NCAA Basketball: Preview for the 2018 ACC/Big Ten Challenge

No. 23 Syracuse @ Ohio State – Nov. 28

Busting Brackets’ No. 23 ranked Syracuse Orange and Ohio State Buckeyes meet for the first time in ACC/Big Ten Challenge history. It’s not their first-ever meeting in team history, though. The teams last met in the 2012 NCAA Tournament in the Elite Eight, with the Buckeyes winning that game, 77-70. Syracuse is 2-4 all-time against Ohio State but should enter favored on the road.

The Orange return all of their production from a season ago with the return of guard Tyus Battle. Battle waited until the very end but ultimately decided to return for his junior season after testing the NBA Draft process. He averaged 19.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per contest last year for the Orange. Another player to keep an eye on is Frank Howard. He put up 14.4 points, 4.7 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game as a junior.

For the Buckeyes, they lose two of their top three scoring from a season ago in Keita Bates-Diop and Jae’Sean Tate. They do return C.J. Jackson, a junior guard who averaged 12.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game through 31 starts in the 2017-18 season.

Graduate transfer Keyshawn Woods should also play a role. He put up 11.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per contest for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons last year. He should be an instant contributor for a team in need.