2025-26 PSU MBB Thread
- Thread starter Tom McAndrew
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Embarrassing for PSU basketball programs to stink so bad, men’s and women’s!
I had hopes for Rhoades but it's not gonna work. He can't recruit enough B1G caliber players and those he does recruit won't stay around. I expect Mingo is gone after this season.
Time for PSU to cut bait with Rhoades and go find a name coach and invest $ or just drop the program. The program has been reduced to Patriot League level. Unacceptable!
I thought Rhoades was a good coach 2 years ago but lost some faith in him last year when we lost Puff and Ace was playing hurt. Some of that was bad luck but he seemed to lose the team. This year he had to essentially start over so I'll cut him some slack but I agree he's got to get thing turned around.
Basketball is different than other sports because a struggling team is just 1-2 players away.
Mingo has a lot of promise and he's a freshman
I think Juric can grow into a good player in another year or two. He's also a freshman.
Tunca shows promise and he's a freshman.
Mitric and Blackwood are freshmen and Stewart is just a sophomore.
Dillione has another year
That's a good core of 6 players if they return next year. If PSU can keep those players, add Mingo's brother, and also add a strong PF/Rim protector they will be a very competitive team. I know that's a lot of IFs but it's not like football where you need 40+ players making an impact.
Highly unlikely, IMO, that Rhoades is facing any heat wrt remaining as PSU Men's BB coach, for a lot of reasons:
FWIW: IMO, Rhoades seems to be a good and likable guy, from everything I have seen - I couldn't begin to evaluate him as a "coach" (don't have any level of expertise in that regard). Generally, people I talk to who do have some knowledge, seem to be at least lukewarm wrt him as a coach, and some have positive thoughts.
But PSU dramatically overpaid/overcommitted to get him.
If one recalls, PK was facing a lot of criticism for "screwing the pooch" and letting Shrewsberry walk (I don't know if that is a fair critique) and for not "investing" in Basketball (also not sure if fair, but it is what it is, and was the prevailing fan sentiment at the time).
But when Shrewsberry left, it appeared to catch PK off guard (the fact that it could have caught him off guard, when every reasonable person I know figured Shrewsberry was a 99% lock to head to ND? IDK? But, again, it is what it is):
PK's first choice, and a guy he might have figured was easy pickings, Grant - the guy PK hired at BC - said "No", it threw things in a tizzy, and PK found himself in a storm. So he way overpaid - likely to make sure Rhoades wouldn't say "No".
[FWIW: Grant has disappointed, to say the least, at BC ‘Absolutely Embarrassing’ — Boston College’s Decision To Retain Earl Grant Met With Heavy Criticism | College Sports Network]
PK also gave Rhoades fully guaranteed money - around $27 million or so - of which PSU would still be on the hook for around $20 million if they cut him loose. Obviously, there is no $$$ to pay for that.
1cyByoaC3xp2JgL9lk0GktABQ75SU6R7VMKhToZA.pdf
Given the financial considerations - and the fact that, I think, just about everyone views the PSU BB programs (both of them) as cellar-dweller programs that are nearly impossible to win at (whether that be truly accurate or not, IDK). Certainly. there is very little interest in either program - compared to high profile PSU sports, or high profile BB programs at other Big Ten schools. And not nearly as much pressure to "win" as there would be with other programs.
He (PK) also ratcheted up BB budget - so as to calm the baying that he didn't "invest enough". The result of that extra spending? PSU is the ONLY major program to not make significant $$$ on Men's BB. Expenses went up - revenue laid there like a dead cat.... nothing. And that is of course part of the issue leading to PSU not having $$$ to re-boot their coaching situation (assuming they would want to).
Typically, even at PSU, the Men's BB team generated positive cash flow of around 30-40% over and above expenses - largely because nearly all the revenue was Big Ten and NCAA revenue share - which is still the case today (internal revenues - ticket sales etc - have always been minimal). But positive cash flow - significantly so - occurred at PSU for Men's BB every year, like clockwork (aside from COVID year), until PK's arrival.
PK just ratcheted up expenses, with (predictably) no increase in revenue (or on court success).
