White Out Set for Rec Hall as Penn State Prepares for Wisconsin Showdown
Get ready for a throwback atmosphere with a modern twist-Rec Hall is going White Out.
Penn State men’s basketball announced that this Thursday’s matchup against Wisconsin will feature the program’s signature White Out environment, this time in the intimate, high-energy confines of Rec Hall. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
ET, with gates opening an hour earlier at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on FS1.
This won’t be the Nittany Lions’ first White Out of the season. Earlier this month, they suited up for a White Out at The Palestra in Philadelphia, taking on Illinois in a game that ended in a tough 73-65 loss. Still, that kind of big-stage energy is exactly what head coach Mike Rhoades is looking to tap into again-especially with his team hungry for a spark in Big Ten play.
Thursday marks Penn State’s third consecutive season hosting a game at Rec Hall, a venue that oozes history and intensity. Last year, the Nittany Lions fell to Ohio State in a lopsided 83-64 contest.
But two seasons ago, they pulled off a thrilling 90-89 upset over then-No. 12 Illinois, proving that Rec Hall can be a real difference-maker when it’s rocking.
This year, Penn State enters the game at 9-9 overall, still searching for its first Big Ten win at 0-7 in conference play. That record doesn’t tell the full story, though. The Lions have had stretches of gritty play, and a White Out at Rec Hall could be the perfect setting to flip the switch.
Standing in their way: a tough Wisconsin squad that’s 13-5 overall and 5-2 in the Big Ten. The Badgers have been consistent and physical all season, and they’ll come into Happy Valley with confidence. But they’ll also be walking into a charged-up building where the crowd is right on top of the action-and that’s not an easy place to play.
For Penn State, this game is about more than just snapping a conference losing streak. It’s a chance to reclaim momentum, defend home turf, and lean into the kind of chaotic, passionate environment that makes college basketball special. And with White Out conditions officially in the forecast, expect Rec Hall to be loud, intense, and ready for a battle.