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Penn State Basketball Takes Unconventional Road Trip to New Haven for Unique Deal
WEST HAVEN, CT – In a rare scheduling move, the Penn State Nittany Lions men’s basketball team will face the University of New Haven Chargers at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Chargers’ Hazell Center, which seats 1,000 fans – a stark contrast to Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center’s capacity of over 15,000.
Head Coach Mike Rhoades explained the seemingly odd decision as a strategic move to secure multiple future non-conference games against New Haven in Happy Valley. “Some people told me I’m crazy to do it. You gottta put yourself out there. Let’s do it.” Rhoades said in a press conference. The arrangement allows Penn State to avoid paying the significant sums typically required for larger programs to play smaller schools.
Rhoades emphasized the financial implications of his decision, “If there are opportunities, even in scheduling, where we could save money, make money, go out there and have opportunities for our guys and for our program — you’ve gotta look at it.”
Penn State is coming off a narrow 1-0 season-opening win against Fairfield, while New Haven is currently 0-2. Despite the difference in program size, Rhoades expressed excitement for the unique atmosphere and challenge his young team will face in the smaller venue. “We’re going to go play in a little, small gym. It’s awesome,” Rhoades said.
The Nittany Lions’ coach acknowledged the unconventional nature of the move and its potential risks, but framed it as a necessary step in creatively building the program’s future. “Scheduling, you’ve gotta be creative now. You’ve gotta try to find some different things that can benefit your program and the future of your program. That’s why we did it,” said Rhoades. And as a bonus, “Plus they have good pizza up there, I heard.”
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