Syracuse vs Ohio State: 2018-19 College basketball game preview, TV schedule

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) /

The ACC/Big Ten Challenge continues with Ohio State hosting the Syracuse Orange. Which program has the advantage heading into this contest?

TV schedule: Wednesday, Nov. 28th, 7:15 p.m. ET. ESPN2
Arena: Value City in Columbus, Ohio

In this match up of the Big Ten/ACC challenge, Syracuse heads to Columbus for a shot to knock off the number one team in the country, the Ohio State Buckeyes…well, not really. According to the first ever released NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool), the Buckeyes are the number one team in the country. This along with the rest of the rankings had a lot of people talking and criticizing the new system but in reality, it is such a small sample size that it is bound to look different and slightly confusing.

However, Ohio State is the No. 16 team in the country and they will host the unranked Orange on Wednesday. These two teams have done a swap of rankings since the season started. Syracuse was ranked No. 16 in the preseason rankings but fell out after losses to UConn and Oregon in the 2k Empire Classic. Ohio State started unranked but after a 6-0 start with wins over Cincinnati and Creighton they have shot into the rankings and already moved themselves to No. 16.

The Buckeyes have been led by Sophomore Kaleb Wesson, who is leading the team in points per game (14.7), rebounds per game (5.8) and field goal shooting (.569). They have also seen great production from transfer Keyshawn Woods and Freshman Luther Muhammad. These two guys have stepped up as secondary ball handlers to point guard CJ Jackson and have done a tremendous job preventing turnovers on offense.

Syracuse is led by the dynamic duo of Tyus Battle and Oshae Brissett. Battle is averaging 17.6 points per game and 2.2 assists per game while Brissett is averaging 14.8 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game.

If the Orange want to go in and defeat the Buckeyes, they will need more help from the role players and in particular, Jalen Carey who is only averaging 9.4 points per game on 25 minutes per game. They need to get Carey and Paschal Chukwu more touches and opportunities to score.

Next. 2018 ACC/Big Ten Challenge preview. dark

This game is sure to be a fun one if you like defensive battles as these two teams have been juggernauts on the defensive side of the ball throughout the season thus far. The Buckeyes are giving up just 58.3 points per game and the Orange are giving up only 64.6 points per game. Ohio State has also shot the ball at an impressive 50.3 percent from the field and average 15.3 assists per game. Syracuse is averaging 4 blocks per game and 9.8 steals per game

Prediction: Ohio State 72, Syracuse 66

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