Big Ten Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2023-24 season
By Tuck Clarry
11. Penn State Nittany Lions
After a successful sophomore campaign and tournament stint, head coach Micah Strewsberry jumps from Happy Valley to Notre Dame, clearing the way for veteran VCU head coach Mike Rhoades to bring himself and some friends up to University Park.
The Nittany Lions lose traffic-directing point guard Jalen Pickett but gain a veteran point general in Ace Baldwin, who ran Rhoades’ offense for the past three seasons. Baldwin is a bulldog of a small guard, wreaking havoc in passing lanes and guarding on-ball and able to score at all three-levels on offense. Joining Baldwin from elsewhere is fellow VCU guard Nick Kern Jr., bigs Zach Hicks and Qudus Wahab, Leo O’Boyle from Lafeyette and former Tar Heels Puff Johnson and D’Marco Dunn.
The portal makes Rhoades’ life easier, as a previous era would have had him in a clear learning year with the limited playmakers on the roster from last season, but Baldwin is massive talent to lead the team and Hicks and Wahab compliment each other well for spacing.
This is a team that will battle and try to win on the defensive side but will need to find some consistency from the wing position. If a bigger opportunity is what it takes for Johnson to become the player he was recruited as, the Nittany Lions may see themselves continue their dancing in March.