Penn State men’s basketball is just days away from kicking off its fourth season under head coach Mike Rhoades.

With the Nittany Lions set to open their season against Canisius on November 2, Rhoades spoke to the local media Wednesday about his team’s progress through roughly 24 practices and two exhibition wins.

From eligibility updates to offensive improvements and roster construction, here’s what Rhoades had to say ahead of the 2026-27 season.

On Josh Reed & Roko Prkacin’s Eligibility

One of the offseason’s biggest questions has been the eligibility of forwards Josh Reed and Roko Prkacin.

Rhoades gave a positive update on Reed, confirming the graduate forward is cleared to play. However, Prkacin’s status remains uncertain as the Croatian forward awaits an NCAA decision.

“Number one, Josh is eligible, so he’s a go,” Rhoades said. “Roko, we’re just honoring the process of the eligibility office at the NCAA.”

Prkacin joined Penn State after spending last season with Nanterre 92 in France, where he averaged 10 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. He did not participate in either of the Nittany Lions’ exhibition games, but was present at practice today.

“Do I think he’ll be [eligible]? Yeah, I’m very hopeful. I hope so, but I’m not in control of that,” Rhoades said.

On Finding Offensive Efficiency

Penn State finished its preseason with wins over St. Bonaventure and Drexel, but Rhoades noted there’s still plenty of room for offensive improvement.

The Nittany Lions struggled from beyond the arc in Monday’s 68-57 win over Drexel, shooting just 2-for-12 from three. However, Penn State found success attacking the basket, making 26 of 36 free-throw attempts.

“We’ve got to run better offense and get guys better shots, without a doubt,” Rhoades said. “We’ve got to find more threes, without a doubt.”

Rhoades believes the team’s size and physicality can help create scoring opportunities, particularly when attacking the paint and forcing defenses to collapse.

“We are big and strong. We have some physical guys, so we’ve got to use that,” Rhoades said.

While getting to the free-throw line has been encouraging, Rhoades said Penn State must balance attacking inside with generating quality looks from the perimeter.

He believes the team’s passing ability and willingness to share the ball will help improve its shooting efficiency as the season progresses.

On Bringing Brant Byers To Penn State

One of Penn State’s biggest offseason additions was Brant Byers, a Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, native who transferred from Miami (Ohio).

The 6-foot-8 guard/forward averaged 14.2 points and 4.1 rebounds last season while shooting 39.2% from three-point range. He helped lead Miami to an undefeated regular season before entering the transfer portal.

Bringing Byers back to Pennsylvania started with building a relationship with him and his family, who already have ties to the university.

“He and his family are Penn State fans, and being Pennsylvania guys, we’d love to be able to recruit our state as best we can,” Rhoades said.

Once Byers entered the portal, Rhoades and his staff worked to bring him to campus and clarify what both sides wanted.

According to Rhoades, the familiarity between Byers’ family and Penn State helped make the recruiting process relatively straightforward.

“We didn’t force it. It was just trying to build a relationship,” Rhoades said. “While you’re in the portal, it’s not always easy, but it was pretty smooth with Brant.

On Correcting Slow Starts

Despite winning both exhibition games, Penn State found itself playing from behind on multiple occasions.

The Nittany Lions overcame a 15-point deficit against St. Bonaventure before trailing Drexel by six points in the first half of Monday’s game.

To address the issue, Rhoades has been experimenting with different lineups and incorporating game-like situations into practice.

“Certain days we do start the game where we throw it up, like a jump ball, and we play as hard as we can to the first media timeout,” Rhoades said. “That’s something I’ve always done. I always think that helps.”

Rhoades also emphasized the importance of watching film and showing his players how quickly a team can fall behind when it doesn’t come out ready to play.

“At this level, you can’t ease into things and get in the flow,” Rhoades said. “You’re down 10, you’re down 15, and you’re giving other people that momentum.”

With the regular season approaching, correcting the slow starts seems like one of Rhoades’ biggest priorities.

“We’ve got to work on it, and it’s 1A on the list,” Rhoades said.

On International Recruiting & Roster Construction

Penn State’s roster features several international players, and Rhoades credited his coaching staff’s overseas connections for helping the program find talent.

Associate head coach Brent Scott spent nearly 15 years playing professionally in Europe, while assistant coach Talor Battle also spent much of his playing career overseas.

Rhoades said those relationships have been especially valuable when recruiting players who might not be as familiar to American college basketball programs.

“I think we got most of these guys because of the prior relationships we’ve had, and that’s really important to us,” Rhoades said.

Rhoades also explained that his staff spends considerable time watching film, speaking with former coaches, and evaluating whether a player would fit at Penn State.

Financial considerations also play a role in those decisions.

“The first question you ask is, can you afford them?” Rhoades said, “The second question is, do they fit us character-wise?”

When asked whether the financial side of recruiting had changed over the past year, Rhoades didn’t give specifics.

“We’re going to do the best that we can with what we have, and go from there,” Rhoades said.

On Establishing A Tough & Experienced Identity

After relying heavily on younger players last season, Rhoades believes his current group has benefitted from having more experienced players in the locker room.

Returning players Ivan Juric, Reed and Reggie Grodin have all helped the newcomers adjust, with Rhoades mentioning their maturity and approach to everyday responsibilities.

“More than leadership is just the type of teammate you need to be,” Rhoades said. “All three of those guys are great teammates.”

Rhoades also praised Juric’s development after the 7-foot sophomore took on a huge role as a freshman. He believes last season’s experience helped Juric mature, both on and off the court.

Along with the returning players, veterans like Dastone Bowen and Jay Rodgers have brought even more experience to a roster that Rhoades believes is better equipped to handle adversity.

But regardless of experience, Rhoades made it clear what he wants Penn State’s identity to be.

“We’ve got to be tough and physical,” Rhoades said. “We’ve got to be a smart, high-IQ basketball team.”

He stressed that the Nittany Lions must rely on their collective effort, especially against Big Ten competition.

That mentality will ultimately determine how far Penn State can go this season.

When asked what would make the upcoming season successful, Rhoades didn’t hesitate.

“Winning. Let’s go out and win.”