Breaking: Three Key Lessons from Penn State’s Sunshine Slam Second-Place Finish and First Defeat

Three Key Takeaways from Penn State’s Sunshine Slam Runner-Up Finish and First Loss

Penn State traveled to Daytona Beach, Florida with a perfect 5-0 record, hoping to win the Sunshine Slam. After an easy 85-66 victory over Fordham, they advanced to the final, where they lost to Clemson 75-67. Here’s a look at three significant lessons from the tournament:

1. Nick Kern’s Outstanding Performance
   Nick Kern had a standout tournament, averaging 15.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals, shooting 65% from the field. His strong connection with point guard Ace Baldwin was on display, especially in transition. Kern was also crucial on the boards, including six offensive rebounds across the two games. His improvement in this area has been a key development for Penn State, as they struggled with offensive rebounding last season.
2. Steal Numbers Were Disappointing
   Despite being known for their ability to create turnovers, Penn State only registered five steals in both games of the tournament. While they forced 25 turnovers overall, most of them were dead ball turnovers, limiting their transition opportunities—a key strength of their offense. This issue may not be concerning yet, but it’s worth monitoring as the season progresses.
3. Three-Point Shooting Woes
   Penn State’s three-point shooting was a problem throughout the tournament. They made just 9 of 32 three-point attempts (28%). Outside of Zach Hicks, who made four of those nine, the rest of the team combined for only five three-pointers. Despite their struggles in the tournament, Penn State has performed better from beyond the arc this season (37.5% from three), so fans will hope that other players like Baldwin, Puff Johnson, and Freddie Dilione can get hot in future games.

Despite the loss, Penn State remains an optimistic team. Their performance against Clemson, a top-25 team, shows potential. The game was tightly contested, with shooting and defensive lapses contributing to their defeat. With talented coach Mike Rhoades and standout players like Ace Baldwin, Penn State has the potential to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament this season.