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Penn State Men's Basketball Looks for Fresh Start Ahead of 2026-27 Season

Penn State Men's Basketball Looks for Fresh Start Ahead of 2026-27 Season

By: Landyn Empet | SportzWire | October 19, 2026 | Photo courtesy Landyn Empet

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After a tough 2025-26 season, Penn State men's basketball is preparing for a fresh start under head coach Mike Rhoades. With several new faces joining the program and a challenging Big Ten schedule ahead, the Nittany Lions will look to improve on last year's struggles.

Penn State finished the 2025-26 season with a 12-20 overall record and went just 3-17 in Big Ten play. The Nittany Lions started the year strong, winning seven of their first nine games, but struggled once conference play began.

Despite the disappointing record, Penn State showed signs of promise throughout the season. The Nittany Lions earned close wins over Minnesota (77-75), Washington (63-60) and Iowa (71-69), accounting for all three of their Big Ten victories. The challenge now is turning those moments into more consistent results.

A Look Back at Last Season

Penn State averaged 73.7 points per game last season while allowing opponents to score 79.3 points per game. The Nittany Lions shot 46.9% from the field but struggled from beyond the arc, making just 32.4% of their three-point attempts.

Defense was another major issue. Opponents shot 50% from the field and 38.8% from three-point range, making it difficult for Penn State to stay competitive against some of the Big Ten's stronger teams.

Rebounding also proved to be a problem. The Nittany Lions averaged just 29 rebounds per game compared to 33.1 for their opponents.

Penn State did find some success taking care of the basketball, averaging only 10.5 turnovers per game while forcing opponents into 11.9 turnovers. The team also averaged 6.9 steals per game.

Those numbers show where Penn State needs to improve heading into the new season. Better defense, stronger rebounding and more consistent shooting will be important if the Nittany Lions hope to compete in the Big Ten.

New Faces, New Opportunities

Penn State will enter the 2026-27 season with a much different roster.

One of the biggest challenges for Rhoades will be replacing the production of several key players from last season, including Freddie Dilione V and Kayden Mingo.

Dilione led the Nittany Lions in scoring last year, averaging 14.0 points per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Mingo was close behind at 13.7 points per game and led the team with 121 assists and 58 steals.

Their departures leave Penn State searching for new leaders on both ends of the court.

One familiar face returning is Josh Reed, who averaged 11.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game last season. Reed appeared in all 32 games and made 31 starts, making him one of the team's most experienced players.

The Nittany Lions will also bring back 7-foot forward Ivan Jurić, who averaged 10.2 points and a team-high 5.3 rebounds per game. Jurić shot an impressive 57.7% from the field and could play an even larger role this season.

Penn State has also added several new players, including guards Jay Rodgers and Dasonte Bowen, along with forwards Roko Prkačin, François Wibaut and Tim Oboh.

Rodgers arrives from Central Connecticut State, while Bowen brings previous college experience from Iowa and St. Bonaventure.

With so many changes, building team chemistry will be one of the biggest challenges early in the year.

Defense Will Be Key

If Penn State wants to take a step forward this season, improvements on defense will be necessary.

Last year, opponents made an average of 9.7 three-pointers per game, compared to just 6.9 for the Nittany Lions.

Penn State also struggled to protect the basket, averaging only 1.7 blocks per game while opponents averaged 3.4.

The addition of more size could help address some of those problems. With Jurić standing at 7 feet and Oboh at 6-foot-11, Penn State has options inside the paint.

However, having size alone will not solve everything. The Nittany Lions will need to communicate better, limit open shots and make rebounding a team effort.

The ability to get defensive stops could make a major difference, especially in close conference games.

A Challenging Schedule Ahead

Penn State will officially open the 2026-27 season on November 2 against Canisius at the Bryce Jordan Center.

The Nittany Lions will then face Chattanooga on November 5 before meeting in-state rival Pittsburgh on November 8 at the Palestra in Philadelphia.

Another early test will come during the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas, where Penn State is scheduled to face Memphis on November 25.

Big Ten play begins December 8 when Nebraska visits the Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State will then travel to Illinois on December 12.

The Nittany Lions will play 20 Big Ten games this season, with 10 taking place at home.

With one of the toughest conference schedules in college basketball, Penn State will have little room for mistakes once league play begins.

What to Expect

There are plenty of questions surrounding Penn State heading into the 2026-27 season.

The Nittany Lions are coming off a disappointing year, and replacing much of their scoring production will not be easy. However, the return of Reed and Jurić, along with several experienced newcomers, gives Rhoades pieces to work with.

Penn State does not need to become one of the Big Ten's top teams overnight, but showing improvement will be important.

That starts with winning more close games, playing better defense and finding ways to compete against conference opponents.

The Nittany Lions won just three Big Ten games last season. Improving on that number would be a meaningful first step for a program looking to get back on track.

With a new roster and another challenging season ahead, Penn State has an opportunity to move forward and give its fans something to build on.