Ole Miss basketball will reportedly play Penn State in the first round of the 2019 NIT Tip-Off.
The Rebels released their full non-conference schedule on Tuesday, and the two games at the NIT event in Brooklyn were among the most intriguing of the group.
Kermit Davis’ squad will face off against the Nittany Lions on Nov. 27 before taking on the winner or loser of the other game between Syracuse and Oklahoma State.
Sources: Syracuse will play Oklahoma State and Ole Miss will face Penn State in the first round of the 2019 Preseason NIT at the Barclays Center.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 10, 2019
Ole Miss has won the previous three meetings against Penn State, with the most recent coming in 2013.
The trip should provide two competitive non-conference games for the Rebels, as should matchups against Memphis, Butler, and Wichita State.
Lovell’s Analysis
Penn State is coming off a 14-18 campaign, but Pat Chambers had one of the least experienced teams in the country.
Of course, the biggest offseason boost for the Nittany Lions was the return of Lamar Stevens, who withdrew from the NBA draft process after an excellent junior season.
Stevens averaged 19.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, and he will undoubtedly be a major focal point for Ole Miss in this particular matchup.
But the Rebels have some playmakers of their own in Breein Tyree, Devontae Shuler, and Blake Hinson, so it should be a fun game at Barclays Center.
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