With the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance MaraThon being moved to the Bryce Jordan Center during the middle of the Big Ten basketball season, it would seem that both the men's and women's basketball teams would be upset over lost gym time.

They're not.

At least Penn State men's basketball coach Ed DeChellis isn't upset. In fact, he's more than happy to give up gym time to Thon.

"We're away, it doesn't affect us at all. We're more than happy to give up what arena time we had because we think we are going to practice [in Wisconsin] on Friday and play the game Saturday, get home Saturday night and take off Sunday," DeChellis said. "So we're off all day Sunday. We don't practice on Sundays during the Big Ten season.

"From our standpoint, Thon has the building from whenever they want it until we practice at 3 p.m. on Monday afternoon. So it's open to them to use whenever they want from our end of it."

The men's team will be playing in Wisconsin on Saturday afternoon for a game against the Badgers during Thon weekend, Feb. 16-18.

Thon was moved to the Jordan Center this year due to the growth of the event, said Bernie Punt, the director of sales and marketing for the Bryce Jordan Center.

Because of the importance of Thon to Penn State, it has first priority on the Jordan Center for whichever weekend it is held in the future.

"Even if a promoter called a year ahead, and said we're bringing the most popular band it wouldn't even matter, Thon would have top priority," Punt said.

He explained that Thon will probably stay at the Jordan Center, saying that the event started out at the HUB-Robeson Center before moving to the White Building, Rec Hall and finally the Jordan Center.

Thon and the Big Ten agreed to have the dance marathon at the Jordan Center from this year forward. One of the results was that Thon will be held on a consistent weekend each year to allow the Big Ten to make the scheduling adjustments, Punt said.

Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland was away in Philadelphia on a recruiting trip yesterday, but associate head coach Annie Troyan said the only thing on her mind was Georgetown when asked about Thon. The Lady Lions face the Hoyas Saturady night on the road.

The women's team will also be playing on the road during the weekend.

The Lady Lions have the last home date before Thon on Feb. 15 against Minnesota.