FWIW:
PK hasn't been at PSU long enough (since just 2022) to have any coaching hires with lengthy track records - obviously - but since becoming PSU AD, PK has replaced coaches in 10 of PSU's 31 sports (the longest tenured is, of course, at just three seasons in.... the field hockey coach).
Those coaches have now coached their teams to a combined 16 Big Ten seasons. The next time a PK coach led team records a record above 500 in the Big Ten Conference matches - will be the first time. (I think the Baseball coach hit exactly a 500 Big Ten record last year, IIRC. He has probably been the most objectively "successful" of PK's ten coaching hires to date).
Assuming Matt Campbell can reach a winning Big Ten record in football, he would be the first (and I think most people expect that will happen)
FWIW: IMO, Rhoades seems to be a good and likable guy, from everything I have seen - I couldn't begin to evaluate him as a "coach" (don't have any level of expertise in that regard). Generally, people I talk to who do have some knowledge, seem to be at least lukewarm wrt him as a coach, and some have positive thoughts.
But PSU dramatically overpaid/overcommitted to get him.
If one recalls, PK was facing a lot of criticism for "screwing the pooch" and letting Shrewsberry walk (I don't know if that is a fair critique) and for not "investing" in Basketball (also not sure if fair, but it is what it is, and was the prevailing fan sentiment at the time).
But when Shrewsberry left, it appeared to catch PK off guard (the fact that it could have caught him off guard, when every reasonable person I know figured Shrewsberry was a 99% lock to head to ND? IDK? But, again, it is what it is):
PK's first choice, and a guy he might have figured was easy pickings, Grant - the guy PK hired at BC - said "No", it threw things in a tizzy, and PK found himself in a storm. So he way overpaid - likely to make sure Rhoades wouldn't say "No".
[FWIW: Grant has disappointed, to say the least, at BC ‘Absolutely Embarrassing’ — Boston College’s Decision To Retain Earl Grant Met With Heavy Criticism | College Sports Network]
PK also gave Rhoades fully guaranteed money - around $27 million or so - of which PSU would still be on the hook for around $20 million if they cut him loose. Obviously, there is no $$$ to pay for that.
1cyByoaC3xp2JgL9lk0GktABQ75SU6R7VMKhToZA.pdf
Given the financial considerations - and the fact that, I think, just about everyone views the PSU BB programs (both of them) as cellar-dweller programs that are nearly impossible to win at (whether that be truly accurate or not, IDK). Certainly. there is very little interest in either program - compared to high profile PSU sports, or high profile BB programs at other Big Ten schools. And not nearly as much pressure to "win" as there would be with other programs.
He (PK) also ratcheted up BB budget - so as to calm the baying that he didn't "invest enough". The result of that extra spending? PSU is the ONLY major program to not make significant $$$ on Men's BB. Expenses went up - revenue laid there like a dead cat.... nothing. And that is of course part of the issue leading to PSU not having $$$ to re-boot their coaching situation (assuming they would want to).
Typically, even at PSU, the Men's BB team generated positive cash flow of around 30-40% over and above expenses - largely because nearly all the revenue was Big Ten and NCAA revenue share - which is still the case today (internal revenues - ticket sales etc - have always been minimal). But positive cash flow - significantly so - occurred at PSU for Men's BB every year, like clockwork (aside from COVID year), until PK's arrival.
PK just ratcheted up expenses, with (predictably) no increase in revenue (or on court success).
FWIW:
PK hasn't been at PSU long enough (since just 2022) to have any coaching hires with lengthy track records - obviously - but since becoming PSU AD, PK has replaced coaches in 10 of PSU's 31 sports (the longest tenured is, of course, at just three seasons in.... the field hockey coach).
Those coaches have now coached their teams to a combined 16 Big Ten seasons. The next time a PK coach led team records a record above 500 in the Big Ten Conference matches - will be the first time. (I think the Baseball coach hit exactly a 500 Big Ten record last year, IIRC. He has probably been the most objectively "successful" of PK's ten coaching hires to date).
Assuming Matt Campbell can reach a winning Big Ten record in football, he would be the first (and I think most people expect that will happen)
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I tend to agree. Anyone that's decent will be gone. So he can't keep enough older more mature kids in the program. There's no way to get out of this without a huge name. The portal and NIL kills a program like this.
