4. Ability to create turnovers
Part of Penn State’s identity last season was its ability to create turnovers. With an improved roster this year, that remains the core of how Penn State attacks defensively. According to BartTorvik, the Nittany Lions own an impressive 24.5 turnover percentage thanks to 11.1 SPG, placing them inside the top four of NCAA basketball in both categories. In its win over Purdue, Penn State forced the Boilermakers to cough it up 22 times, including 15 from its trio of Trey Kauffman-Renn, Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith.
Having the Ace Baldwin’s defense obviously helps. But it's the supporting cast has chipped in too, making the Nittany Lions a nightmare for opponents to match up with.
5. Mike Rhoades’ impressive track record
Although Mike Rhoades may only be in his second season at the power-five level, he has found success at every stop he has made. Rhoades, notably a part of Shaka Smart’s VCU Final Four run in 2011, got his first HC gig at Randolph-Macon, a small private arts college located just north of Richmond, Virginia in 1999. In his 10 years there, he enjoyed a .722 overall win percentage.
After his AC stint at VCU, his first D1 gig came at Rice, tasked with resurrecting a program that hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament since 1970. Although Rhoades didn’t get the Owls into the Big Dance, his 23-win mark in his third season was the first time Rice won that many games since 1954.
At VCU, Rice took the Rams to three NCAA Tournaments (including 2021 in which a COVID outbreak caused VCU to forfeit in the Round of 64). VCU has been a staple of success over the past two decades. Jeff Capel III, Anthony Grant, Shaka Smart and Will Wade have all made their marks on the program. And Rhoades is no different, winning 129 games in just six seasons.
Now firmly planted in State College, it’s only a matter of time before consistent success follows in Happy Valley.