Cincinnati Basketball: Daniel Skillings Jr headlines players to watch as the Bearcats host Virginia Tech

There are several players to watch as the Bearcats face Virginia Tech in the NIT first round on Wednesday night, highlighted by Cincinnati freshman duo Daniel Skillings Jr and Josh Reed.

Both programs are looking to create momentum by competing for a NIT championship, which could be a major benefit for players that are expected to take on a larger role next season.

Wes Miller’s team is hoping to make a deep run in the postseason tournament but it’s also an opportunity to develop players like Skillings and Reed heading into their sophomore year.

Skillings showed off a lot of potential this season, scoring a career-high 20 points in a win over Temple last week, and is expected to become a significant part of the rotation moving forward.

Cincinnati Basketball: Daniel Skillings Jr headlines players to watch as the Bearcats host Virginia Tech

• Date: Wednesday, March 15 at 9:00 PM
• Location: Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati
• TV Broadcast: ESPN2 and fuboTV
• Series History: Virginia Tech leads 18-12

Other players to keep an eye on in the first round matchup include Bearcats duo David DeJulius and Landers Nolley II, plus Virginia Tech frontcourt mates Grant Basile and Justyn Mutts.

Nolley received All-AAC First Team honors after scoring a team-best 16.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this year, and was named to the All-AAC Tournament Team last week.

After finishing the regular season with a 15-3 record at home, Cincinnati opened as 5.5-point favorites with the over/under placed at 151.5 total points according to WynnBET.

If the Bearcats are able to advance past Virginia Tech, the second round matchup would be against either Rutgers or Hofstra this weekend. Check out the full 2023 NIT bracket here!