Penn State basketball season is getting closer and closer, with both the men’s and women’s opening scrimmage just 9 days away. To celebrate the beginning of both seasons, Penn State will welcome acclaimed Detroit rapper Big Sean to perform tonight at the annual Hoops Madness at historic Rec Hall, the longtime home of Penn State basketball prior to the arrival of the Bryce Jordan Center.

The event is completely free with doors opening at 6:30 and the event starting at 7:30. Students with season tickets are allowed early admittance at 6:15 and the first 300 fans through the doors will receive a free Hoops Madness t-shirt.

Rec Hall will be filled with energy as fans will be participating in various contests while enjoying the Lions Pep Band, the Lionettes Dance team, Penn State cheerleaders and the Nittany Lion. The event will also feature dance performances from both teams and one lucky fan in attendance will be selected at random for a chance to win $10,000 by making a shot from half court before the performance from Big Sean.

The Detroit rapper was named 2012 BET Best New Artist of the Year after releasing several popular mixtapes and his debut 2011 album Finally Famous. Most recently, Big Sean released “Mercy,” the hit single from the G.O.O.D. Music compilation album released in April of this year.

Big Sean is one of the biggest name in hip-hop, so hopefully he can put on a better show than Fabolous’ trainwreck of a performance at last year’s Hoops Madness– and actually shows up on time.

I’m expecting a big crowd this year, a crowd that the 11th ranked Lady Lions and a rising Penn State men’s basketball program deserves. Last year Tim Frazier and Ross Travis put on a show with some high flying, acrobatic dunks and Maggie Lucas hit long distance shots with ease. I’m sure we’ll see plenty of that this year– both at Hoops Madness and on the floor at the Bryce Jordan Center.