The University of Alabama men’s basketball team will face 2018 NIT champion Penn State, a team that is considered a strong NCAA contender out of the Big Ten, at Coleman Coliseum on Dec. 21.
The date was listed as a part of Penn State’s non-conference schedule, which was released on Wednesday.
Alabama has not released its full 2018-19 non-conference schedule yet but the Nittany Lions will give UA a second Power Five conference opponent at home. Arizona has announced that it will play in Tuscaloosa on December 9. The Crimson Tide is also expected to host Murray State in December although no venue (possibly Huntsville or Birmingham) or date has been announced.
Also on Wednesday, the bracket for the Charleston Classsic, Alabama’s November Tournament destination, was announced. The Crimson Tide will open on Thursday, Nov. 15 against Northeastern University. The other game in Alabama’s side of the bracket will match Ball State against Virginia Tech, a team that Alabama eliminated from the 2018 NCAA Tournament. Purdue, Wichita State, Davidson and Appalachian State will make up the other half of the bracket.
Alabama will also participate in the SEC/Big XII Challenge in January, playing at Baylor in Waco, Texas
