Pat Chambers and the Nittany Lions are already scheduled to face powerhouse Duke in the Tipoff Classic, and it’s now being reported by DKPittsburghSports that Penn State will also meet up with Pitt on the hardwood next season. At this point it looks as though it won’t be for the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, and the matchup could also take place at a neutral site.

The Nittany Lions last faced Pitt in 2013, with each side representing their respective conferences in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. Despite having a two-point advantage at halftime and Tim Frazier pouring in 27 points, Penn State fell to Pitt that day 78-69.

Pitt’s bench will look much different this time around as longtime head coach Jaime Dixon left the Panther program this offseason to take the head job at his alma mater TCU. Taking over the vacant Pitt job is someone James Franklin should be familiar with — former Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings. In his 17 years at the helm in Nashville, Stallings led the Commodores to seven NCAA tournaments appearances, including one SEC tournament championship in 2012.

Like the Panthers, the Nittany Lion roster will look much different next season. Out are stalwarts Brandon Taylor, Jordan Dickerson, Donovon Jack, and Devin Foster, but in are the now-eligible Mike Watkins and Terrence Samuels, and the highly-touted 2016 recruiting class. Led by consensus top-100 recruits Tony Carr and Lamar Stevens, the group is bringing newfound optimism — at least on the basketball court — to Happy Valley.