Penn State in some ways mirrors RU entering the B1G...no real investment into basketball and solely focused into football.
I don't think anyone truly cares about basketball in the middle of PA which in time will have RU past PSU most years going forward...especially once the full share is provided to RU.
As far as this season, the 2 best players on either team as of today are Lamar Stevens and Josh Reaves. With "sweeping" PSU, while in theory that would make sense, the general public doesn't agree with that, based on the numbers Vegas currently has in place.
Minnesota was a 10 to 10.5 point favorite over RU last weekend. Yesterday Minnesota off a 25+ point loss at Illinois, was a 4 point favorite over PSU. The game finished up 65-64, Gophers.
I am not saying RU cannot win at PSU, it's on paper the easiest road game likely for RU to win. But PSU has the best 2 players on the court as a senior and junior and RU is minus their best front court defender in Omoyuri, who would be an additional layer to slow Stevens down.
There are great fans within the RU fanbase and around the B1G and PSU is probably a 6 point favorite over RU at their place.
These aren't my suggestions or numbers, these are what people who know all the rosters currently view this year's rosters of both teams as of today. That doesn't mean RU wont get better, it has freshman that Vegas or others cannot properly evaluate. Usually it's everyone else that's "late to the party", while other fanbases believe programs come of nowhere and magically get better.
I wouldn't be surprised if RU swept PSU this year, if the freshman play well...but it would be surprising to the rest of the B1G or general public. The bar shouldn't be lowered by expecting or worrying if PSU loses, RU will be evaluated based on how well the freshman improve from November to March. Everyone on the roster except Doorson is back, while Reaves is a senior and Stevens is a junior. RU will be well positioned to pass PSU and others in the next year and beyond...I'd like to see that happen now, but confident we aren't going to be worrying about PSU 2 to 3 years from now.