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Penn State Basketball To Play Duke In Hall Of Fame Tipoff Classic

Dreams really do come true, because that Coach K-Pat Chambers fantasy matchup you’ve always wished could happen is finally coming to fruition.

It was announced today by CBSSports’ Jon Rothstein that Penn State men’s basketball will square off against Duke in round one of the 2016 Hall of Fame Tipoff Classic at Mohegan Sun. The tournament serves as a warmup for teams in the early stages of the season, and will offer the Nittany Lions arguably the toughest challenge they’ve faced in quite some time.

The Lions, coming off a 16-16 record in 2015-16, will feature a handful of exciting new freshmen — a group fans hope usher in a new era in Penn State basketball. Point guard Tony Carr and forward Lamar Stevens are two of the most exciting prospects to join the Lions in years, and will bring a new style of basketball to the table in Happy Valley. Starting their collegiate careers off against one of the nation’s most storied programs isn’t a bad way to gauge their readiness.

It’s unclear as to who Duke will field against Penn State given the high rate of turnover its roster sees each year. Superstar freshman Brandon Ingram, the projected No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA Draft, already announced his intentions to go pro. Sophomore guard Greyson Allen, who led the Blue Devils in both points and assists, is also likely to leave given his status as a fringe first rounder. The Lions can expect to see rising sophomores Luke Kennard and sparingly used forward Chase Jeter in Connecticut, as both primed to return to the Blue Devils as the new faces of the program. Joining them will be true freshmen forwards Harry Giles and Jayson Tatum — the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the 2016 ESPN 100, respectively.

Penn State will be tested, but it’s not every day you get to face one of the best programs in college basketball. Tournament dates for the Mohegan Sun event are TBD.

All aboard the flaming bus!

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About the Author

David Abruzzese

David is a senior from Rochester, NY, nestled right in beautiful Western New York. He is majoring in Broadcast Journalism, and as an avid sports fan, he passionately supports the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres. He is the first Penn Stater from his family, and couldn’t be prouder to represent Penn State University. In his free time, he likes to alpine ski, and play golf. You can follow him on Twitter @abruz11, and can contact him via email at [email protected].

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