Syracuse Basketball: 5 toughest non-conference opponents for 2018-19

DETROIT, MI - MARCH 18: Oshae Brissett #11 of the Syracuse Orange battles for the ball with Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans during the second half in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Little Caesars Arena on March 18, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

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DETROIT, MI – MARCH 16: Paschal Chukwu #13 of the Syracuse Orange handles the ball during the second half against the TCU Horned Frogs in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Little Caesars Arena on March 16, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

2. Ohio State, Road, November 28th

This is likely a Quadrant 1 opportunity for Syracuse. Ohio State will likely be worse than last season since their two best players, Keita Bates Diop and Jae’Sean Tate, are gone, but this is still a talented team.

Senior PG CJ Jackson and sophomore center Kaleb Wesson lead the way. Jackson can put the ball in the basket and can shoot from long rage; he will probably be the leading scorer for the Buckeyes. Wesson is an enormous 6’9” 270 lbs center who is unbelievably tough to stop in the paint. Keyshawn Woods is another scoring threat in the starting lineup. The Wake Forest transfer is proven as he scored in double figures in the ACC.

The two sleepers on this Ohio State team are Andre Wesson and Luther Muhammad. Wesson is a glue guy PF who impacts the game defensively, despite only averaging 2.9 ppg offensively. His lack of offensive production causes him to fly under the radar, but he is an important piece in the backcourt. Muhammad is a freshman guard who can really defend and has adequate size to play next to Jackson and Woods on the perimeter.

Ohio State is a fringe tournament team, in fact, I have them as one of the first few teams out myself, but being a road game will almost assuredly make this a Quadrant 1 game. Ohio State’s step back looks to be overstated given the pieces they have for this season.

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