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NCAA Basketball: 2018 ACC/Big Ten Challenge preview and predictions

By Austin Walther

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 23: Michigan Wolverines head Basketball Coach Jon Beilein watches the action during the first half of the game against the Chattanooga Mocs at Crisler Center on November 23, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Chattanooga Mocs 83-55. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 23: Michigan Wolverines head Basketball Coach Jon Beilein watches the action during the first half of the game against the Chattanooga Mocs at Crisler Center on November 23, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Chattanooga Mocs 83-55. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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BOISE, ID – MARCH 15: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts in the first half against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 15, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID – MARCH 15: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts in the first half against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 15, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

ACC/Big Ten Challenge Game 9: Syracuse @ Ohio State

TV Schedule Wednesday, Nov. 28, 7:15 p.m. ET ESPN2

Arena: Value Center Arena, Columbus, OH

Ohio State is undefeated and Syracuse has two losses. Nobody would have guessed that was going to be the case at the beginning of the season. The Buckeyes picked up a nice true road game to start the season against Cincinnati. They did it again two games later against Creighton in the Gavitt Games. The Buckeyes then took care of three buy games because they didn’t draw an early-season Tournament.

The Orange certainly did play in an early-season Tournament which didn’t go as expected. The first two games were quite simple for Syracuse. They got their match up with the old Big East foe UConn and lost. Bobby Hurley had his guys ready. We got the game of Oregon vs. Syracuse and it went in favor of the Ducks. For that, they were knocked from the Top-25, but did manage to beat Colgate by 21.

Chris Holtmann has actually done some mixing and matching with the lineup. If you start out 6-0 by doing that, then you’re a genius and playing match ups. C.J. Jackson has been the only consistent starter and is averaging 12.7 points per game and just under three assists. Kaleb Wesson, the nice freshman from a year ago is over 14 per game and almost six boards. They don’t have a dominant third scorer. It’s someone different every game. Freshman Duane Washington Jr. does lead the team in three-pointers with 12.

Syracuse got all its production for the most part on offense from three guys last season. Tyus Battle plays so many minutes. Nothing has changed this year and he’s averaging 17.6 points per game, 2.2 assists and 2.8 boards. Oshae Brissett was the second and he’s almost at 15 points per game while hauling in eight boards. Frank Howard just came back for the Colgate game. They missed him as a point guard. They also need a consistent shot from outside.

The Buckeyes seem to win defensive battles. Both quality opponent games for the Buckeyes were in the sixties. You know the Orange are going to be difficult with their zone. But the law of basketball averages says that Syracuse doesn’t hit .500 and that Ohio State is due for a loss.

Prediction: Syracuse 66, Ohio State 61