NCAA Basketball: 2021 Diamond Head Classic preview and predictions

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 8: Trevin Knell #21 of the BYU Cougars shoots a three-pointer over RJ Eytle-Rock #5 of the Utah State Aggies during the first half December 8, 2021 at the J. Willard Marriott Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) /

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Scotty Pippen Jr. Vanderbilt Commodores NCAA Basketball (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Day 1 predictions

Liberty vs Northern Iowa – 3:00 PM ET

This game will feature a high-level guard matchup between Liberty’s Darius McGhee (18.8 PPG) and Northern Iowa’s AJ Green (17.4 PPG). Both players rank nationally in 3-point rate as well as usage rating.

Liberty will likely dictate a slower tempo and is the better all-around shooting team. Defensively, they rank No. 2 nationally in opponent 2P%, effectively locking down the paint.

On paper, this matchup is incredibly even, but UNI is 2-5 for a reason. I lean towards Liberty in a close, low-scoring game.

The Pick: Liberty

Stanford vs Wyoming – 5:00 PM ET

Both Stanford and Wyoming rank in the top 10 nationally in average height, meaning that this should be a hard-fought, physical battle. Stanford plays a 12-man rotation while Wyoming typically does not go past seven players. Stanford is the better defensive team, but Wyoming will have the two best players in the game in Graham Ike (19.6 PPG, 8.5 RPG) and Hunter Maldonado (16.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 5.2 APG).

I lean towards the Cowboys to continue to flex their muscles offensively and pull off a close upset to move to 10-1.

The Pick: Wyoming

BYU vs South Florida – 9:30 PM ET

This is a matchup of the tournament favorite against the worst team in the field. South Florida is abysmal offensively while BYU—led by senior G Alex Barcello (19.4 PPG)—can score with almost any team in the nation.

The Bulls will try to slow this game down which could lead to a deceptively close final score, but BYU should win this game easily and move on to the second round.

The Pick: BYU

Hawaii vs Vanderbilt – 12:00 AM ET

Vanderbilt should win this game on paper, but they also should have beaten Temple, VCU, and maybe even SMU on paper. Neither of these teams can shoot the three so prepare for a potentially ugly midnight matchup.

Hawaii is more than capable of keeping this game close, but I lean towards Vandy largely because they will have the best player on the court in Scotty Pippen Jr. (17.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG).

The Pick: Vanderbilt

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