Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: 2019 Big 12/SEC Challenge preview

By Jerran Anderson

Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images /
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Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images /

West Virginia Mountaineers at Tennessee Volunteers

The tables have turned for the Tennessee Volunteers and head coach Rick Barnes. Barnes earned SEC Coach of the Year honors three years into his coaching tenure, leading Tennessee to an NCAA Tournament in 2017-18.

In 2018-19, everybody is pretty much back from last season making the Volunteers instant favorites to win this matchup. The West Virginia Mountaineers lose their fearless leader point guard Jevon Carter and guard Daxter Miles Jr. but they still return six juniors and one senior next season.

Depending on where these two teams stand by the end of January, this could be a matchup of Top-25 ranked foes or at least one could be in the mix. Either way, this serves as a huge contest between two legendary coaches in Bob Huggins and Rick Barnes.

Both squads are coming off 26-win seasons and made appearances in the NCAA Tournament. It will be interesting to see how the new recruits for each team fit in next season’s rotation as both teams look to turn a corner.

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