The NCAA Championships are still two-and-a-half months away, yet the top-ranked team in the country is still making its way to University Park this weekend.

No.1 Michigan will meet the No. 5 Penn State men's gymnastics team at Rec Hall at 7 p.m. tomorrow night.

So while the top team in the nation may be seen as an obstacle, the Nittany Lions and head coach Randy Jepson see the Wolverines' visit more as an opportunity, especially since Jepson thinks the best is yet to come for Penn State (11-0).

"We haven't had a particularly strong meet yet. We're getting closer, but we're not 100 percent yet," Jepson said. "But that's encouraging. I'm glad it's happening this time in the year."

But to defeat the No. 1 team, Jepson said the Lions must improve on some key events.

"We just need to be sharper everywhere. We haven't hit on the high bar yet. Michigan is strong on the floor," Jepson said. "They've prepared well."

Michigan comes to State College fresh off a win over two-time defending national champion Oklahoma in Ann Arbor. The win ended the Sooners' 37-match winning streak, a run that spanned back to January 2005, when the Wolverines also beat Oklahoma.

But the Lions do have home advantage on their side. Michigan has only won once at Rec Hall under its coach of 11 years, Kurt Golder. And in a sport that is dependent on familiarity with equipment, the team must capitalize on that home-court advantage.

The NCAA Championships in April will also be held in Rec Hall, so the meet tomorrow gives the Lions just another chance to get used to the equipment.

"It's awesome to have home-court advantage against Michigan. Rec Hall at Penn State has one of the highest attendances for men's gymnastics," freshman Nick Virbitsky said. "We have practice time to get used to the equipment [for the NCAA Championships]. It's a big advantage."

Not only is the weekend's match against the top-ranked team, but the meet opens up Big Ten play for the Lions. Jepson said that even though the level of competition is improving, the team is only focusing on its own performance, not Michigan's.

"There's nothing we can do with Michigan. We have to do our jobs and hit our routines," he said. "That's all we have to worry about."

The Lions' depth could be its greatest asset. Senior captain Matt Cohen has won three straight all-around titles this season and sophomore Casey Sandy won the high bar and placed second in the pommel horse last weekend at the West Point Open.

With two top-five teams facing off in Rec Hall, the meet can help the team get used to championship atmosphere.

"It's going to be the same emotion at the NCAA Championships. Same thing for Michigan," Jepson said. "You come to college to compete. And these are the matchups you get for the fans and the student body. It's like a heavyweight fight."