Penn State Basketball: Searching for Answers in a Season of Struggles
At a university known for academic excellence and athletic tradition, Penn State’s basketball programs - both men’s and women’s - are stuck in a rut that’s becoming harder to ignore. While the rest of the University Park campus continues to thrive, the hardwood at Rec Hall and the Bryce Jordan Center tells a different story - one of frustration, futility, and fans desperate for signs of life.
Let’s start with the numbers, because they paint a stark picture. As of January 22, Penn State was the only Division I school with both its men’s and women’s basketball teams winless in conference play. That’s not just a cold stat - it’s a reflection of two programs struggling to find footing in the ultra-competitive Big Ten.
For the women’s team, the 2024-25 season has been especially rough. Head coach Carolyn Kieger, now in her sixth year, is facing mounting pressure after a 1-17 Big Ten campaign.
It’s not just the losses - it’s how they’ve come. A 40-point blowout at the hands of Michigan.
A 36-point drubbing by UCLA. Both losses came at home, and the crowd sizes tell you everything you need to know about the current state of the program.
Drawing 2,000 fans is considered a good night at the Bryce Jordan Center these days - and that’s being generous.
There’s talent on the roster, sure. But the execution, cohesion, and resilience just haven’t been there. The Lady Lions haven’t been to the Final Four since 2000, and right now, even a return to the NCAA Tournament feels like a distant dream.
On the men’s side, the story is different in details but similar in tone. Head coach Mike Rhoades came to Happy Valley with a solid résumé - three NCAA Tournament appearances at VCU and a reputation for building gritty, competitive teams.
But the Big Ten is a different beast, and it’s been a rocky transition. After a promising 8-1 start to the season, the Nittany Lions dropped nine of their next ten games.
They’re currently sitting at 2-12 in conference play.
The inconsistency has been maddening. One night, they’re pushing a ranked Michigan team to the brink.
The next, they’re getting blown out by 27 at home against an unranked Wisconsin squad - a game that was supposed to be a showcase, hyped up as a White Out during the annual Return to Rec. Instead, the fans booed the team off the court at halftime.
That’s not apathy - that’s frustration boiling over.
Rhoades didn’t shy away from the criticism after that game.
“Building a program is really hard, but I signed up for it, man, and I believe in me,” he said. “I believe in how we do things.
Some of you guys may not. I don’t really care.
I’ve never really cared before, but I’ll figure it out. It might kill me, but I’m going to figure it out.”
That’s a coach who understands the weight of the job - and the expectations that come with it. But belief alone won’t fix what’s broken.
The challenge for Rhoades is clear: in a conference as deep and unforgiving as the Big Ten, you need more than effort and culture. You need results.
Some fans have long argued that Penn State’s rural location makes it tough to land top-tier recruits. But that argument doesn’t hold much water when you look at places like Lawrence, Kansas - not exactly a metropolis, yet the Jayhawks continue to reload with elite talent year after year.
The real issue is building a program that players want to be part of, regardless of geography. And right now, Penn State has work to do in that department.
The Nittany Lions haven’t made the Final Four since 1954. That’s a long drought, and while the program has had its moments - including a memorable run to the NCAA Tournament in recent years - sustained success has remained elusive.
So where do Penn State’s basketball programs go from here?
For Kieger, the question is whether she can rally her team and show enough progress to justify another year. For Rhoades, it’s about proving that his style and system can translate to wins in one of the toughest leagues in the country. Both coaches are trying to build something lasting - but patience is wearing thin, and the results need to come soon.
There’s no magic fix. But for a university that takes pride in doing things the right way, the hope is that better days are ahead. Until then, the grind continues in Happy Valley - and so does the search for answers.