Penn State Basketball Hits December Wall After Hot Start: Can the Nittany Lions Regroup for the Big Ten Grind?
Penn State came out of the gate flying this season, racing to an 8-1 record that had fans in Happy Valley buzzing. But as the calendar flipped to December, the tone shifted-and fast. The early wins came largely against mid- and low-major programs, and once the schedule toughened, the Nittany Lions found themselves in the thick of adversity.
December delivered a tough 2-3 stretch that exposed some cracks and raised questions about how this young team, under second-year head coach Mike Rhoades, will handle the gauntlet of Big Ten play. Let’s break down what happened, what stood out, and what it means moving forward.
Game 10: At Indiana - A Wake-Up Call in Bloomington
There’s no sugarcoating this one. Penn State’s trip to Indiana was a full-on reality check. The Nittany Lions walked into Assembly Hall for their Big Ten opener and walked out with a 113-72 loss that felt even worse than the score suggests.
Indiana’s Lamar Wilkerson was electric. The senior guard torched Penn State from deep, dropping 44 points and hitting 10 of his 15 three-point attempts-a new single-game record for the Hoosiers and just one shy of the all-time Big Ten mark. It was a performance for the ages, and Penn State had no answer.
To their credit, Freddie Dilione V, Kayden Mingo, and Melih Tunca all reached double figures, but it wasn’t nearly enough to slow down the Hoosiers' offensive onslaught. This one stung-and it set the tone for a tough month ahead.
Game 11: vs. Michigan State - A Much-Needed Response
After the blowout in Bloomington, Penn State returned home to face a Michigan State team that came in with the pedigree and ranking to match. On paper, it looked like another uphill battle. But this time, the Nittany Lions showed fight.
The 76-72 loss was hard-fought and competitive from start to finish. Penn State cleaned up some of the issues that plagued them against Indiana-fewer turnovers, fewer fouls, and a more balanced offensive rhythm. The difference came down to late-game execution, where the Spartans made just a few more plays down the stretch.
Freddie Dilione V led the way with 23 points, but the breakout star was freshman Kayden Mingo. The New York native nearly posted a triple-double and added two steals on the defensive end. His all-around play caught the eye of none other than Tom Izzo, who had high praise for the freshman.
“I’m a (Kayden) Mingo fan … he’s gonna be a fan favorite here because he can do a lot of different things.” - Tom Izzo
That’s not lip service. For a coach like Izzo to single out a freshman on the opposing team says a lot about Mingo’s potential.
Game 12: vs. Pittsburgh (Neutral Site) - Rivalry Rekindled, But One-Sided
After showing signs of life against Michigan State, Penn State took a neutral-site trip to Hershey to face in-state rival Pitt. What followed was another deflating loss-this time, an 80-46 blowout that left little room for positives.
This was the first meeting between the two programs since 2017, and Pitt made sure to make a statement. The Panthers dominated from tip to buzzer, and Penn State’s offense never found its footing. Once again, Dilione was the lone bright spot, scoring 23 points as the only Nittany Lion in double figures.
The rivalry aspect made the loss sting even more. With talk of more regular matchups between these two programs in the future, Penn State will have this one circled when the rematch comes.
Game 13: vs. North Carolina Central - A Breath of Fresh Air
Finally, some relief. In their last game of 2025, the Nittany Lions returned to the Bryce Jordan Center and got back in the win column with a 90-67 victory over North Carolina Central.
This was the kind of game Penn State needed-not just a win, but a complete team performance. Five players scored in double digits, and the offense looked fluid for the first time in weeks.
Mingo continued to shine, leading the team on both ends. Eli Rice, who stepped into the starting lineup in place of Dominick Stewart, delivered a career-high 18 points and looked confident doing it. Tunca, who had cooled off in December after a strong start to the season, finally broke through again with 10 points.
Freshmen Mason Blackwood and Justin Houser also saw increased minutes, signaling that Rhoades is still tinkering with rotations and giving younger players a chance to grow into larger roles.
The Road Ahead: Identity Still Forming, Challenges Mounting
There’s no denying it-December was a gut check for Penn State. The team that started 8-1 found itself exposed against tougher competition, but there were still encouraging signs.
Mingo looks like a rising star. Dilione continues to be a steady scoring option.
And new contributors are emerging as the rotation evolves.
But the road doesn’t get any easier. As 2026 begins, the Nittany Lions are staring down a stretch of three straight games against ranked opponents. For a young team still searching for consistency and identity, that’s a serious test.
The Big Ten grind is unforgiving, but if Penn State can learn from the bruises of December, they might just come out stronger on the other side.