Cincinnati Basketball: NIT first round preview, odds, pregame quotes against Virginia Tech

Check out our game preview including the most recent odds, pregame quotes, players to watch and more as the Bearcats prepare to face Virginia Tech in the NIT first round tonight!

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

Players to watch in the upcoming first round matchup include Bearcats senior duo David DeJulius and Landers Nolley II, plus Virginia Tech frontcourt mates Grant Basile and Justyn Mutts.

Wes Miller’s team is hoping to make a deep run in the NIT but it’s also an opportunity to develop underclassmen like Daniel Skillings Jr and Josh Reed heading into their sophomore campaign.

Cincinnati Basketball: NIT first round preview, odds, pregame quotes against 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

Make sure to read a break down of the Bearcats all-time series history against Virginia Tech prior to the NIT first round battle between the former Metro Conference rivals tonight!

Virginia Tech leads the all-time series with an 18-12 record against Cincinnati but every matchup took place between 1979-1991, when both schools competed in the Metro Conference.

During a recent press conference, Miller discussed the decision to participate in the NIT for the first time since 2010 and previewed the game against Virginia Tech via Cincinnati Athletics.

"“I think the majority of college basketball still views the NIT as a national tournament with a ton of history and is really well respected. It’s certainly not your goal because that’s to be in the NCAA Tournament but it’s an honor to be invited to the NIT. You get to keep playing basketball in March. If we get that opportunity then we’re going to embrace it. There are so many examples of this event helping a program grow and move forward. I’m excited to keep playing. It’s not where I want to be playing deep down but it’s still basketball and I’m a competitor. I think our guys will feel the same way by the time the ball goes up. We are still playing and we need Fifth Third Arena to rock like it has all year. I think that will lift us up. We have a heck of an opponent coming into our building and we need as much support as possible!”"