NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 14 matchups for 2021 ACC/Big Ten Challenge
4. Louisville at Michigan State
After a bad season by their lofty standards, Michigan State is hoping that Northeastern transfer Tyson Walker is the answer at the point guard position. Aaron Henry is gone and he was their lone double-digit scorer. Joey Hauser and Mady Sissoko look to break out in the frontcourt, while the guards from the top-10 recruiting class (Jaden Akins, Max Christie, and Pierre Brooks) adds depth and hopefully shooting on the perimeter.
Louisville has its own revamped backcourt with top JUCO newcomer El Ellis, Florida transfer guard Noah Locke and former Marshall point guard Jarrod West set to get major minutes. Miami transfer forward Matt Cross, Samuell Williamson, and a healthy Malik Williams gives them an advantageous frontcourt. The question that will decide this game is simply which backcourt is better. There may be too much pressure on Walker to excel, while the Cardinals have more options to work with.
Prediction: Louisville
3. Florida State at Purdue
There may not be a “bigger” matchup in NCAA Basketball next season, as Purdue’s 7’3 center Zach Edey and star big man Trevion Williams will go up against the gluttony big men the Florida State Seminoles have. That includes 7’1 Tanor Ngom, 6’11 Quincy Ballard, 7’2 Naheem McLeod, and top-60 freshman recruit, and 6’10 forward John Butler Jr. The Seminoles also has five-star freshman guard Matthew Cleveland, along with Houston transfer Caleb Mills.
Purdue’s best player may actually be on the perimeter, as Jaden Ivey has been pegged as a potential All-American if things go right. Both are efficient on offense but lets their defense do the talking. And with so much frontcourt depth on both sides, this one may get ugly in terms of styles. Still, this is a likely top-15 matchup when they play and whichever guards can score that night will probably get the win.