In a game that had more twists than a pretzel, Penn State’s basketball team faced off against No. 15 Oregon without their star point guard, Ace Baldwin Jr. It was like trying to bake a cake without flour—sure, you can still mix some ingredients, but good luck getting anything that resembles dessert! Coach Mike Rhoades lamented the lack of defense, saying, ‘We talk about being solid on defense, we weren’t.’ It’s like telling a cat not to chase a laser pointer; some things just can’t be helped. Despite the absence of Baldwin, who averages 13.9 points and is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, the Nittany Lions still managed to score 81 points. But alas, it wasn’t enough to outscore the Ducks, who quacked their way to victory with a final score of 82-81.
As the game unfolded, it became clear that Baldwin’s defensive prowess was sorely missed. The Ducks’ Jackson Shelstad scored 17 points, and one can only imagine how Baldwin would have made him feel like he was trying to score against a brick wall. Rhoades noted, ‘We gave up two threes because of miscommunication,’ which sounds suspiciously like a couple of players were too busy discussing their weekend plans instead of guarding their opponents. And while the Nittany Lions had their fair share of scoring, they fell short in the assist department, managing only 13 assists compared to their usual 17. It’s like trying to throw a party without inviting anyone; sure, you can have snacks, but what’s a party without friends?
In the end, the Nittany Lions learned a valuable lesson: even if you can score like a pro, defense wins championships—or at least games against ranked teams. Rhoades summed it up perfectly, saying, ‘This hurts, because this is a game we could have had.’ So, as Penn State looks ahead, they’ll need to channel their inner Ace Baldwin Jr. and tighten up that defense. After all, if they can’t keep the Ducks from flying high, they might just find themselves grounded in the standings. For more on the Nittany Lions’ journey, check out our coverage of their comeback bid against Oregon and the latest updates on their season.
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