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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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OMAHA, NE – MARCH 23: Head coach Brad Brownell of the Clemson Tigers reacts against the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 23, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. The Kansas Jayhawks defeated the Clemson Tigers 80-76. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE – MARCH 23: Head coach Brad Brownell of the Clemson Tigers reacts against the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 23, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. The Kansas Jayhawks defeated the Clemson Tigers 80-76. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

ACC/Big Ten Challenge Game 1: Nebraska @ Clemson

TV Schedule: Monday, Nov. 26, 7 p.m. ET ESPN2

Arena: Littlejohn Coliseum, Clemson, SC

Both teams suffered their first loss this past week. Nebraska won two buy games, knocked off Seton Hall in the Gavitt Games and then entered their early season Tournament. They were hoping it would be winnable, but ended up falling to the next best team Texas Tech. Clemson entered its Tournament 3-0, picked up a nice win over Georgia, but fell to Creighton in the Championship.

I’m sure the Tigers and Nebraska both expected to win their Tournaments. Nonetheless though it’s important for both teams to pick up this victory.  The Cornhuskers got criticized for its weak non-conference schedule last season which is why they missed the Tournament. Clemson is going to hold as its strongest opponent. The Tigers will be facing its second toughest non-conference opponent to Mississippi State.

Head coach Brad Brownell has a very senior latent team. His leader is by senior Marcquise Reed. He does just about everything. The guard leads the team in points with almost 20 per game, 3.5 assists per game and second with six boards. Shelton Mitchell is a nice scorer with 14.7 points per game. Aamir Simms is a nice outside shooter. They struggled however to find point in the paint. David Skara grabs a lot of board, including 11 against Creighton, but averages under 10 per game.

Nebraska is being led by its big-three and that’s no surprise. James Palmer is averaging almost 17 points per game, Isaac Copeland is shorty behind him in the scoring department. Glynn Watson is the point guard, averaging over four assists. Isaiah Roby is doing his usual just over eight points per game, almost six boards and 10 total blocks. The best thing about the Cornhuskers is that they found other scorers. That’s a great sign for them moving forward.

Both teams have deep benches. Nebraska can go three-to-five deep while Clemson is very strong at four. It wouldn’t be fair to not talk about how great Nebraska’s defense has been, averaging under 60 points allowed per game.

The x-factor for Nebraska is Thomas Allen who has come up with 11 steals this season. Clemson has a transfer named Javan White from Oral Roberts who averaged nine boards last season. he’s yet to breakout, but the time is coming soon. The Tigers made the sweet 16 last year while Nebraska was just left out. Both seem to be in this season. It’ll be a tough game, featuring teams that should make the Tournament.

Prediction: Clemson 68, Nebraska 63