Topics

More

Penn State Basketball Earns NIT Invite, Its First Postseason Bid Since 2014

Penn State basketball is heading back to the NIT for the first time since 2009, after a 21-13 record and a trip to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.

Pat Chambers’ team earned a four-seed on its side bracket and will host TempleĀ in the first round of the tournament. They host the Owls on Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the Bryce Jordan Center on ESPNU.

Notre Dame, Oregon, and Rider are among the teams thatĀ fill out Penn State’s corner of the field.

The Nittany Lions won the National Invitation Tournament in that last appearance nine years ago, when Talor Battle and Jamelle Cornley led the Blue and White over Baylor 69-63 in the NIT Championship Game.

The 32-team tournament is played at the home court of the higher-seeded team in each of the first three rounds. The semifinal matches and the championship game both take place in Madison Square Garden on March 27-29.

Penn State had not made a postseason appearance since 2014, when it earned its first and only CBI bid in program history. The Blue and White narrowly missed a berth to its first NCAA Tournament since 2011 following a season that included three victories over ranked Ohio State, and an impressive showing in the conference tournament.

The Nittany Lions are 22-9 all-time in the NIT, reaching at least the semifinals in five of its last seven appearances. This will be Penn State’s eleventh appearance in the National Invitation Tournament.

Your ad blocker is on.

Please choose an option below.

Sign up for our e-mail newsletter:
OR
Support quality journalism:
Purchase a Subscription!

About the Author

Mitch Stewart

Mitch is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism from Roanoke, Virginia. In addition to his role with Onward State, Mitch talks about all the #sprots on Penn State's CommRadio. To contact Mitch, feel free to send him an e-mail at [email protected], and if you really don't value your social media accounts, follow him as he yells on Twitter about Penn State basketball @mitchystew.

Gameday Coverage: No. 3 Penn State vs. No. 4 Ohio State

The biggest game of the season is finally here.

‘I Own It All’: James Franklin Suffers Eighth Straight Loss Against Ohio State

Although the Nittany Lions had issues on both sides of the ball during Saturday’s loss, Franklin took full responsibility for the result.

Fourth-Quarter Offensive Incompetence Dooms Penn State Football In Ohio State Loss

The Nittany Lions failed to score from within the five-yard line late in the game.

113kFollowers
164kFollowers
61.3kFollowers
4,570Subscribers
Sign up for our Newsletter
Other posts by Mitch

Learning To Live With Yourself: Mitch Stewart’s Senior Column

Once described as a “Penn State student outlet whore,” Mitch talks about the many ups and downs of his unforgettable four years at Penn State, and how they’ve shaped him.

March Madness Or Not, This Season Changed The Narrative Of Penn State Hoops

An Ode To Lamar Stevens: The Leader Who Put Penn State Hoops On The Map