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Ace Baldwin injury update: Mike Rhoades reveals status of star Penn State guard

On3 imageby:Dan Morrison•about 15 hours•

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Ace Baldwin, Penn State
Ace Baldwin, Penn State - © Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

The Penn State Nittany Lions were without star guard Ace Baldwin for the second half of their loss to Illinois as he deals with some injury issues. Despite that, head coach Mike Rhoades shared a relatively positive update on the guard following the game.

Rhoades shared that Penn State is expecting to get Baldwin back relatively soon. However, a fall he took in the game kept him out for the second half.

“Yeah, we’ll get him back,” Rhoades said. “Couldn’t go. The fall didn’t help him. So, he’s been battling a couple of things and then just couldn’t go. [I] wasn’t gonna push it. So, we’ll get him back and get him with the doc first thing in the morning.”

The loss to Illinois was a difficult one for Penn State. The Nittany Lions were trailing 45-21 at the half and ultimately went on to lose 91-52. With the game being lopsided, the decision to hold Baldwin out was likely a little easier for Rhoades.

In just over 15 minutes of play, Baldwin was 0-6 shooting and had two rebounds, two assists, and three turnovers in a difficult half of basketball. Still, Rhoades knows that the Nittany Lions are going to need Baldwin this season.

Baldwin came to Penn State as a transfer from VCU. There, he played three seasons for Rhoades before transferring to Penn State when Rhoades took the job in Happy Valley ahead of the 2023-24 season. He had previously been a three-star recruit in the Class of 2020, according to the On3 Industry Ranking.

This season, Baldwin has started all 16 games for Penn State and is averaging 13.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game. Those marks for scoring and assists are better than his career averages for each. He is also shooting 37.1 percent from the field this season, 94.5 percent from the free-throw line, and 28.6 percent from three-point range.

With the loss to Illinois, Rhoades saw his Penn State team drop to 12-4 on the season and just 2-3 in Big Ten play. Looking to bounce back against the Oregon Ducks and then the Michigan State Spartans in their next two games is going to be tough. So, getting as healthy as possible is going to be vital to the Nittany Lions.