Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Basketball: Top 15 opening week games for 2018-19

By Brad Cavallaro

LEXINGTON, KY - NOVEMBER 20: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives instructions to Quade Green #0 during the game against the Troy Torjans at Rupp Arena on November 20, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - NOVEMBER 20: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives instructions to Quade Green #0 during the game against the Troy Torjans at Rupp Arena on November 20, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 16
Next
FULLERTON, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Tanner Krebs #00 and Emmett Naar #3 of the St. Mary’s Gaels defend Bryce Aiken #11 of the Harvard Crimson as he makes a pass during the game at the Titan Gym on November 23, 2017 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
FULLERTON, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Tanner Krebs #00 and Emmett Naar #3 of the St. Mary’s Gaels defend Bryce Aiken #11 of the Harvard Crimson as he makes a pass during the game at the Titan Gym on November 23, 2017 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

14. Northeastern at Harvard

Friday 11/9, 7:00 PM ET, ESPN+

Do not let this superb mid major matchup go unnoticed. Both Northeastern and Harvard could win their respective leagues and return to the NCAA Tournament after short droughts. Their last tournament berths were in 2015 where Northeastern suffered a narrow defeat to Notre Dame and Harvard lost by two points to North Carolina. They have both accumulated enough talent and experience to be nationally relevant in 18-19.

Northeastern went 23-10 last season and returns their top 6 scorers from last year. Vasa Pusica is the best player as he averaged 17.9 ppg and 5.1 apg. Sophomore big man Tomas Murphy could be in line for a breakout season after he posted 6.6 ppg in his debut season.

Harvard has more high level recruits, but they have yet to reap the rewards of their stellar incoming classes. This could be the year for the Crimson as practically all of their players have returned and these well-regarded recruits are now juniors. Bryce Aiken, Seth Towns, and Chris Lewis were the three leading scorers and all three averaged double figures. They all spurned high major interest to play for Harvard and hopefully they can experience the NCAA Tournament.

Harvard will be favored in this game and they will be the clear favorites in the Ivy. However, I’ll go with the upset and have Northeastern knock off Harvard in this underrated NCAA Basketball game.

Prediction: Northeastern over Harvard

Home/NCAA Basketball News