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NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 14 matchups for 2021 ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Jan 19, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski (middle) talks to the Blue Devils during a time-out against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second half at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski (middle) talks to the Blue Devils during a time-out against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second half at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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NCAA Basketball ACC Big Ten Keve Aluma Virginia Tech Hokies (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
NCAA Basketball ACC Big Ten Keve Aluma Virginia Tech Hokies (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

6. Virginia Tech at Maryland

This is a nice regional battle between two programs that typically fight for the same local prospects from the DMV area. Virginia Tech is looking to prove that last year wasn’t a fluke, boosted by star forward Keve Aluma coming back. Maryland is hoping Aaron Wiggins does the same but that has yet to be decided.

The Hokies roster is fairly similar to last season, helped by the addition of Wofford scoring transfer Storm Murphy. The Terrapins also landed some impact transfers in point guard Fatts Russell and center Qudus Wahab. It’ll take some time for things to mesh at College Park but they have one of the best home-court environments in the country. And if Wiggins comes back, they’ll have enough talent to overcome Virginia Tech.

Prediction: Maryland

5. Indiana at Syracuse

It’s a battle of a new college head coach in Mike Woodson (Indiana) versus a Hall of Famer who may be at the end of his ropes in Jim Boeheim (Syracuse). The leader of the Orange will have backup, as Cornell transfer Jimmy Boeheim joins the other son and leading scorer Buddy. Point guard Joe Girard is looking to bounce back, while top-50 forward Benny Williams and Jesse Edwards lead the frontcourt.

But the undisputed best player here is Trayce Jackson-Davis, an All-Big Ten forward that averaged 19.1 ppg and 9.0 rpg. Five-star freshman guard Tamar Bates joins Pittsburgh transfer Xavier Johnson in the Hoosiers revamped backcourt, while transfers Miller Kopp and Michael Durr add even more depth. It’s hard to see how Syracuse on paper defends Jackson-Davis inside and that should be the difference in a high-scoring game.

Prediction: Indiana