2025-26 PSU MBB Thread
- Thread starter Tom McAndrew
- Start date
Good effort. Never let LaSalle get fully back into it. Had a lot of success from the outside, but didn’t fall in love with the 3. Thought our defense had a very good day in all phases (didn’t necessarily show in the numbers, but they made a lot of tough shots on us).
Up to 92nd in Pomeroy.
Up to 92nd in Pomeroy.
Sounds like a Jon Crispin quote ….. since no one’s game measures up to his game (in his mind).
And I doubt anyone that was on the 8 - 19 ‘85 team would know good basketball if they saw it…..
Well, that’s likely a pretty bad assumption. Playing on a losing basketball team doesn’t impact someone’s basketball knowledge.
Penn State men's basketball remains undefeated after a victory against La Salle
An undefeated Penn State squad steamrolled La Salle in Philadelphia for the Battle on Broad, living up to expectations with a dominant performance against the Explorers, who the blue and
My take after 4 games against very weak opponents:
- Mingo looks as advertised. He doesn't have the strength or experience to put the team on his back yet but he has a promising future.
- Dillion is playing with a lot more confidence.
- Tunca has been a nice surprise. Let's see if he can keep it up.
- Juric has a lot of potential because of his size but he has to get a lot stronger and start making FTs.
Agree and most of that was known prior to these games. 5 wins would be 2 more than expected from what I can guess. I would say that this Providence game coming up next weekend and will give a better read on how far the guys have come so far.
My thoughts thru 4 games (and seeing them in person for the first time)...
- The team is a lot better than the one that took the floor against Dayton...I was really worried coming out of that game, but they're improving (and Tunca is a pretty big piece that was missing). I was worried when I heard that BA said the team was that bad, but I also know we were beat up in camp and not sure who was missing when he saw them (he's not in State College any more, so likely didn't see much of them).
- In the old age of college hoops, I'd be really excited of what we have to build with in the backcourt of Mingo and Tunca. But in 2025, I'm guessing the chances of them playing together for 4 years are extremely remote.
- Like what I've seen from Juric too...he still needs to get stronger and has gotten burned on D a few times, but expecting to see steady improvement (though he will likely get overpowered by some of the good bigs in the conference).
- Our lack of any kind of a shot blocker will definitely hurt us in the conference. We just have no one to make teams think about it when they're driving.
- To knock off some of the better Big Ten teams, we'll need to make 3s. I was worried about who could do that consistently coming into the season, but in a small sample size, Tunca, Stewart, and Rice all have had success. Mingo looked a little hesitant after his first airball yesterday, and then put up a second one. Hoping that his shooting comes around, as that would be a big part of his game to open up the drives.
- Harvard can beat us if we don't come out sharp on Tuesday night. But get through that, and Providence seems like a perfect test next Saturday (we'll likely be a very small dog).
- Something like 5-15 or 6-14 would be my prediction in conference. We might only be favored twice, but we'll likely pick up a few others.
What you say is probably realistic as far as wiins and losses this season. However, what I’d like to know is how long is it going to take Rhodes to at least turn this program into a .500 Big 10 team? IMO, this must start with retaining the majority of the key returning players; you can’t lose a whole team after every season. Then, he must start bringing in legitimate Big 10 caliber recruits.
The next 9 months will be pivotal. We sign Dylan Mingo, bring in an impact guy from the portal, and keep this young core together, and we could be turning the corner next season. We miss out on Dylan, Kayden follows his brother (or goes somewhere else), we lose a couple of Euros without signing anyone of note, and it might be time to really think about turning the page.
Dylan Mingo is the single most important recruit in PSU history potentially. If he comes, he and his brother will give us a back court that will be top 5 ish in the league.
The NIL package will have to be huge, but those two give PSU a shot at a top 25 team in 27
PSU also needs the physical monsters inside that programs like MSU, Michigan, Purdue, Illinois, etc., always seem to have. Whenever PSU has been semi-competitive, the lack of quality inside players always has kept them from taking the next step.
