Mark Nelson wasn't there to witness the classic duel last year. He had to watch the disappointment on ESPN. This season, Nelson will be part of the raucous crowd to see the rematch. He wouldn't miss it.

The Penn State-Indiana matchup at 1 p.m. tomorrow is just one of a trio of games being held inside venerable Rec Hall over the next three days. And Nelson (junior-health policy administration) will be voicing his support throughout the weekend.

"This is a big sports weekend at Penn State," he said. "If this doesn't get you excited, nothing will -- if you're a true Nittany Lion."

Tonight, when the No. 1 Lady Lions take on Minnesota at 7:30 p.m. in Rec Hall, the college basketball excitement will begin. Then, the Sunday matinee features the Lady Lions against Coach Vivian Stringer and the No. 8 Lady Hawkeyes. Sandwiched between the two women's games is, of course, the Hoosier-Nittany Lions confrontation.

Three big games at Rec Hall. Three back-to-back nights. To some NCAA hoop fanatics, it might seem like basketball heaven.

"Our promotions and marketing department has done a fantastic job of promoting this weekend," said Jeff Brewer, assistant sports information director. "We're calling it the greatest basketball weekend in Penn State history. And I don't think that's an exaggeration."

Penn State's sports information department has hyped these basketball games all week long. Slogans such as "Pack The Track" have appeared in newspaper ads, on local television and even on posters. The No. 1 ranked Lady Lions were introduced at halftime of the Penn State-Illinois men's game Wednesday -- all in an effort to increase fan support for the upcoming basketball contests.

It is a weekend that has also received top billing from the coaches, the media and the students alike. The anticipation is starting to mount. It's a weekend any basketball junkie would savor, especially those donning the blue and white.

"Our fans and our court are the best in the nation," said Robb Scott (sophomore-business). "Rec Hall is up there with the Cameron Indoor Stadium at Duke."

Even Lady Lion Coach Rene Portland is ecstatic. Not only does her team boast the best Division I college basketball record in the nation, but the game against the Lady Hawkeyes will be televised on espn2. The surroundings will be familiar for the Lady Lions.

The ambiance inside Rec Hall this year has been soothing. This sensation has seemed to guide both Lion teams to several victories this season. It has led to mayhem on the court during games and, often, even afterwards.

Quite often, the enthusiasm has been uncontrollable. For visiting teams, the atmosphere is downright intimidating. The cheers are endless.

"You won't be able to come into this building," Portland said. "It will be sacred. You're going to have to show your insurance policy and your life I.D. number, I guess, to get in and out."

For now, Rec Hall is silent. But that will change tonight. It's waiting to erupt.

"I think Rec Hall is second-to-none," said Tom Butts (junior-industrial engineering). "The temperature is always up. You're jammed in. I love places where you're standing on your feet -- you get into it more."

So the table has been set. It's only February, but the madness is surfacing early in Happy Valley --a weekend of nonstop basketball.

"This weekend means a lot," Scott said. "We've got the No. 1 ranked women's team and the men are going up against Bobby Knight."

And with Rec Hall packed to the rafters, Mr. Knight might want to bring his tent.