Penn State Basketball QUIETLY Improves! Superstar Freshman, International Talent Join Squad

Penn State men’s basketball was projected to finish dead last in the Big Ten… but with four new international players and a promising young core, that narrative may change fast.

Zach Seyko is joined by the voice of Penn State basketball, Steve Jones, for a deep dive into:

- The complete roster transformation under Mike Rhoades

- The arrival of international professionals and the mystery surrounding their upside

- Why Kaden Mingo could be a future star — and maybe even a one-and-done talent

- The importance of a healthy Eli Rice, Dom Stewart, and Freddie Dilione

- What the team lost with Yannick Niederhauser going to the NBA

- Why chemistry, not talent, might be the key to success

- What Steve’s seen in summer workouts — and what he still doesn’t know

It’s a fresh start in Happy Valley. This team is green, but hungry.

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00:00 – Why Penn State Basketball May Surprise People in 2025

01:40 – Kaden Mingo’s Early Impact + Leadership as a Freshman

04:10 – Freddie Dilione & Eli Rice Finally Healthy

06:00 – Dom Stewart Becomes a Vet — And a Sharpshooter

07:40 – The Mystery of the International Players

09:00 – Roster Turnover Across the Big Ten Makes Predictions Pointless

10:00 – Sponsor Read: FanDuel

11:10 – Niederhauser’s NBA Rise & Big Shoes to Fill

13:00 – Small Ball Could Be PSU’s Identity Again

14:30 – Blackwood + Mingo + Stewart = Core with Upside

16:30 – Defense Will Define This Team’s Ceiling

18:00 – Mike Rhoades Still Has Buy-In — From Players and Staff

20:00 – Last Season’s Collapse: More About Injuries Than Coaching

22:30 – Close Losses, Bad Luck, and the 2023–24 Breakdown

24:30 – Why Taylor Battle’s Return to PSU Matters

26:00 – Staff Strengths: Crispin’s Offense, Brunt’s Defense, Scott’s Bigs

27:30 – Can This Be the Year Rhoades Shuts Up the Doubters?

29:00 – Final Thoughts: Chemistry + Perception = Make-or-Break Year