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NCAA Basketball: Ranking the 14 matchups for 2022 ACC/Big Ten Challenge

By Tristan Freeman

Nov 27, 2012; Winston Salem, NC, USA A general view of the ACC Big Ten challenge logo on the floor prior to the game between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2012; Winston Salem, NC, USA A general view of the ACC Big Ten challenge logo on the floor prior to the game between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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NCAA Basketball Tyson Walker Michigan State Spartans (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
NCAA Basketball Tyson Walker Michigan State Spartans (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

6. Rutgers at Miami

It’s going to be the battle of guards in this game, as Miami returns a key piece of its Elite 8 run, Isaiah Wong for this season. And joining him is 15 ppg scoring transfer Nijel Pack from Kansas State, creating one of the best backcourt duos in the country. But the Scarlet Knights return a pair of playmakers as well in Paul Mulcahy and Caleb McConnell.

Each team also has a key incoming transfer in Norchad Omier (Miami) and Cam Spencer (Rutgers). If things go right, both teams have a case to make for the NCAA Tournament and that alone makes this a very interesting game. How the transfers for the Hurricanes operate against the big roles the Knights lead guys now have; how it works out will determine the outcome of this game and their respective seasons.

5. Michigan State at Notre Dame

This will certainly be one of the oldest matchups of rosters in NCAA Basketball, as Notre Dame returns several 5th-year seniors and Michigan State has a mostly upperclassmen group as well. There may not be a ton of starpower though, with leading scorers Blake Wesley and Gabe Brown now gone.

Key incoming freshmen JJ Starling (Notre Dame) and Jaxon Kohler (Michigan State) will have sizeable roles but it’ll come down to how good the veterans such as Tyson Walker and Nate Laszewski play to determine the team’s respective ceiling. The programs alone make this a good game to watch and there will be some stakes to it as well. But compared to previous years, a Michigan State vs Notre Dame won’t have as much allure in 2022.

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