Meet the Opponent: Penn State Goes For Third Win Over Indiana in Big Ten Tournament

Penn State beat Indiana in both regular season matchups, but the Hoosiers have won four in a row and will have Xavier Johnson for the first time against the Nittany Lions in Thursday's second-round matchup in the Big Ten Tournament. Here's a full breakdown of Penn State.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Indiana gets a third shot at Penn State, this time in Thursday's second round of the Big Ten Tournament.

The Nittany Lions handled the Hoosiers in both regular season matchups, an 85-71 win on Feb. 3 in Bloomington and an 83-74 win on Feb. 24 in University Park, Pa. In coach Mike Rhoades' first season, Penn State finished ended the regular season 15-16 overall and 9-11 in the Big Ten, good for an 11th-place conference finish. 

Here's a full breakdown of Penn State, which defeated Michigan 66-57 on Wednesday night in the Big Ten Tournament.

Key returners

(2023-24 stats)

• G Kanye Clary: 16.9 ppg, 2.8 apg, 37.7 3-pt FG%
• Dismissed from team by coach Mike Rhoades
• G Jameel Brown: 4.2 ppg, 32.2 3-pt FG%
• F Demetrius Lilley: 2.8 ppg, 71.4 FG%

Key departures

(2022-23 stats)

• Head coach: Micah Shrewsberry (Notre Dame)
• G Jalen Pickett: 17.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 6.6 apg, 38.1 3-pt FG%
• G Seth Lundy: 14.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 40.0 3-pt FG%
• G Andrew Funk: 12.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 41.2 3-pt FG%
• G Camren Wynter: 8.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 40.2 3-pt FG%
• G Myles Dread: 5.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 38.4 3-pt FG%
• F Kebba Njie: 3.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 52.0 FG%
• F Evan Mahaffey: 2.8 ppg, 56.9 FG%
• F Michael Henn: 2.4 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 49.1 FG%
• G Caleb Dorsey: 2.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg
• G Dallion Johnson: 2.0 ppg, 29.7 3-pt FG%

Key newcomers

(2023-24 stats)

• Head coach: Mike Rhoades (three NCAA Tournament bids in six seasons at VCU)
• G Ace Baldwin Jr. (VCU): 14.3 ppg, 6.0 apg, 2.7 spg, 34.5 3-pt FG%
• C Qudus Wahab (Georgetown): 9.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 61.8 FG%
• G Nicholas Kern Jr. (VCU): 8.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 55.q FG%
• F Zach Hicks (Temple): 8.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 33.9 3-pt FG%
• G/F Puff Johnson (North Carolina): 7.0 ppg, 34.8 3-pt FG%
• G D'Marco Dunn (North Carolina): 6.8 ppg, 36.3 3-pt FG%
• F Leo O'Boyle (O'Boyle): 2.0 ppg, 32.8 FG%

Schedule (16-16, 9-11 in Big Ten)

• W, 79-45 vs. Delaware State
• W, 74-65 vs. Lehigh
• W, 83-53 vs. St. Francis (Pa.)
• W, 74-51 vs. Morehead State
• L, 89-77 vs. Texas A&M (neutral site in Florida)
• L, 88-78 vs. Butler (neutral site in Florida)
• L, 86-74 vs. VCU (neutral site in Florida)
• L, 76-67 vs. Bucknell
• L, 81-75 (OT) at Maryland
• W, 83-80 vs. Ohio State
• L, 82-81 vs. Georgia Tech
• W, 72-55 vs. Le Moyne
• W, 90-63 vs. Rider
• L, 92-61 at Michigan State
• W, 79-73 vs. Michigan
• L, 76-72 vs. Northwestern
• L, 95-78 at Purdue
• W, 87-83 vs. Wisconsin
• L, 79-67 at Ohio State
• L, 83-74 vs. Minnesota
• W, 61-46 at Rutgers
• W, 85-71 at Indiana
• W, 89-79 vs. Iowa
• L, 68-63 at Northwestern
• L, 80-72 vs. Michigan State
• L, 68-49 at Nebraska
• W, 90-89 vs. Illinois
• W, 83-74 vs. Indiana
• L, 90-81 at Iowa
• L, 75-70 at Minnesota
• W, 85-69 vs. Maryland
• W, 66-57 vs. Michigan

Mike Woodson's history against Penn State

• L, 83-74 vs. Penn State on Feb. 24, 2024, at the Bryce Jordan Center
• L, 85-71 vs. Penn State on Feb. 3, 2024, at Assembly Hall
• L, 77-73 vs. Penn State on March 11, 2023, in Big Ten Tournament semifinal
• L 85-66 at Penn State on Jan. 11, 2023, at the Bryce Jordan Center
• W, 74-57 vs. Penn State on Jan. 26, 2022, at Assembly Hall
• L, 61-58 at Penn State on Jan. 2, 2022, at the Bryce Jordan Center

Penn State Nittany Lions guard Ace Baldwin Jr (1) maneuvers with the ball through the Indiana Hoosiers defense during the first half at Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State defeated Indiana 83-74 / Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Strengths

Point guard Ace Baldwin Jr. is Penn State's focal point on both ends of the floor. He leads an offense that plays fast and ranks 50th in adjusted tempo. His scoring has increased since Penn State dismissed leading scorer Kanye Clary from the team, posting 10 games with 15-plus points since Jan. 16. A quick and shifty ball-handler, Baldwin is a threat to beat his defenders off the dribble and drive to the basket. But he's also shooting a solid 34.8% on 3-point attempts. Baldwin is perhaps even more impactful on the defensive end, earning the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Award in his first year in the conference after transferring in from VCU. The 6-foot guard led the Big Ten and ranked fourth nationally with 84 steals. Penn State's 6-foot-6 wing Nick Kern Jr. and 6-foot-11 center Qudus Wahab received All-Big Ten honorable mentions.

Penn State ranks 98th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, which says its defense isn't great overall. But it will certainly make opponents work. Penn State utilizes a full-court press for most of the game, which tires out opponents and makes it difficult for them to run their offense the way they want on a consistent basis. The Nittany Lions' best defensive ranking comes in opponent 3-point percentage, 30.7%, or 20th in the nation. Indiana didn't have veteran point guard Xavier Johnson in the first two matchups this season, and his presence could help the Hoosiers better attack the press and match up against Baldwin.

Weaknesses

On the offensive end, Penn State doesn't generate many second-chance looks, ranking 256th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage. Conversely, its defense struggles to keep opponents off the offensive glass, ranking 315th in opponent offensive rebounding percentage. While the Nittany Lions' full-court press can be successful at times – and teams don't shoot well from the 3-point line against them – their interior defense leaves something to be desired. 

Opponents shoot 53.3% on 2-point attempts against Penn State, slotting its defense 305th nationally. That will be an even bigger challenge against Indiana, which consistently pounds the ball inside to 6-foot-9 Malik Reneau and 7-footer Kel'el Ware.

Season outlook

Penn State was picked to finish 13th in the Big Ten in the preseason poll and beat that prediction by two spots. While Penn State finished below .500 in the regular season, coach Mike Rhoades had to overhaul nearly the entire roster in his first season and had some positive moments this year. 

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