Penn State’s Ace Baldwin Jr. is up for a national award ahead of his second season with the Nittany Lions. Baldwin, the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, was named as one of 20 players on the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Preseason Watch List, which was released on Monday.
Baldwin joined Indiana’s Myles Rice, Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton, Purdue’s Braden Smith and Rutgers’ Dylan Harper as one of five Big Ten point guards included on the list.
After averaging 14.2 points, 6.0 assists and 2.7 steals per game last season, Baldwin is expected to lead the charge for the Nittany Lions, who have returned five seniors while adding talent from both the high school and transfer sectors in Mike Rhoades’ second year as the program’s head coach.
“I thought Ace, by far, had the best summer and preseason that he’s ever had. Sometimes, as you get older, you see things a little clearer and (make) simple decisions,” Rhoades said. “I never had to worry about Ace competing and wanting to win. But what I love about him, he’s taken a professional approach to improving himself and his game. … We got one of the best point guards in the country. I think he’s the best.”
Penn State will begin its season next Monday in the Bryce Jordan Center against Binghamton. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET with broadcasting coverage designated to BTN+.
