Penn State made its season debut, along with much of the rest of college basketball, on Monday night. The Nittany Lions hosted Canisius and cruised to a 97-57 win, which was largely no surprise.
The unforeseen development, however, was just how good international transfer Roko Prkacin would be from Game 1. Prkacin was easily the highest-upside addition to the Penn State roster this offseason, and he immediately proved why, scoring 28 points in 20 minutes off the bench on just 12-14 shooting.
Much of his production came in transition, off offensive rebounds, or as an off-ball cutter, so against better competition, it remains to be seen just how impactful he is as a shot-creator. Still, though, his first game was good enough that Penn State fans should be very intrigued by what he has in store for an encore as the Nittany Lions host the Chattanooga Mocs on Thursday evening at the Bryce Jordan Center.
It’s Penn State’s final non-conference tune-up before the most highly anticipated non-conference game, matching up with Pitt at The Palestra on Sunday night. But unlike Canisius, it may not be a complete walkover for Mike Rhoades’ rebuilt roster.
Chattanooga vs. Penn State odds, spread and total
Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook
Moneyline
- Chattanooga +1000
- Penn State -2100
Spread
- Chattanooga +15.5 (-110)
- Penn State -15.5 (-110)
Total
- 157.5 (over -115/under -105)
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Penn State is built not to lose to inferior opponents
The final score of Chattanooga’s first game of the season, an 84-70 loss to Louisville, is a bit misleading. The Mocs trailed 56-35 at half, but it’s not nothing that they outscored the Cardinals 35-28 for the rest of the way. This is a potential Southern Conference contender, ranking fifth in the preseason poll and now No. 253 in KenPom, and a team that could give someone a scare.
However, that team probably isn’t Penn State.
Unless Prkacin starts to show a lot more as an on-ball creator, Penn State likely isn’t going to have an elite shot-maker on this roster. So, the ceiling isn’t going to be particularly high. But this roster wasn’t built that way.
Rhoades prioritized length, physicality, and experience with his acquisitions this offseason, straying away from young, high-upside players after one year with Kayden Mingo. His team has good size, reliable outside shooting, and enough rim pressure from Prkacin and Ivan Juric. That’s a team with a much higher floor than Penn State had last year, which should translate to much less vulnerability against inferior opponents who just can’t match the size and strength on the wing and in the frontcourt.
Maybe a lack of ball-handling is an overlooked weakness. But that’s likely more of an issue that would crop up against better teams, not physically overmatched ones.
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