Twelve players saw action in Penn State men’s basketball’s 86-64 victory over Virginia Tech in the nightcap of the Hall of Fame Series, and there are still more players to be added into the team’s rotation.

Depth has been a key for Mike Rhoades in his second year at the helm of the Nittany Lions, and the same remained true in the team’s first power-conference matchup of the season.

After averaging 22 minutes and anchoring the paint through Penn State’s first three games, Yanic Konan Niederhauser didn’t have the same impact in his fourth game as a Nittany Lion.

Konan Niederhauser, a Northern Illinois transfer, fouled out in 12 minutes without scoring a point against the Hokies. In his absence, Xavier transfer Kachi Nzeh stepped up and chipped in eight points.

“Kachi was a difference maker today, and I’m so proud of him,” Rhoades said. “The way the game was played today, that was super. What a huge, huge, huge step for him.”

Also backing up Konan Niederhauser and Nzeh is Miles Goodman, a 6’11” freshman who’s been out with an injury since the beginning of the season. With Rhoades expecting him back soon, the depth will only continue to grow.

“[Nzeh], Yanic, and when we get Miles Goodman back, that’s three big guys that are very versatile who really play hard, so that’s a huge advantage,” Rhoades said.

While Goodman, a former four-star recruit, hasn’t played for Penn State yet, other freshmen have immediately stepped into the rotation and seen significant playing time.

Guards Jahvin Carter and Dominick Stewart entered the blue and white’s matchup against Virginia Tech averaging 13.7 and 11.7 minutes, respectively, but against the Hokies, saw a combined total of nine minutes.

With the efforts of Ace Baldwin Jr. and Freddie Dilione V, who registered a combined 30 points, 12 assists, and seven steals, Rhoades didn’t utilize his freshmen guards as much as he typically does, but he still sees upside in having them in his back pocket.

“We gotta play them more. I throw freshmen in the fire. Those guys are talented players, they play with an edge, you can tell they’re playing with joy as freshmen,” Rhoades said.

Along with freshmen, Rhoades will also continue using his transfers as the season picks up. Dilione, who transferred from Tennessee, has started every game, while Nebraska transfer Eli Rice has only appeared in one game due to an injury.

Rice, who made his debut on Tuesday in a 92-62 win over Saint Francis, averaged over four points per game as a freshman with the Cornhuskers last year, and Rhoades believes he’ll have an impact once he’s fully healed.

“Eli Rice has only practiced three days, four days. He’s gonna be a really good player for us. I can’t wait to get him there,” Rhoades said. “He had an injury from the summer, and he’s finally back now.”

While freshmen and transfers could see an increased role later in the season, Penn State’s returners also showcased the team’s depth in the win over the Hokies.

Despite getting the start, Puff Johnson saw limited playing time but was efficient when he was on the floor, scoring nine points in 10 minutes in the second half. Without Johnson on the court, Nick Kern Jr. carried the load for the forwards.

Kern, who was a usual starter in year one of the Rhoades era, has taken on a different role coming off the bench this season, but had his biggest outing of the year in Baltimore scoring 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting in a season-high 27 minutes.

With a group of transfers, freshmen, and returning players, Rhoades sees a bright future ahead for the Nittany Lions as the season moves along.