NCAA Basketball: 2018 Gildan Charleston Classic preview and predictions
Breaking down the teams, part 2
Northeastern Huskies (1-1)
The Huskies will face the Alabama Crimson Tide in their opening round game on Thursday. They won their first game of the season over the Harvard Crimson on the road on Friday behind 35 points from guard Jordan Roland.
Roland put up just 13 total shots from the field but seven of them were from 3-point range. Alongside his solid 3-point shooting game, he also got to the free throw line 11 times against Harvard. They won’t be an easy team to face with former San Diego State Aztecs guard Vasa Pusica also in the lineup.
Purdue Boilermakers (2-0)
The Boilermakers are by and far the favorite to win this year’s Gildan Classic with Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year, guard Carsen Edwards, in the rotation. Edwards has already earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors after producing 26.5 points, 3.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds on 42.9 percent from 3-point shooting in the opening week.
Purdue beat Ball State back on Saturday night, 84-75, behind 23 points from Edwards and 16 points from big man Matt Haarms. As they find their identity in 2018-19, they’ll rely heavily on Edwards, who can fill it up at will.
Wichita State Shockers (1-1)
Wichita State has a loss already on their record from a season-opening loss to the Louisiana Tech Red Raiders, 71-58, on last Tuesday. They got things together in a hurry in the next game against the Providence Friars, winning that one 83-80, behind 32 points from 6-foot-8 senior forward Markis McDuffie.
Head coach Gregg Marshall and the Shockers are retooling after a productive 2017-18 campaign. They were upset in last year’s NCAA Tournament by the Marshall Thundering Herd and this year, they’re an underdog against an undefeated Davidson squad in the Gildan Classic.
Virginia Tech Hokies (1-0)
The Hokies are the final undefeated team in the Gildan Classic at 1-0. Depth was their biggest asset before senior forward Chris Clarke was suspended indefinitely prior to the start of the season. Virginia Tech is still 2-0 despite their circumstances and 6-foot-3 freshman guard Isaiah Wilkins has emerged as their new energy guy off the bench.
He put up 21 points on 5-of-7 shooting from 3-point range in his debut for the Hokies. He was one of five Hokies that scored in double figures in an 87-59 victory over the Gardner Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs. Their next game against Ball State on Thursday will be a good test for them.