Big Ten Basketball: Top non-conference matchups for 2019-20 season
By Erik Mauro
Another college basketball season is almost upon us, and like always, there are some great non-conference games. Which matchups stand out for Big Ten Basketball teams?
There were obviously many games that we could pick for this list, but for time’s sake, I only picked some of the top-tier ones within Big Ten Basketball to review. Let’s get started with the best one right off the tip. (I’m sorry.)
Michigan State vs Duke
The obvious game is one that we have seen a handful of times over the past few seasons. Most recently in the 2019 NCAA Tournament when the Spartans squeaked by the Blue Devils’ super team in the Elite 8. This is the first time the Spartans have hosted Duke in East Lansing in 16 years.
The Spartans return do everything guard in Cassius Winston, along with Kyle Ahrens, Xavier Tillman and Aaron Henry from last season’s team. They are still awaiting the decision on star Marquette transfer Joey Hauser. He split from his brother Sam who transferred to Virginia. Both brothers were rumored to be headed to Wisconsin before their decisions.
As for the Blue Devils, it’s not rebuilding, it’s reloading. Zion Williamson went first overall in the NBA Draft, RJ Barrett went third overall, and Cam Reddish went 10th overall. The fourth member of the Devils’ Big Four returns for his sophomore season, point guard Tre Jones.
Wendell Moore, top 10 recruit Vernon Carey, and Cassius Stanley will come in and take the places of the three that left. Matthew Hurt, a top 15 overall prospect in the 2019 class joins Duke for what’s likely his only season.
In a game between two blue bloods, this is a classic example of experience vs rookies. We will see what these Duke freshmen are made of when they go into a hostile environment right away.