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

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

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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ACC/Big Ten Challenge Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Purdue at Florida State

Last season, Purdue dominated the Seminoles by 28 points so expect the ACC to look for some revenge. And with Jaden Ivey gone, the Boilermakers’ backcourt looks very vulnerable compared to one with Caleb Mills and Matthew Cleveland for FSU. That being said, Purdue still has Zach Edey, set to be one of the best centers in NCAA Basketball next season and the Seminoles don’t have an individual answer for him.

This game definitely will have NCAA Tournament implications, as well as an opportunity for revenge. It could be a slower-paced game compared to others but we thought last year’s matchup would be the same. Instead, it had one of the wildest outcomes of the season.

3. Virginia at Michigan

Virginia returns everyone from last season’s main rotation, including Jayden Gardner and Kihei Clark. How much better they’ll be next season remains to be seen but it’s hard to expect a Tony Bennett-led program to miss the Big Dance for back-to-back seasons. They take on a team in Michigan that needed a second-half rebound to avoid the same fate and lost multiple key players this offseason, including Caleb Houstan and Moussa Diabate.

All-American center Hunter Dickinson is back for the Wolverines, automatically making them a contender in the Big Ten. How Coach Bennett works to defend him will determine the outcome of this game and the winner of this matchup should have a nice resume-builder. And both of them could very well need it.

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