NCAA Basketball: 2019 Legends Classic preview and predictions
Predictions
Semifinals
Wisconsin vs. Richmond
The high-flying offense of Richmond meets the defensive lockdown of the Wisconsin Badgers. Wisconsin went to overtime against Saint Mary’s and still held them under 70. The Badgers even held the high-scoring offense of Marquette led by Markus Howard to 61. Richmond scored more than 85 in every game so far. They are led by three guards who can shoot the lights out.
No one on Wisconsin is going to fill up the box score like those three Spiders, but they go pretty deep in rotation. The Badgers can throw four to five guards at you while the three big-men can guard many different positions. Richmond will try and speed the game up, but Wisconsin should be able to control the tempo in the first game of the Legends Classic.
Prediction: Wisconsin 78, Richmond 65
Auburn vs. New Mexico
On any given night, New Mexico should worry you. They did lose to UTEP, but the Miners are a good team. The Lobos talent can click all of a sudden and come together for a nice win. This is going to be a high-scoring affair. The Lobos defense has not been that great and Auburn has point-getters. Both teams have some really good guards. The matchups of J’Von McCormick vs. JJ Caldwell and JaQuan Lyle vs. Samir Doughty are going to be fun to watch. Austin Wiley for Auburn and Carlton Bragg for New Mexico are key players in the frontcourt.
Auburn has a slightly deeper bench and New Mexico might have a problem finding an answer to Anfernee McLemore. He’s a six-foot-seven forward coming off the bench that can get rebounds and block shots. If there’s an x-factor to watch for, McLemore is that guy.
Prediction: Auburn 82, New Mexico 71
Consolation Game
New Mexico vs. Richmond
First to 100 wins? If you want to see a high-scoring game between mid-majors, this would be your match up. The scoring size of New Mexico is going to be a problem for Richmond. Most of the Spiders’ scoring comes from their three dominant guards. You know Lyle should add in his typical 20 points. But Makuach Maluach is going to have to come to play to respond to the three-headed monster for Richmond. No one for the Spiders can match what Lyle is capable of doing in contributing in every little way. Richmond will need to let it ride against New Mexico because their frontcourt isn’t going to match up with Bragg and Corey Manigault.
Prediction: New Mexico 88, Richmond 81
Championship Game
Wisconsin vs. Auburn
The ball is going to be flying in this game. Auburn has a lot more three-pointers than Wisconsin, but the Badgers take a lot from long distance. They do it differently though. Auburn is more of a higher paced team that is going to knock them down in transition. Wisconsin works it around the arc, setting nice screens and taking open shots. They didn’t start falling consistently for the Badgers until the Marquette game.
These two teams actually match up pretty well. Austin Wiley and Nate Reuvers are similar in size. Wiley is more stout and a better rebounder, but Reuvers can block shots and hit the occasional three. Doughty and McCormick going up against Davison and Trice will be fun. Isaac Okoro could be a difference-maker for Auburn. He’s a very athletic wing and all Wisconsin really has to throw at him are Aleem Ford and freshman Tyler Wahl.
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Wisconsin doesn’t start a second wing like Auburn does with Daniel Purifoy who actually leads the Tigers in three-point shooting. Size on the perimeter may be the reason why Auburn wins the Legends Classic.
Prediction: Auburn 71, Wisconsin 65