‘We have to get back to winning’: Penn State 2024 men’s basketball captains talk about upcoming season

The 2023-24 season has been a bust for Penn State men’s basketball, and coach Steve Donahue will be the first to admit it. Calling the team’s 11-18 record and 3-11 Ivy League record “disappointing,” Donahue shared his thoughts on the upcoming season, most notably the naming of two new captains: senior guard George Smith and senior forward/center Nick Spinoso.

With Smith and Spinoso leading the new team, Donahue is confident the Quakers will quickly rebound and reach past heights of success. He cited Smith and Spinoso’s experiences with team successes and failures as unique experiences that prepared them for captaincy.

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“They understand what it takes to win, but at the same time they know what it’s like when they lose,” Donahue said.

Donahue selects captains differently each year, but he always starts with a leadership council made up of players from each year to gauge the team’s bond. The team then votes for their captains in early October.

“Nick and George were by far the top two vote-getters,” Donahue said.

Despite their new differences, Smith and Spinoso maintained that their roles on the team would not change and instead emphasized the importance of continuing the family mentality that Donahue fostered. Donahue is known for this strategy, which has helped him win several past championships.

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“I think a huge part of our team last year that we struggled with was bringing everyone together,” Smith recalled. “My job is to… make sure the guys not in the rotation are involved or learning.”

The senior security guard plans to treat his new position with respect, calling it a “privilege.” One of three players to play in all 29 games last season, Smith doesn’t focus on numbers and instead focuses on individual plays, something Donahue appreciates.

“George is the kind of solid, principled person you can trust in any situation,” Donahue said.

He also praised Smith’s strong work ethic, which people don’t always see.

“George is somebody that people don’t respect because of how hard he plays and how hard he plays,” Donahue said. Smith has gone through many changes as a player, playing and starting in different positions in the rotation, but Donahue notes that his attitude toward practice has never changed and his discipline has never wavered.

Spinoso has come a long way to the rank of captain. After a freshman season that Donahue called “up and down,” Spinoso is a top-five prospect in the 2023 class. Last season, he was the only Quaker to start all 29 games and led the team with 30 blocked shots.

“(Basketball) has given me every opportunity I’ve had in life,” Spinoso said. “It brought me to where I am today. I love it (and) I want to continue playing as long as possible.”

Like his co-captain, Spinoso considers his new position an honor and an opportunity to prove how much he has grown throughout his basketball career.

“We have a great group of guys. I know George and I have learned a lot from the captains before us, and this is just a great opportunity to lead a great team,” Spinoso said.

Spinoso is known for his particularly energetic style of play and ability to move the ball around the court. Donahue noted that his energy is vibrant and quickly spread among his teammates, and also praised his ability to admit his mistakes.

“What I love about Spinoso is that when he’s wrong, he’s willing to admit it and take criticism, just like we all do when we do something wrong,” Donahue shared.

While they are both approaching their new leadership positions with equal focus, Smith and Spinoso will take on different responsibilities as captains. Spinoso noted the need to reach beyond himself and ensure his teammates are ready and confident, while Smith spoke about his desire to be a more vocal leader.

“I need to be a little more vocal, and I know my team has let me know,” Smith said.

The one thing Smith, Spinoso and Donahue agree on is the need to win. Donahue noted that his goal this season is the same as always: to maximize the team’s potential, regardless of the level of success it achieves. Smith plans to apply a winning mindset to bring his team together.

“I think the winning part has to come with a sense of urgency and intensity and toughness,” Smith said. “I know we have talent and skill and guys that are all focused on the same goal and winning, but I think those intangibles are really important and I’ll definitely try to deliver on those.”