Penn State is about to open the Big Ten men’s basketball tournament as the No. 11 seed, making them a longshot to win the Big Ten’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. And given the story of the season, it remains a longshot Penn State would receive an invite to the NIT at this point. But postseason possibilities still may exist for Penn State with the College Basketball Invitational. Asked whether or not Penn State would accept any potential invite to the CBI this season, Penn State head coach Micah Shrewsberry said he’d leave that decision up to his players.
“I’d leave it up to those guys,” Shrewsberry said in a press conference on Monday, as reported by Blue White Illustrated. “If they want to keep playing, I’d owe it to them to keep preparing and keep trying.”
Shrewsberry did note that the CBI may not be the kind of tournament a roster like Penn Stat has would be ideal for. According to Shrewsberry, the CBI is traditionally played in by teams that are looking to give a roster full of younger players in transition and growing an opportunity to continue practicing and playing with an eye on the next season. Given the veteran presence on the Penn State roster, the CBI may not be the most desired alternative for the program after this season.
“This team’s a little different than other teams,” Shrewsberry said. “Some of those tournaments you play in if you want to get experience for a reason, right? Things like that. You’ve got a bunch of younger dudes like, ‘Hey, we got a chance next to be really good, let’s keep playing. Our team’s a little different. We’re not really in our boat.”
Penn State opens the Big Ten tournament on Wednesday against Minnesota. The Nittany Lions are a slight favorite in the game but Penn State has longshot odds to win the Big Ten championship.
Helmet sticker to Blue White Illustrated.
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