Penn State has one clear missing piece that’s preventing it from becoming a more complete team.
The Nittany Lions don’t have a paint presence who can block shots and generate offense down low like they had with 7-footer Yanic Konan Niederhauser last year. With promising potential at other positions, Konan Niederhauser opting to turn pro instead of staying for his senior year is looming large.
Penn State has struggled defensively so far this season, letting up 70 points per game despite playing the No. 354 toughest nonconference schedule in the country, according to KenPom. These issues are coming from teams finding open shots consistently at times due to the lack of a shot blocker.