Cincinnati and NC State Will Meet As Part Of ESPN's Tip Off Marathon

This will be everyone’s first chance to catch the Sean Kilpatrick farewell tour, and the first time that Bearcat fans will get to see the newly beefed up Jermaine Lawrence and the rest of this stellar freshman class. NC State has won 24 games in back to back seasons, making the tournament both times. They do lose Richard Howell, Scott Wood and C.J. Leslie off last years squad. But they return Lorenzo Brown, and most of last years rotation cogs. The one guy who could be there, but won't be is Rodney Purvis. Don't worry though, UC will see plenty of him starting next year against UConn. T.J. Warren, who replaced Purvis in the starting 5 down the stretch is back. Joining that core is a pretty decorated signing class headlined by Tidewater sensation/McDonald's All American Anthony Barber. NC State probably won't contend in the ACC, but they will almost certainly make the tournament. That is precisely the kind of team UC should be playing early in the year.