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

By Adam Childs | Jun 7, 2019

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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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 31: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates after his teams 68-67 win over the Duke Blue Devils 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) /

1. Michigan State will be favorite against Duke

A trip to the Final Four was on the line and the Duke Blue Devils looked destined to make to Minneapolis and win a National Title. They had Zion Williamson, RJ Barret, and Cam Reddish. They were the best team in college basketball right? Well, the Spartans from Michigan State had other plans. Led by Big Ten POY Cassius Winston the Spartans took down the Blue Devils and made their way to the Final Four.

Luckily for the fans of the Big Ten and the ACC, we get to see a rematch in East Lansing. The difference this year is that Michigan State will more than likely be the favorite. They could very well be the number one team in the country. The Spartans return a big part of their Final Four team from last year including Winston. They did lose Nick Ward to the NBA draft and Matt McQuaid graduated, but they return everyone else that played big minutes for the Spartans.

They are the favorite to be the number one team to start the year and there is no reason to believe they won’t live up to those expectations. The Blue Devils will be in a great team, but they will be breaking in a lot of new players and the Breslin Center can be difficult for any road team to play in.

Duke is 18-2 in challenge history but only seven of those games are true road games. This seems to be finally a time when Duke won’t be favored to win and play a real road game. Can the Spartans take advantage of that and not let Duke return the favor to them from last years NCAA Elite Eight game?

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This is the top game of the challenge and will undoubtedly feature two of the favorites to win the whole thing next year barring any injuries.

The Spartans may be the favorite but Duke will absolutely be able to win the game. Either way, sign us up for this game.

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