Lots of ifs and they have to come to fruition. He has to recruit some true rebounders/shot blockers up front that can contribute immediately and a "3" that can consistently hit outside shots and take people off the dribble.
If he can't secure those players in the next cycle, his time needs to be up and PSU has to hire a name coach/recruiter by spending $.
you both make good points. Rhoades is not quite Shrews as a coach IMO, but Shrews was always using us as a stepping stone. Where I am disappointed so far with MR is that I dont think he has been able to change up his style to best meet his players abilities. MS was very good at that, he went in the portal, got some lower level cast offs (though Pickett was not a cast off, he should have gone ACC/Big East) and was able to get a style/system to get them 20+ wins and in to the tourney. His recruiting was 'better' but he never got any of the recruits he brought in to be stars either.
MR has sort of pulled an Illinois and gone with quite a few Euros, out of necessity primarily. I think these guys could be good in another year or two, especially if Mingo stays and his brother comes (do we have the $$ to keep them both) but in the long run, the European style of basketball is more offensively based rather than defensively so MR will have to figure out what he wants to do on the defensive end if this is his team next year.
UGH is right. Sadly, or fortunately, I missed that game. I'm beginning to doubt we are a Big Ten type team. Was hoping to be middling in the Big I seriously doubt that happens.
I think Rhoades is better than Shrews but I could be wrong. I know 2 things:
- Shrews didn't want to be here. He used PSU as a stepping stone much like Bill OBrien. He bailed at the first chance when he could get back t Indiana.
- Shrews hasn't been doing so great at ND. Rhoades had to start over after Shrews too his recruits with him.
P.S. I looked it up and Rhoades is 13th highest paid in the BiG
True that - at $3.5 Million for this year.
Though, in addition, he does also have the highest level of Bonus Comp - a bit over a million (though I don't expect he has achieved much of that over the last couple years - but would if they have a decent year), and the third highest total guarantee (behind only Pikiell and Underwood)
Men's Basketball Head Coach Salaries - USA TODAY
The median Big Ten salary is $3.8 Million (Gard at Wisky, and Pikiell at Rutgers), so he is rounding error of the median (which, IIRC, is quite a boost up for PSU..... I don't think Chambers was ever near "average" wrt Big Ten comp)
I was watching a UNC basketball webcast and the guy on thier last month was lamenting about Dylan Mingo saying that he's going to PSU and for basketball they deserve nothing like him.
I will say, PSU lands him and most of these guys stay around for next year, and you all might think Rhodes all of the sudden got better. Both Juric and Tunca are capable of being solid B10 players, they have improved greatly since game 1, but they should both be bench players this year, not counted on to be key guys. Bright side is, they have no choice but to get better this year. They are getting tossed into the fire.
This year, its going to be ugly. I would hope its not going to be like last night very often, but we will be hard pressed to win 4 games in conference.
I will say, PSU lands him and most of these guys stay around for next year, and you all might think Rhodes all of the sudden got better. Both Juric and Tunca are capable of being solid B10 players, they have improved greatly since game 1, but they should both be bench players this year, not counted on to be key guys. Bright side is, they have no choice but to get better this year. They are getting tossed into the fire.
This year, its going to be ugly. I would hope its not going to be like last night very often, but we will be hard pressed to win 4 games in conference.
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I think what PSU needs to do every year is recruit a bunch of three point shooters and just try to beat teams with the three. We can’t recruit well enough on the inside to beat teams in the paint and we can’t recruit well enough to match up athletically with teams. Load up on a bunch of Andrew Funks and just keep shooting.
It is not the PSU way but the only way PSU Men’s BB ever becomes relevant is to pony up huge bucks for a big name coach that will bring in 1 year rentals taking a growth year before hitting the NBA. It is pretty much a lost cause. Wish I could be more hopeful about the situation but I can’t.
On PK, if he got it right with Campbell then nothing else really matters even if he can't find the right hoops coach and has a revoving door there.
They'll try to donate the extra 999 T-shirts to a charity to help impoverished children, who will also reject them. Eventually, some missionaries over in Africa, or some remote island nation will find a tribe that has had limited contact with the rest of humanity, and will try to hand them these shirts, at which point the tribe will declare war on us.What will they do with the extra T-shirts?
