1. The Penny Cup Test is part of the Knox Basketball Skill Test and measures reaction ability. 2. It was constructed in 1947 by Robert D. Knox at the University of Oregon to test the basketball skills of high school boys. 3. The test involves a subject standing with their back to cups of different colors (red, white, blue) holding a penny, and upon a signal turning and dropping the penny in the indicated cup as quickly as possible, with the time recorded.