Oh, how the tables have turned, folks.

Prior to the 2020-21 season, Penn State men’s basketball’s pink and black alternative uniforms provided the Nittany Lions with a unique and flashy feel while honoring Dear Old State’s original color scheme.

While the pink and black colors were previously worn as an alternate style in years past, Jim Ferry’s current squad has adopted the non-traditional color scheme as the team’s permanent away uniforms in each road game thus far.

Despite the transcendent, fan-favorited appeal the pink and black throwbacks provide, the once-unprecedented success and previous mystique seen by the program while wearing the jerseys has since evaporated.

Following the Nittany Lions’ demolition over then-No. 15 Virginia Tech on the road in December, Penn State moved to 12-0 all-time in regular-season matchups while donning the pink and blacks. Postgame, Ferry mentioned that the program may adopt the look on a more regular basis.

“[Our guys] love wearing the pink and black,” Ferry said. “We’ve worn them for every ACC/Big Ten Challenge. A couple years ago, we wore them a ton. I think our guys would like to wear them this year.”

Since the upset in Blacksburg, the Nittany Lions have worn the alternates in every away game this season. Unfortunately, the once-unforeseen dominance has vanished.

In six conference away games, Penn State has gone a dismal 0-6 against Big Ten competition while wearing the pink and black. Despite being outscored by just about seven points in each loss, the misfortune may be a sign to exchange the showy jerseys for the classic basic blues we all know and love.

Sure, the pink and black display has become a staple in Happy Valley since the inception of the modernized version first took the court in 2014. But the uniforms should be saved for games with large implications only.

For example, last season’s upset victory against Michigan in Ann Arbor was the perfect time to rep the fresh alternates. Following a three-game losing streak, the Nittany Lions entered the game after righting the ship in a signature home victory over No. 21 Ohio State in front of a packed Bryce Jordan Center.

In order to keep the momentum going, Pat Chambers decided to implement the pink and blacks into the lineup against the Wolverines. Subsequently, Penn State won the difficult road contest by nine points, which catapulted the program to a season-best eight-game conference winning streak.

We aren’t calling for the pink and black look to totally disappear. The style gives the Penn State players and community a nice change of pace in comparison to the clean-cut, black shoes and basic blues that we’re all accustomed to.

But, with that said, anytime something unique is overdone, it becomes stale. Imagine if Penn State football had a White Out every home game? What if the wrestling program held every match in the BJC regardless of implications?

Penn State hoops should take the same approach and leave the pink and blacks on the shelf until a true, must-win game appears on the calendar.