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Big Ten Basketball: Takeaways from 2019 ACC/Big Ten Challenge pairings

By Adam Childs

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after his teams 68-67 loss to the Michigan State Spartans in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after his teams 68-67 loss to the Michigan State Spartans in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – MARCH 30: Carsen Edwards #3 of the Purdue Boilermakers drives to the basket against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at KFC YUM! Center on March 30, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – MARCH 30: Carsen Edwards #3 of the Purdue Boilermakers drives to the basket against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at KFC YUM! Center on March 30, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

2. Purdue looks for revenge

The last time we saw the Boilermakers they were suffering a crushing defeat to eventual national champion Virginia. Purdue led by two when Ty Jerome missed a free throw on purpose, Kihei Clark ran it down found Mamadi Diakite for a game-tying jump shot as time expired. Carsen Edwards tried to keep Purdue alive in OT but the Cavaliers were just too much and although he scored 42 points the Boilermakers went home.

Edwards left for the pros but the rest of Purdue will be looking for revenge when Virginia comes to West Lafayette. The Boilermakers will have to look to replace their top scorer and the shooting of graduating senior Ryan Cline, but they return some promising pieces in Nojel Eastern and Matt Haarms. They should help keep Purdue near the top of the Big Ten.

Virginia will look a lot different as Diakite along with De’Andre Hunter, Ty Jerome and Kyle Guy all left for the NBA draft. Even with those losses, Tony Bennett should be able to keep the Cavaliers in the top ten. WIth the way Virginia plays defense, it will keep them in any game.

The Boilermakers play much better at home and will hope the Mackey faithful can bring the homecourt advantage to them. It what is a rematch of one of the toughest losses in recent memory for the Boilermakers they can use any advantage they can take.

This game may look a lot different from their fantastic Elite Eight game, but still should be a great game. It may turn into a heavyweight fight more fit for March and fans should be thankful for a game like this in December.

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