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

Rutgers at Miami – Nov. 28

The Miami Hurricanes lost Bruce Brown and Lonnie Walker IV to the NBA Draft but additions on the transfer market should help their overall outlook in 2018-19. Head coach Jim Larranaga and company secured graduate transfer Zach Johnson (Florida Gulf Coast) this past recruiting cycle as well as Anthony Mack. Johnson was Florida Gulf Coast’s second-leading scorer in 2017-18, putting up 16.1 points as well as 3.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game.

Mack is a 6-foot-6 wing who redshirted his freshman season with Wyoming in 2017-18. He’s currently seeking a waiver to play immediately after sitting out most of last season due to concussion-like symptoms.

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights were 15-19 under head coach Steve Pikiell, who is entering his third season. He’s building as Rutgers is one of the “newer” programs in Big Ten country. He is also their fourth head coach in the past 12 seasons. They lost four seniors from last year’s team but return Corey Sanders and rising sophomore Geo Baker. Baker produced 10.8 points, 2.6 assists, and 2.2 rebounds as a freshman in 2017-18.

The Hurricanes should get a victory here. They’ve won their last four ACC/Big Ten Challenge games including their last meeting against Rutgers in the 2016-17 season. Miami won that meeting 73-61.