Penn State hoops set to open with charity exhibition vs. Robert Morris
Penn State basketball unofficially opened the Mike Rhoades era with two exhibition wins in the Bahamas last month. Now, the Nittany Lions are set for one more before tipping off the 2023-24 campaign.
Announced on Thursday afternoon, Penn State and Robert Morris will meet for an exhibition game in Pittsburgh on Friday, Oct. 27. The game is being held in support of Coaches vs. Cancer, and will be held at the UPMC Events Center.
It will be Penn State’s only exhibition ahead of the upcoming season, and according to Rhoades, it will serve multiple purposes for the program.
“We are excited to go on the road to play a charity exhibition game at Robert Morris and support Matthew Sweet’s battle against lung cancer,” said Rhoades via press release. “It will be an early opportunity for our new team to not only play a quality opponent in UPMC Events Center, but also play for a great cause.”
A cause close to Penn State and Robert Morris
For both Penn State and Robert Morris, that cause hits particularly close to home.
The Nittany Lions will be supporting Alex Peavey and the Peavey Project, while Robert Morris is supporting its Director of Basketball Operations, Matthew Sweet. Peavey has been battling cancer for five years, twice reaching stage-four diagnoses. And both Rhoades and his staff have incorporated the Peavey Project’s teachings regarding mindfulness and student-athlete wellbeing.
Sweet, meanwhile, continues to battle through a rare form of lung cancer for which he was diagnosed in March 2023. He’s been through chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation, and is continuing to undergo immunotherapy treatments.
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“It’s an important opportunity any time college basketball teams can take part in Coaches vs. Cancer initiatives, and especially in this case to help take care of one of our own,” said Rhoades. “It will be an absolute honor to share the court with Coach Toole and his team. The fight against cancer is always a courageous and tireless battle and Penn State Basketball wants to do our part to support Coach Sweet and so many others. We must always pay it forward.”
Rounding out the Nittany Lions’ schedule
Penn State basketball welcomes 10 new players to its roster following an NCAA Tournament appearance during the 2022-23 season. With Rhoades at the helm, arriving from VCU after taking the Rams to three NCAA Tournaments, the Nittany Lions will seek to do it again.
Neither Penn State’s full nonconference slate, nor the Big Ten schedule, have yet been released in full. To date, Penn State is signed on to play Texas A&M on Nov. 23. It will be a rematch of its NCAA Round of 64 game at the ESPN Events Invitational. The Nittany Lions will follow with games against either Butler or FAU. Then, depending on how the tournament plays out, any of Iowa State, VCU, Boise State, or Virginia Tech on Sunday, Nov. 26.
Penn State will also host St. Francis on Nov. 14, Bucknell on Dec. 2, and Rider, according to reports.
