Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: 4 under-the-radar games on opening night of 2020-21

By Jason Burgess

JACKSONVILLE, FL - MARCH 20: The NCAA March Madness logo on the floor during the NCAA Basketball First round practice session at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on March 20, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - MARCH 20: The NCAA March Madness logo on the floor during the NCAA Basketball First round practice session at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on March 20, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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NCAA Basketball Isaiah Miller Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /

UNC-Greensboro Spartans vs. Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans

In an old-school Bracket Buster matchup, two of the strongest mid-majors in the country will do battle in Louisville as a part of the Wade Houston Tip-Off Classic when the UNC-Greensboro Spartans take on the Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans. Last season the two teams combined to go 44-19, the Trojans took home the Sun Belt regular-season title and the Spartans finished 3rd in the competitive Southern Conference with a 13-5 league mark.

Both teams return stars on the mid-major level to lead their teams, first Wes Miller’s Spartans return the reigning SoCon Player of the Year in senior guard Isaiah Miller. All the 6’0 senior did as a junior was average 17.8 points, five rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.8 steals, which was 1st on the team in all categories except rebounds.

Also returning is Miller’s backcourt mate Kaleb Hunter who was 2nd on the team in scoring last season. Sophomore Keyshaun Langley is a guy who could take a big step forward in his second season and Central Arkansas transfer Hayden Koval should make an impact in the middle at 7’1, the big man averaged 11.1 points and grabbed over six rebounds per game last season.

Little Rock brings back one of the most productive duos in the Sun Belt with guard Markquis Nowell and forward Ruot Monyyong, the two combined for 29 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game. But Little Rock is far from a two-man team, Ben Coupet, Jr. is another double-digit scorer who is returning, and forward Nikola Maric joins Monyyong in the frontcourt averaging 8.4 points and 4.8 rebounds after joining the team in the second half of the year.

Another key returner could be redshirt-junior Kris Bankston whose season was cut short after just three games due to injury, but in that time, he netted 9.7 points and 3.3 rebounds.

With the viability of a non-conference schedule changing daily, this would be a big win for either team to have under their belt before conference play. This should be an entertaining game between two teams with aspirations of playing in the NCAA Tournament.

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