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Penn State basketball has historically seemed to be climbing an uphill battle to a level of sustained success for as long as most Nittany Lions fans can remember. But in today's era, with NIL playing a pivotal role in roster management, that uphill climb has become more like climbing a steep mountain. Penn State head coach Mike Rhoades addresses the challenges Penn State faces with a fraction of the NIL support that other Big Ten programs have during a call with the media on Tuesday.
"Well, we're at the bottom," Rhoades said, according to Lions247.
"We've got to find a way to make the best of it and go from there," Rhoades continued to say. "What teams are doing in our league, and what we're not doing, are totally different. It is what it is, and (you've) just got to make the best of it."
Rhoades made it clear he was not attempting to make any excuses for Penn State's shortcomings in building the program, but stressed the reality of the situation. Penn State simply does not have the same NIL reserves available as other programs in the Big Ten, many of which are very successful on the basketball court.
It has to be frustrating to be a head coach of a basketball prorgam of a Big Ten prorgam fighting the recruiting battles for a program without the same kind of support where it is needed in today's game. Penn State can dedicate whatever resources it has in its funding to help make the basketball program viable, but the support from donors still has to help out as well.
Penn State basketball may be in a bit of a Catch-22 situation; Penn State basketball needs NIL support to improve, but donors may be reluctant to provide it unless they see a reason to support the program. That makes a challenging job even tougher for Rhoades, who is entering the fourth year in his seven-year contract.
This also lays the foundation for a coach who could potentially lose interest in staying put beyond his contract. Put yourself in Rhoades' shoes. How much time would you want to spend running a program with little support when you are already recognized as a respected head coach? Is failing to build up Penn State damaging Rhoades' overall profile? If another option came along for Rhoades, would he consider getting out for a chance to take on a program that shows it is committed to supporting a program in the NIL era?
It is not a time to wave any white flags for Penn State basketball, but the cycle of roster management has been pretty familiar the past few seasons. How much more can it go on before anything changes?
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Mike Rhoades says Penn State NIL support is at bottom of Big Ten