Africa, baby, where American sports championship history is rewritten on a regular basis.What will they do with the extra T-shirts?
You want to say "If they can play like this the rest of the way...", but you know they won't. At the end of the day it's just another loss. It's almost impossible to go 0-20 or 0-18 or whatever it is though, so at some point they will accidentally win a game in conference 
. I'll go with 2-18 or 2-16 or whatever it is, that sounds about right. This is not enough to fire this coach though because at Penn State the men's basketball coach always gets 9 years to make the NCAA tournament
. I'll go with 2-18 or 2-16 or whatever it is, that sounds about right. This is not enough to fire this coach though because at Penn State the men's basketball coach always gets 9 years to make the NCAA tournament The problem is they seem to do just enough to lose. You would hope that if they play like this against #9 MSU then they could beat many of the B10 teams at least at home but that won't happen. They still lose to Minny and NW, for example.
Yeah, the first 5 minutes or so of the second half did them in but overall I'm very happy with how they played today
Yep, I just posted the same sentiment. It is what losing programs do. Penn State will probably win 3 or 4 conference games.You want to say "If they can play like this the rest of the way...", but you know they won't. At the end of the day it's just another loss. It's almost impossible to go 0-20 or 0-18 or whatever it is though, so at some point they will accidentally win a game in conference
Much better effort by PSU today. I feel bad for Dillione who turned out to be a bit of a goat. He's played very well all season and even today but two plays killed us. One was missing the front and of a 1-1. The other was losing his focus on defense and allowing a MSU player to cut behind him unnoticed for an open 3. Another play that killed us was the lane violation that gave MSU and extra FT.
One thing I noticed during the last 5 minutes is that anybody not named Mingo or Dillione was extremely reluctant to take the shot. PSU needs one more guy to step up.
MSU out rebounded PSU 40-27. Juric played better today with 5 rebounds but he still has a way to go. I think he'll be a solid player in years 3 & 4. If I was Rhoades I'd have him watch videos of John Harrar. Mirtic & Ciani only combined for 3 rebounds in 28 minutes.
Mingo was our leading rebounder with 7 and he had 8 assists. He's great going to the basket but he really needs to become more of a perimeter threat.
Tunca has been quiet lately. He only played 13 minutes today. Rice made a couple of nice plays. He showed strength going to the rim but he also had some lazy/careless plays on both ends. I keep waiting for Stewart to break out but it just hasn't happened.
PSU really needs to beat Pitt next week in order to regain some momentum. Pitt beat OSU by 1 pt but they also lost to Hofstra.
One thing I noticed during the last 5 minutes is that anybody not named Mingo or Dillione was extremely reluctant to take the shot. PSU needs one more guy to step up.
MSU out rebounded PSU 40-27. Juric played better today with 5 rebounds but he still has a way to go. I think he'll be a solid player in years 3 & 4. If I was Rhoades I'd have him watch videos of John Harrar. Mirtic & Ciani only combined for 3 rebounds in 28 minutes.
Mingo was our leading rebounder with 7 and he had 8 assists. He's great going to the basket but he really needs to become more of a perimeter threat.
Tunca has been quiet lately. He only played 13 minutes today. Rice made a couple of nice plays. He showed strength going to the rim but he also had some lazy/careless plays on both ends. I keep waiting for Stewart to break out but it just hasn't happened.
PSU really needs to beat Pitt next week in order to regain some momentum. Pitt beat OSU by 1 pt but they also lost to Hofstra.
Yep, good call on all of those. When they got the lead at the four minute mark 67 to 64, I had a feeling that they were gonna have trouble scoring the rest of the way. Like you said some of those guys really didn’t want the ball in this team doesn’t have a Jalen Pickett that can go down and get to the free-throw line every possession. That person should be Mingo but Rhodes needs to explain that to him. Should’ve been some combo action with he and Dillione for every possession past the four minute timeout
I agree with everything except I don't think Mingo can back his defender down in the paint to score like Pickett. He has to penetrate with quickness.
Yeah, not the same type of player but what I meant was mango has to get into the paint and draw that foul.