Big Ten Basketball: 2024 offseason grades for each team

Penn State Nittany Lions - Grade: C-

The good news for Coach Mike Rhoades is that Ace Baldwin, who followed him over from VCU, is back for a 5th year after leading the team with 14.2 ppg and 6.0 apg. And the team also kept several rotation pieces too, including Zach Hicks, D’Marco Dunn, Puff Johnson, and Nick Kern). 

However, Penn State’s lack of firepower outside of Baldwin is a massive concern. Kanye Clary, who averaged 16.7 ppg as a sophomore breakout star, transferred out, while big man Qudus Wahab ran out of eligibility. The replacements are coming from a four-man freshmen class, as well as four other transfers from the portal.

Eli Rice (Nebraska) and Freddie Dillione (Tennessee) are guards looking for more playing time after limited freshman campaigns, while Kachi Nzeh (Xavier) is doing the same after not playing much at Xavier. Yanic Konan Niederhauser (7.3 ppg and 4.4 rpg) is the most accomplished newcomer but the 6’10 big man from Northern Illinois averaged just 20 mpg and there’s limited frontcourt depth to begin with.

Retaining Baldwin should keep them competitive. But unless multiple surprise contributors emerge, it’s hard to see how Penn State gets out of the bottom tier of Big Ten Basketball next season, now that four more programs are entering the mix.