Indiana Basketball Game Preview: Penn State – key storylines, injury report, how to watch

Indiana basketball continues its 124th season of competition on the road against the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Bryce Jordan Center on Saturday, Feb. 24. Hoosiers are riding a horrendous three-game losing skid.

The Nittany Lions enter the game with a 13-14 record and a 7-9 mark in conference play. PSU erased a 11-point deficit with 3:30 to play to defeat Illinois, 90-89, on Wednesday, Feb. 21. Senior guard Ace Baldwin averages 13.9 points, 5.6 assists, and a Big Ten-leading 2.8 steals per game. Graduate transfer forward Qudus Wahab leads PSU with 7.4 rebounds per game to go along with 9.1 points.

Head coach Mike Rhoades is in his debut season in University Park after spending the previous six seasons with VCU. He took the Rams to three NCAA Tournaments and won two Atlantic-10 regular seasons.

Tip is scheduled for 12:00 PM ET on BTN.

Below is the full preview of Indiana basketball at Penn State.

Key Storylines

Does this team have any pride to go and get revenge on Penn State?

Welcome to our consistent storyline where we as ourselves….”does this Indiana basketball have any pride?”

Quick answer and based on the product being shown on the floor, can’t say they really do, not even at home. The Hoosiers have lost more home games this season than Mike Woodson’s first two years as head coach combined.

That is embarrassing and to constantly get run out of your own gym should never happen….ever. It is not even an issue with who is a better team or not, it’s a pride thing and this Indiana basketball does not seem to have any.

Pride is also something it takes to win on the road and the Hoosiers have won only one true road game all season vs a collapsing Michigan basketball program. They go on the road this afternoon vs a Penn State team that routed them at Assembly Hall earlier this month and are going to try to win at a place they haven’t won since 2018.

Five games left on the season, this team has got to show some pride. It is that simple.

Mgbako’s recent surge

They are very, and I mean very, few positives that have come out of this season for Indiana basketball. Freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako is one of them.

While there are still defensive struggles for Mgbako, the five-star freshman has hit a major surge as of late and is easily now one of the best freshman in the Big Ten this season.

After the slow start to the year, Mgbako is averaging 11.7 points on 39.4% shooting. He is also adding 4.2 rebounds in the 26 games he has appeared and started in. Woodson has also extended his leash on Mgbako as well as of late letting the freshman play longer spurts from game-to-game.

“Just playing more through the offense and taking what the defense gives me and being aggressive so I can help out the team,” said in the loss vs Nebraska.

“I think driving the basketball and then creating and driving and getting to the cup.”

If Mgbako decides to stay one more year, he is becoming a real promising piece for Mike Woodson next season. He just keeps getting better and better.

Play CJ Gunn more

At this stage of the season for Indiana basketball, you are building for next season. You aren’t going to the NCAA Tournament and you probably are not playing in NIT.

You are and should be building towards bouncing back next year. But what all exactly does that entail, however? A lot but most importantly, seeing what you have in the guys expected to come back next season.

Sophomore guard CJ Gunn is one of them.

While his time on the floor still has been inconsistent at times, he showing more and more confidence on the floor by each passing game. He is shooting the ball and being much more aggressive.

In order to keep building that confidence, Mike Woodson has to play him. If he is a building block for next year’s team, he needs to be on the floor getting as much reps as possible. He should be one of the first players off the bench the rest of the way through.

Play CJ Gunn more. Play him even more than what you think he should play, Mike Woodson.

Read: With Indiana’s season all but drifted away — where does the program go from here?: ‘Nobody is going to feel sorry for Indiana basketball’

Series History

Indiana holds an advantage of 42-16 in the 58-game series between the two conference foes. Penn State has come away victorious in three-straight games, including an 85-71 result in Bloomington on Feb. 3, 2024.

PSU matched a season high with 12 made 3-pointers in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, including four each from sophomore guard Jameel Brown and junior forward Zach Hicks. Senior guard Ace Baldwin Jr. secured 22 points, eight assists, and two steals. Four Hoosiers, led by 25 points and 11 rebounds from sophomore center Kel’el Ware, tallied double figures.

Indiana’s last win at the Bryce Jordan Center came on Dec. 4, 2018. Future NBA Lottery pick Romeo Langford scored 17 points to go along with six rebounds in a 64-62 win.

Scouting Notes: Penn State

Injury Updates

Xavier Johnson: At the 2:12 mark late in the second half of the Iowa game, Xavier Johnson drove to the basket but was fouled hard going for the dunk. He landed awkwardly on his left arm and was screaming on the floor in excruciating pain. After missing four straight games, Mike Woodson said this week that he is about a ‘week or two’ from returning.

Jakai Newton: Newton had a lower body surgical procedure done this past offseason to help fix a previous injury he sustained during high school. He is still recovering and is not expected to play for the rest of the season.

Indiana women’s basketball: ‘Our backs are against the wall’: In a game that Indiana women’s basketball ‘had to have’ — it did just that and got the statement win it was searching for

Quick Hitters

Who?: Indiana (14-12) (6-9 Big Ten) at Penn State (13-14) (7-9 Big Ten)

When?: Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 • Noon ET

Where?: Bryce Jordan Center (15,261) • University Park, Pa.

TV: BTN (Jason Horowitz, Shon Morris)

Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)

Betting Lines: Indiana basketball is listed as a 4-point underdog via DraftKings Sportsbook.

See Also: Another blowout loss comes with boos from the home crowd. The season is off the rails for Indiana basketball — if it wasn’t already

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