Penn State didn’t just lose a few games this week, as it also lost its best player.
Head coach Mike Rhoades finally revealed that Kayden Mingo has suffered a broken nose, which was unknown prior to Saturday.
In a season that has featured bad play and a lot more, Mingo has made himself one of the best players in the Big Ten and one of the top freshmen in the nation.
Rhoades is upset about the loss for many reasons, but he also made it clear that Mingo’s value goes far beyond any of his stats, which are also very impressive. While the production is there, it’s the consistency, accountability, and professionalism that separate him within the locker room.
“We've asked him from Day 1 to do a lot, and he's doing it,” Rhoades said, per Mark Brennan of 247 Sports. “I think he's leading us in all statistical categories. He's pretty close. But it's not even that. It's his professional business-like approach every day. Serious about his craft.
“He takes great care of his body. He's very coachable. He listens when you correct him. He never catches feelings. He owns it. Then tries to apply it and wants to get better. When he makes a mistake, he doesn't point the finger. He owns it. I think that's crucial for a kid that's hungry to get better all the time. He has a seasoned approach on how he goes about it.”
Penn State is a new group learning how to compete nightly in one of the toughest conferences in the country, and players like Mingo are one of the few reasons it has a chance to even compete, although PSU has played pretty OK over the past two games against Michigan and Purdue.
For Penn State, playing well without him matters as much as anything, as it could be decent when he returns. Wins may be tough to come by right now, but it looks like there’s something to be happy with for once. It remains uncertain when Mingo will be back, but Penn State will need its guy.
Hopefully, he’ll have a speedy recovery for all parties involved.