Penn State basketball will gain some pre-conference tournament action in late December as one of eight teams in the 2015 Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic. Colorado, SMU, Kent State, Canisius, Louisiana Monroe, Nicholls State, and Hampton will join the Nittany Lions for the Dec. 22 and 23 tip-offs at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

Penn State will play two games in Vegas and two at home preceding its trip out west. Tickets went on sale last Friday, and are available by phone (1-88-234-2334), or online here. The two home matchups are included in season-ticket packages.

At first look, the slate of potential showdowns doesn’t look too intriguing. (A 2014 CBI rematch against Hampton — what could be better?) But if the ball rolls in the Nittany Lions’ direction, Penn State could face legendary coach Larry Brown’s SMU squad, possibly at home.

There’s sure to be a surplus of question marks entering the 2015 Penn State hoops season. With the unexpected departure of Geno Thorpe, and the loss of 20 points a night in D.J. Newbill, the Lions will be forced to fill voids on both sides of the court. Pat Chambers, now in his fifth year, faced plenty of criticism for his team’s play last season, especially after its 12-1 start. Returning starters Brandon Taylor, Jordan Dickerson, and Shep Garner should benefit from redshirt Isaiah Washington, and the arrival of hyped recruits Josh Reaves, Mike Watkins, and Deividas Zemgulis.

FOX Sports 1 will air the third-place and championship games on Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 9 and 11:30 p.m. Loyola, UNLV, and Colorado State are the last three winners of the annual tournament.