…just being the same person everyday, bringing that consistency, doing the things that it takes to win, not just during gameday but also during practices, during off days…things like that…I think they all go into bringing that winning attitude.”
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Byers was then asked what it’s like being from Pennsylvania and now playing at the school he cheered for as a kid. Byers said, “It’s pretty special. It’s kind of a dream come true in a way, just thinking back to the players growing up that I would watch play at Penn State, I think it’s pretty crazy that I now have that Penn State logo on myself, getting to wear that jersey as well…it’s pretty special and I’m pretty lucky.”
Juric was first asked what he learned from his first year being in the Big Ten as a freshman. The 7-foot, 250 lb. Croatian anchor was then asked with the new players that have arrived on campus, what are they going to bring to the team. Juric responded, “I think toughness. That was a big question for us. We brought a lot guys from all different kinds of places, from winning programs that won in the past and know how to win, that know what it takes to win, those were the biggest questions that were answered.”
Juric was then asked what teammate people are not talking about much right now, but will be during the season. Juric said, “For me, I would definitely say Dasonte Bowen, our point guard. He just likes to share the ball and plays so hard defensively, really is the vocal leader on the court and knows where to get his guys, him being a leader for us is really important.”
Bowen is a 6′-2″ transfer point guard out of St. Bonaventure and is a graduate student at Happy Valley.
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