Desperation has set in for Penn State as the Nittany Lions seek their first conference win when they play Ohio State on Monday in Columbus.
Third-year coach Mike Rhoades has the youngest team in the conference and it hasn’t produced results for the Nittany Lions (9-10, 0-8 Big Ten), who have lost six straight since a win against North Carolina Central on Dec. 29.
“You have to play really good basketball to win in the Big Ten,” Rhoades said. “We’re not there and that’s the reality. We have to have a level of urgency in this program to move forward, and I’ll do that.”
In the 98-71 loss to Wisconsin on Thursday, Penn State started two freshmen, a sophomore, a redshirt sophomore and a senior.
“We’re behind the eight ball. We’re not good enough,” Rhoades said. “I get it but it’s on me. I’m not a quitter. I hope the fans get behind us and support these kids because they are good kids and they are working really hard.”
A positive is the play of Kayden Mingo, who is the third-highest-scoring freshman in the Big Ten (14.6 points per game). He leads Penn State in that category, as well as assists (4.6) and steals (2.3).
The Buckeyes (13-6, 5-4) have gotten a major contribution from a young player, too. Sophomore John Mobley Jr. followed 28 points vs. UCLA and 26 against Minnesota with 22 in a 74-62 loss at No. 3 Michigan on Friday.
“John has been shooting the ball well and he did some good things,” Ohio State coach Jake Diebler said. “This is a few games in a row where he has done some really good stuff for us. His poise from two was really impressive. This was probably one of the best games he has had with that.”
The problem Diebler hopes to correct against Penn State is that leading scorer Bruce Thornton (20.1) had just 10 points against the Wolverines while making 3 of 11 from the floor, including 1 of 5 3-pointers.
“Bruce saw two (defenders) on nearly every ball screen,” Diebler said. “We have to do a better job of attacking that. Their pressure, in general, was too disruptive.”
