Penn State Basketball Hits a Crossroads Under Mike Rhoades - Is There a Way Forward?
It’s been nearly 90 years since Penn State men’s basketball went an entire conference season without a single win. That 1935-36 squad finished 0-10 in the old Eastern Intercollegiate Conference. Now, fast forward to the 2025-26 season, and Mike Rhoades’ team is dangerously close to etching its name next to that infamous chapter in the program’s history.
After Thursday night’s 98-71 loss to Wisconsin, the Nittany Lions dropped to 0-8 in Big Ten play and 9-10 overall. The defeat wasn’t just another tally in the loss column - it was a gut punch in front of a quiet Rec Hall crowd that reflected the current mood around the program. The energy’s low, the results are worse, and the questions about Rhoades’ future are growing louder.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t entirely about one bad night or one rough season. It’s about a trend - one that’s becoming harder to ignore.
A Promising Start, But Momentum Lost
Rhoades came into Happy Valley with a reputation for building tough, defensive-minded teams. And in his first season, there were signs that things were heading in the right direction.
Penn State notched nine Big Ten wins and added another in the conference tournament. They even opened the 2024-25 campaign with a 12-2 record, including an eye-catching upset over then-No.
8 Purdue.
But since that high point, the wheels have started to come off. The Nittany Lions are just 13-23 over their last 36 games, and only four of those wins have come against Big Ten opponents - all of them late last season.
The rest? Nine victories this year against Quad 4 teams, none of which came against power-conference competition.
That’s not just a cold stretch - that’s a program stuck in neutral.
The Big Ten Has Adjusted - Has Penn State?
One of the more troubling signs is how quickly opponents have figured out how to dismantle Rhoades’ system. Thursday’s game was a microcosm of the season.
Penn State actually led Wisconsin 13-12 midway through the first half. Then came a media timeout, and the Badgers responded with a 50-22 run to close the half.
That kind of collapse isn’t an isolated incident - it’s a pattern.
Just look at the recent blowouts: a 113-72 loss to Indiana in early December, a 96-73 defeat at Maryland last weekend. Even in closer contests, like a two-point loss to then-No.
2 Michigan earlier this month, the Nittany Lions haven’t been able to close the deal. Since January 5, 2025, they’ve racked up 13 single-digit losses.
That’s a lot of “almosts” - and not enough answers.
The defense, once a hallmark of Rhoades’ teams, has looked disorganized and disengaged at times. The lack of in-game adjustments has been glaring. When opponents make a run, Penn State rarely has a counterpunch.
Is This Rock Bottom?
It’s fair to ask if this is the bottom for Penn State basketball. There weren’t sky-high expectations coming into the season, but the lack of fight on the defensive end and the inability to compete for 40 minutes has raised red flags. The body language, the energy - it’s all starting to reflect the record.
Still, Rhoades hasn’t shied away from the challenge.
“Building a program is really, really hard,” he said after the Wisconsin loss. “Building a program at a place that doesn't have much basketball tradition is even harder, but I signed up for it, man, and I believe in me. I believe in how we do things.”
That belief is admirable, and Rhoades has earned respect for his willingness to take on one of the more difficult jobs in the Big Ten. But belief alone doesn’t win games. And right now, results are what matter most.
The Case for Patience
At the same time, it’s worth noting that Penn State has never been a basketball powerhouse. The program’s only Final Four appearance came in 1954.
Since 2000, five different head coaches have tried to change the narrative, with varying degrees of success. And outside of Micah Shrewsberry’s brief but promising stint - which ended with him bolting for Notre Dame - none of them found quick success.
Rhoades, in just his third season, has already delivered a winning record and brought in the highest-rated recruiting class in school history. That includes being a finalist for 5-star guard Dylan Mingo, a potential program-changer if he commits. That kind of recruiting momentum doesn’t happen by accident.
So the question becomes: what’s the goal here?
If it’s to win the Big Ten tomorrow, then yes, this season is a failure. But if it’s to build something sustainable, to slowly shift the culture of a football-first school into one that can support a competitive basketball program, then maybe Rhoades deserves more time.
He’s working within a system that hasn’t always prioritized basketball. The support, the facilities, the fan turnout - they’re all still catching up. And yet, Rhoades is the one coach in recent memory who seems determined to challenge that reality rather than accept it.
What Comes Next?
It’s a tough spot for Penn State’s administration. On one hand, the on-court product is slipping, and the optics of a winless conference season are hard to stomach. On the other, hitting the reset button now could derail the long-term progress that’s quietly been building.
Rhoades isn’t without fault. The team’s struggles - especially in-game adjustments and defensive effort - are real and pressing. But firing a coach mid-build, particularly one who’s shown he can recruit and has already delivered some results, could set the program back even further.
And let’s not forget: other coaches in Penn State’s athletic department have been given longer leashes. Carolyn Kieger, for example, has led the women’s team for seven seasons with only one winning record. If patience is extended in one direction, it’s fair to ask why it wouldn’t be in another.
Final Thought
Right now, the Nittany Lions are in a storm. The record is ugly, the fans are restless, and the Big Ten grind isn’t getting any easier. But Rhoades is still standing in the middle of it, shoulders squared, trying to weather it all.
Whether he’s the right man to lead Penn State out of the storm remains to be seen. But if the goal is to build something that lasts - not just chase short-term wins - then maybe, just maybe, he’s earned the chance to finish what he started.