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Big Ten Basketball: Top non-conference matchups for 2019-20 season

By Erik Mauro

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 20: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans looks on during a game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 20: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans looks on during a game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Ohio State vs. Villanova and North Carolina

The Ohio State Buckeyes come up twice. First, they host the Villanova Wildcats in Columbus on November 13. The Wildcats have won two of the last four National Championships, and five of the last six Big East Championships.

Big East all-freshman member Saddiq Bey returns, and the Cats add highly touted freshmen Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Bryan Antonie. He was ranked as the 17th best prospect in the nation according to 247Sports, and Earl was ranked as the 16th best according to 247. The Cats should be a National Championship contender once again.

The Buckeyes have no shortage of talent on their side. Guards Luther Muhammad and Duane Washington return after decent freshmen campaigns and will be counted on for expanded roles. Andre Wesson returns for his senior season as well.

The recruiting class is headlined by guards DJ Carton and EJ Liddell. They were able to swoop Carton out of Iowa and Liddell out of Illinois, fellow Big Ten states. Alonzo Gaffney is another freshman who will add some size underneath. All three were top 50 recruits this past class. With the coaching of Chris Holtmann, don’t sleep on these guys as Big Ten contenders.

The game between the Buckeyes and Wildcats is a good measuring stick for either side to see how both teams stack up against better competition.

The Buckeyes head to North Carolina in early December to take on the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill. The Heels, much like their rivals, the Blue Devils, simply just reload every year. This year’s roster is headlined by two five-star freshmen, guard Cole Anthony and center Armando Bacot.

Grad transfer Christian Keeling also joins the Heels from Charleston Southern and shot 38 percent from downtown. If this year is like other Carolina teams, they will score a bunch, and the roster certainly has the pieces for that.

The Buckeyes will be tested early and often this season. We should know a fair amount about this team once Big Ten play starts.

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