UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (WTAJ) — Nostalgia will be in the air in Happy Valley on Wednesday and Thursday as Penn State men's and women's basketball is returning to Rec Hall, a place they called home for nearly 70 years.
"There's a lot of history there. Great moments," said Steve Jones, Penn State men's basketball play by play announcer. "It's going to be fun to get a Big Ten basketball game back in that venue with the fans on top of it against a team that's nationally ranked that's going to be in the top 15 in Illinois. I think it's going to make for an exciting night."
In 1998 Penn State moved into the Bryce Jordan Center, a venue that holds more than 15,000 fans, but starting in 1929 the team lived inside of Rec Hall which is a building that has seen a lot of history.
"I mean, Ann Carr winning a national championship. Mike Reid being carried off the mat. Yes. Mike Reid wrestling in Rec Hall being carried off after they beat Syracuse," said Jones.
In the 50's Rec Hall housed the Nittany Lions only Final Four team. Rene Portland and the Lady Lions hosted a number of NCAA Tournament matchups through the 80's and 90's. And in 1993 the men's team took top ranked Indiana into double overtime.
"They were playing Indiana who was ranked number one. Horrible call. Game goes to double overtime and Indiana wins by four," Jones said.
For many this game is a first. For head coach Mike Rhoades it's a childhood memory of afternoons with his dad.
"I remember sitting in the bleachers, and I the one thing I remember about Rec Hall more than anything is you're practically on the court. I remember watching so many games, Penn State games, at Rec Hall, the early Big Ten games," said Rhoades. "And, you know, the fans right there on the court, and some of them were my friends watching when I was at college as well. So, but just an intimate atmosphere, really cool environment. Loud. Hopefully it's hot. You know, that's that'll be the fun of it."
"I think the venue is going to play a role in maybe the outcome of the game because of how close the fans are," Jones said. "It's not something Illinois is used to and to be honest with you it's not used to something the Penn State players are used to because they don't play at Rec Hall."
Wednesday's game is Penn State's first in Rec Hall since hosting Louisiana-Monroe in 2015, however it will be the first Big Ten game since the team moved out.
"There aren't many real basketball gyms remaining out there," said Jones. "Everybody's in arena's now. And to go back into a real basketball gym like this, I think it's going to be a great experience with the fans and the students right on top of the court. They're going to be about to feed off the sideline. And I think it makes for a great atmosphere and a lot of excitement."
On Wednesday the men will take on Illinois while the women will welcome Ohio State on Thursday.