At 5 games, we’re currently tied for the nations 2nd longest active winning streak!
He's leaning towards Baylor according to 247. Can we afford him?
It's difficult to understand the money but I'll give it a shot. At one point PSU had $15 million for NIL and we know they have $20 million for revenue sharing which means that they have $35 million to spend on players. On average schools spend 75% of that on football, 15% on men's basketball, and 10% on all other sports. I don't think PSU spends more than 7% on men's basketball which would mean that PSU has about $2.4 million to spend on payroll.
Schools can have 15 players on the roster but my guess is that only 10 get paid meaningful dollars. I read that BYU is paying Dybansta $4.4 million so I imagine Dylan can get at least $2 million. Kayden is probably getting $800k and Tunca is probably getting $500k. 7 other players are probably averaging $200k each which would be another $1.4 million. That all adds up to $4.7 million which seems like a lot more money than PSU has available for MBB.
That's just a SWAG because I don't have a good grip on this. I just don't know where the money comes from to get the 6th ranked player in the country.
Yea, the NIL age isn't kind to PSU hoops. Of the 18 programs in the Big Ten, our fanbase is clearly 18th when it comes to supporting basketball vs. the rest of our sports programs. Every time I read the comments like "there is no reason that PSU shouldn't be fielding a program that makes the tournament "x%" of the time and is competing for Big Ten championships", I think of how tough it is when Mike Rhoades is trying to sell recruits on a half empty BJC while our peers get incredible support. Dylan Mingo is the injection of life that this program needs, but just not sure how it can happen...like Dereck Lively, he's likely a little too good for us. if those guys are top 25 recruits, we have a much better chance at them.
I think he will end up at Baylor or UNC, they have more $$ to throw at him. Maybe he takes a BIT less cash to play here if his brother really loves it but they other side is that if his brother has a great season, he will also have suitors willing to increase his pay.
I actually think AJ Dybansta is getting more than 4.4M, though maybe my number is including some non BYU $. I think the Mingos together will need at least 3.5 when all is said and done so that would completely take all of the estimated PSU hoops $.
Like you said, in today's game, unless there is mega NIL $ to spend it will be difficult for PSU to maintain a core of capable players.
Basketball is a sport where you really only need four elite players around whom you can surround a bunch of grinders; this is what Wisconsin seems to do every season. PSU should have enough money to pay up to four elite players. It's just a matter of whether elite players want to take a risk and join a building program or go to an established program. Duke basically faced this same dilemma in Coach K's first few seasons when he was struggling, and he succeeded in bring in Johnny Dawkins and several others who transformed that program, and the rest became history.
I'm becoming concerned Rhoades isn't up to the recruiting/portal task and the lack of NIL $ compounds the problem. When he was hired I had hopes he'd do well
It probably won't work with him; after all, it is PSU basketball.
In all seriousness, a long time ago, PSU needed to hire a coach like Pitino or Calipari who are magnets for star players. And I don't want to hear that those guys wouldn't have come to PSU. After all, it's a Big 10 job, and Pitino basically had to crawl on his hands and knees to get back into college coaching. But, alas, PSU never has had the desire to hire somebody like them.
Sharp start for us…moving the ball really well, and getting all high quality looks.
Made the switch I’ve been hoping to see of Juric in the starting lineup.
Made the switch I’ve been hoping to see of Juric in the starting lineup.
A bad series of quick 3s and defensive breakdowns. Use our size and quickness advance, and leave those 3s for when we go inside out!
Allowed WAY too many wide open 3s that half. Tighten that up and keep getting it to the paint of offense!
Embarrassing 1st half trailing Harvard by 3 at half. Harvard shouldn't be able to compete physically or athletically. Their only chance is to make a lot of 3s which is what they're doing making 8 of them in the first half.
Somebody get a hand in Batties' face.
Somebody get a hand in Batties' face.
I’ve watched all of Kentucky’s games this year, they’re 3-2 and would still beat PSU by 40….that’s what’s scary for this season once conference play starts.