UNIVERSITY PARK — The Penn State men’s basketball team held its annual media day on Wednesday, Oct. 23, in the Bryce Jordan Center.
“I think our five seniors did a great job,” Rhoades said. “Maybe the best job in my 29 seasons. They displayed senior leadership by example, by voice, by being great teammates and by working really hard.
“Going into this (second) season, it is a complete 180 in so many different ways. I’ve taken over other programs before, so I knew what to expect. You want to take off from where you’re at and build it quickly.
“Last year we put a foundation down. We had some good wins that gave us momentum. We had some good play in the Big Ten that supports that we belong and that we know where to take this.
“Off of that foundation, we want to use it as a springboard too. When you are going into that next season, there is a culture of work, and you build on that culture of work. We are going to win, and we want to win. That’s our plan.”
That plan will start with the returning seniors from last season’s team, beginning with returning point guard Ace Baldwin.
Graduate student Baldwin will enter his fifth season of eligibility, and he was just named to the Naismith Starting Five Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year to 20 Preseason Watch List.
Last season, Baldwin was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, a Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year semifinalist, a Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year finalist, an NABC Second Team All-District 7 selection, a third-team All-Big Ten (coaches and media) pick and a Big Ten All-Defensive Team honoree.
The point guard averaged 14.2 points per game, 6 assists and 2.7 steals. He had 199 assists, second most all-time at Penn State, and 88 steals, which was the third-most at Penn State.
Baldwin will be joined by seniors D’Marco Dunn, Nick Kern, Puff Johnson and All-Big Ten honorable mention Zach Hicks, who led the team in 3-pointers with 67 and averaged 12.2 points per game.
This year’s transfers include 6-foot-5 guard Freddie Dilione from Tennessee, 6-8 guard Eli Rice from Nebraska, 7-0 junior forward Yanic Konan Niederhauser from Northern Illinois and Switzerland, and 6-8 sophomore forward Kachi Nzeh from Xavier.
The freshmen that round out the roster are 6-7 forward Hudson Ward from Alberta, Canada, 6-5 forward Joe Sedorda from Red Lion, 6-11 Miles Goodman from Seattle, Washington, 6-5 guard Dominick Stewart from Ocean Springs, Miss. and 6-3 guard Jahvin Carter from Alcoa, Tenn.
“I think Ace will be a killer in every game,” Rhoades said. “And show the guys by example how to compete, how to be coachable and how to take your game to the next level.
“I thought Ace had the best summer and preseason that he ever had. I never had to worry about Ace competing and wanting to win. What I love about him is that he is taking a professional approach about his game and improving. And when he is in the gym all the time, guess what? The other guys are in the gym all the time.
“And I thought Zach and Puff had great off seasons and D’Marco had a great fall. It’s part of being a senior. Maybe they see the light at the end of the tunnel and have a more singular focus.
“That’s what you want to see that your older guys are taking the work and the culture to another level, and I think Ace is leading the way.”
With the roster now set, the Lions opened their season with a charity exhibition game against Lafayette at Rhoades’ alma mater, Lebanon Valley College.
Rhoades was the 1995 Division III National Player of the Year and a two-time All-American at LVC. The Dutchmen won the D3 national championship in 1994.
The Lions took an early lead against Lafayette and steadily pulled away for a 79-64 win over the Leopards.
The Lions will officially open their season on Monday, Nov. 4, with a home game against Binghamton and 7:30 p.m. and that will be followed by home games against UMBC on Friday, Nov. 8, and against Saint Francis on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
