Coming off its most successful season in Pat Chambers’ near decade as head coach, Penn State men’s basketball is starting to fill out the non-conference schedule for the 2018-19 season.

Highlighted by trips to Cancun, Pittsburgh, and New Jersey, as well as games against power conference schools, the Nittany Lions have a chance to taken the next step, even without projected NBA Draft selection Tony Carr, to reach the NCAA Tournament if they get by this opening stretch of the season.

Penn State has confirmed games against Depaul Thursday, November 15 on the road in the Gavitt Tipoff Games and against Virginia Tech Tuesday, November 27 in the Bryce Jordan Center for its ACC-Big Ten Challenge matchup.

The Nittany Lions also announced they will take part in a quadruple header on December 15 at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall — getting a rematch with NC State after the Wolfpack took down Penn State in last year’s ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

The Cancun Challenge lists Penn State in its 2018 tournament field. Matchups and game times are yet to be announced, but the Nittany Lions will play during Thanksgiving Break against two of the three teams in its division — Bradley, SMU, and Wright State.

CBS Sports college basketball writer Jon Rothstein also reports that Penn State will head to the Penguins’ PPG Paints Arena for a game Wednesday, December 19 against Duquesne.

The past few years Penn State has played 13 non-conference matchups, but with the Big Ten’s decision to lengthen the conference slate from 18 to 20 games, the Nittany Lions likely have just five more openings to fill before their schedule is complete.

Non-Conference Slate: What We Know

• Thursday, November 15 — at Depaul
• Tuesday/Wednesday, November 20-21 — Cancun Challenge
• Tuesday, November 27 — vs. Virginia Tech
• Saturday, December 15 — vs. NC State (Atlantic City, NJ)
• Wednesday, December 19 — at Duquesne (PPG Paints Arena)