May 15, 2018
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The Penn State men's basketball team returns to the Gavitt Tipoff Games schedule and will play DePaul on Thursday, Nov. 15 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The Big Ten and Big East conference offices jointly announced the game dates and opponents Tuesday.
The eight Gavitt Tipoff Games will be played on four-consecutive days in the first full week of the 2018 college basketball season beginning on Tuesday, Nov. 13.
"Being back in the lineup for the Gavitt Tipoff Games is something we have been looking forward to," said Penn State coach Patrick Chambers. "Dave Gavitt was an ambassador for the sport of basketball and it is fitting that we continue to honor his legacy in the spirit of competition and sportsmanship."
The unique series between the two conferences was named to honor the late Dave Gavitt, the founder of the Big East Conference and basketball visionary. Gavitt had a profound and lasting influence on the sport of basketball on the collegiate, professional and Olympic levels and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
The Gavitt Tipoff Games feature four home contests each for Big East and Big Ten institutions on an annual basis from through 2022. Television coverage of the Gavitt Tipoff Games will be provided by either FS1 or BTN.
The Nittany Lions and Blue Demons were paired in the inaugural Gavitt Tipoff Games in 2015, with Penn State winning, 68-62, in the Bryce Jordan Center.
DePaul holds a 6-1 advantage in a series dating back to 1938 with Penn State winning the most recent meeting in 2015. The contest in Chicago will be the Nittany Lions' first at DePaul since January 2, 1982, and the first in the Blue Demons' Wintrust Arena.
The Blue Demons ended their 2017-18 season in the opening game of the Big East Tournament, posting an 11-20 overall record and 4-14 mark in league play. DePaul rallied from a 14-point deficit to tie Marquette in that contest, but the Golden Eagles won the game on the final possession, 72-69.
Penn State returns three starters and eight of its top 11 players for the 2018-19 season, including rising junior forward Lamar Stevens, the 2018 NIT Most Outstanding Player, senior guard Josh Reaves and junior forward Mike Watkins, who were members of the Big Ten All-Defensive Team. Chambers and his staff also will welcome five freshmen guards Rasir Bolton, Myles Dread, Myreon "MJ" Jones, Daniil Kasatkin and Kyle McCloskey for 2018-19.
For information or to make a 2018-19 Penn State men's basketball season ticket deposit, fans should go to gopsusports.com/climbwithus or call 1-800-NITTANY, weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Keep up to date with the latest information from Coach Patrick Chambers and the Nittany Lions on Twitter by following @Coach_Chambers and @PennStateMBB, liking the team's page on Facebook and following the team Instagram account at @PennStateMBB.
2018 Gavitt Games Tipoff Matchups
(Times & TV TBA)
Tuesday, Nov. 13
Wisconsin at Xavier
Georgetown at Illinois
Wednesday, Nov. 14
Michigan at Villanova
Seton Hall at Nebraska
Marquette at Indiana
Thursday, Nov. 15
Penn State at DePaul
Ohio State at Creighton
Friday, Nov. 16
St. John's at Rutgers