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NCAA Basketball: 2019 NIT Season Tip-Off preview and predictions

By Donovan Darlington

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: A detail as Samir Doughty #10 of the Auburn Tigers holds a ball during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal against the Virginia Cavaliers at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: A detail as Samir Doughty #10 of the Auburn Tigers holds a ball during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal against the Virginia Cavaliers at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 03: Lamar Stevens #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts in the second half while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on January 03, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 68-55. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 03: Lamar Stevens #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts in the second half while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on January 03, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 68-55. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Penn State

Record: 5-0

Penn State has looked like a very solid team in its first five games. The competition has not exactly been the greatest, but the NIT Season Tip-Off will give NCAA basketball fans the chance to see what the Nittany Lions are capable of.

Penn State does have a very convincing 15 point win over a talented Georgetown squad that gave Duke plenty of trouble the other night. It is no secret that Penn State will come out and be competitive in this tournament.

This Penn State team is much better than they have been over the past few years. They can threaten opponents from anywhere on the floor. Senior forward, Lamar Stevens has been dominant just as everyone thought. He leads the Nittany Lions in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 16.8 ppg and 8.4 rpg. He is arguably the best player in this tournament.

Penn State’s backcourt is also very talented. They have a trio of sophomores in Myles Dread, Myreon Jones, and Izaiah Brockington that all average over 10 ppg. They stretch opposing defenses with both court speed and ball speed. Jones is shooting over 43% from 3 point territory.

This squad definitely possesses the talent necessary to win an early-season tournament. They have received some talk about being an NCAA Tournament team this season, but I still feel like they are better than everyone thinks. With that, a strong showing in the NIT Season Tip-Off would be huge for their NCAA Tournament resume.

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