It is an ACC Tuesday with six games being played as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, along with an additional match-up between Georgia Tech and Wofford taking place outside of the annual tip-off event. #2 Maryland faces off against #9 North Carolina in the highlight of the night at 9:30, but there are plenty of other intriguing match-ups to be played beforehand. Here’s the preview.
Michigan (4-2) Vs. NC State (4-2), 7:00 PM ET on ESPN2
Game Notes
- Caris LeVert has been stellar for Michigan thus far in his senior season. He is averaging 18.5 points per game on nearly 54% shooting to start the season for the Wolverines.
- NC State lives and dies with guard Anthony “Cat” Barber. Barber has scored 20 or more points on three separate occasions already, including a 37-point effort against Winthrop last week. He is averaging 21.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.7 assists this season.
Prediction
NC State, unsurprisingly, relies extremely heavily on Cat Barber to do a little bit of everything for them on both ends of the floor. While this works on most nights due to a mostly-adequate supporting cast, I don’t believe that this is a recipe to success in the ACC long-term. Michigan meanwhile, has a much deeper and more balanced scoring attack in contrast, which is a big reason why I give them the edge in the game tonight. That is, unless the defense lets Cat Barber go for 40.
Michigan 65 NC State 59
Northwestern (5-1) Vs. Virginia Tech (4-2), 7:00 PM ET on ESPNU
Game Notes
- Northwestern does an outstanding job of sharing the basketball. The Wildcats enter play averaging 17.5 assists per game as a team, which ranks them in the top 30 in college basketball.
- Junior forward Zach LeDay has been a revelation for the Hokies this season. The transfer from South Florida has emerged as one of the key playmakers for Virginia Tech, averaging 19 points and nearly 11 rebounds per game this season.
Prediction
This game is essentially a pick ’em, with Northwestern entering the game tonight as a one-point favorite. Virginia Tech has done a great job this season acclimating their young guys into Buzz Williams’ system, and the second year coach is looking for a signature win over an up-and-coming program at Northwestern. The Wildcats have a balanced scoring attack as seven players average at least five points or more, with Bryant McIntosh leading the way at 17.3 points per game. It will go back and forth tonight, but I think this is a game that Northwestern will win narrowly on the road because of the veteran experience that they have over the Hokies, who have players who are still figuring out the right way to play at the collegiate level. They aren’t quite there yet, but even in a loss will take another small step in their maturation as a team.
Northwestern 70 Virginia Tech 65
Wofford (2-3) Vs. Georgia Tech (4-2), 7:00 PM ET on ESPN3.com
Game Notes
- Why is Wofford 2-3? A big reason why is the deficiency on the boards. The Terriers are 341st in the country in rebounding, averaging only 30.2 per game as a team.
- Georgia Tech, meanwhile, is in the top 15 nationally in rebounding as they average 45 rebounds per game this season en route to their 4-2 start.
Predictions
The rebounding statistic is essentially all that you need to know about the game this evening. If Wofford is able to find a way to close the rebounding gap, they’ll be alright. If they don’t, they’ll get blown out of the arena. I anticipate the latter in the perhaps the easiest prediction of the slate on Tuesday night.
Georgia Tech 84 Wofford 56
#10 Virginia (5-1) Vs. Ohio State (2-3), 7:30 PM ET on ESPN
Game Notes
- Virginia will be without the calming presence of point guard London Perrantes. Perrantes underwent an appendectomy on Sunday, the second such player at Virginia to undergo that procedure in the last nine months (Justin Anderson). Perrantes is averaging 10 points and 5.3 assists per game this season for the Cavaliers.
- Ohio State is led by junior forward Marc Loving, who is averaging 16.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game this season. He will be relied upon heavily in this one as the young Buckeyes try to navigate the Virginia “Pack-Line” defense.
Predictions
Without London Perrantes in this game, I believe that Ohio State has a much better chance to pull off a home upset than before. Yes, the Buckeyes are rebuilding this season, but Thad Matta is an excellent coach who always seems to get the most out of his teams, even when they are not expected to be at the top of the rankings in college basketball. This game tonight is a game of pace, and Ohio State has an opportunity to control the tempo much better than they would if London Perrantes were to play for the Cavaliers. With that being said, Virginia will not forget how to play defense, especially on the interior. Ohio State’s leading scorer is a post player, which is where the strength of the Cavaliers defense arguably resides, and I’m not sure the Buckeyes will ever get untracked and score enough points to keep up with an improved Virginia attack. I’ll take the ‘Hoos, but it will be closer than originally anticipated.
Virginia 77 Ohio State 71
#11 Purdue (6-0) Vs. Pittsburgh (4-0), 9:00 PM ET on ESPN2
Game Notes
- Pittsburgh enters play in their biggest game of the season ranked second in the country in assists as a team at 22.5 per game, while unsurprisingly boasting a top 15 offense to boot, at 89.3 points per game.
- Have the Panthers met their match? Purdue’s defense is one of the best in the nation, as they only allow 57.3 points per game which is the sixth-best mark in college basketball.
Predictions
Pittsburgh is an extremely tough team to beat at home, having not lost a non-conference game on their campus since the 2011 season. Point guard James Robinson has been spectacular this season at getting the offense into a rhythm and finding the open man. The guy on the other end of a good portion of his assists is forward Michael Young. Young is averaging 18.0 points per game this season, which leads the team. While Purdue has an adequate offense to go with their stout defense, it will be difficult for them to overcome the loss of their second-leading scorer Raphael Davis, who has been ruled out of the match-up with a sprained knee. Davis is averaging 11.6 points per game this season. Because of this key loss, I believe that Pittsburgh will be able to hang tough and knock off the Boilermakers in what should be one of the more interesting games of the evening.
Pittsburgh 84 Purdue 73
#21 Miami (FL) (5-1) Vs. Nebraska (5-2), 9:00 PM ET on ESPNU
Game Notes
- Miami has two signature wins already against Utah and Butler, who were ranked #16 and #22 respectively, but then followed the triumphs up with a questionable loss to Northeastern, where they allowed the Huskies to shoot 55% from beyond the arc.
- This is another game that will pit a very good offense (Miami, 89.3 ppg. 12th nationally) against an above average defense (Nebraska, 63.3 points against per game, 33rd in the country).
Prediction
After watching Miami for the better part of their first five games, they are without question a team that will be extremely dangerous should they stay consistent. The mix of veteran talent, inside and out, as well as young players performing in a supporting role should give Miami an edge over most teams they play, save a North Carolina, Duke, or Virginia in ACC play. If this is the same team that beat two top 25 foes already, and not the team that struggled against Northeastern, I think they will out-class Nebraska in the game tonight. If you can’t tell, I’m high on the Hurricanes.
Miami (FL) 79 Nebraska 62
#2 Maryland (6-0) Vs. #9 North Carolina (5-1), 9:30 PM ET on ESPN
Game Notes
- Senior point guard Marcus Paige is expected to make his return for North Carolina. This will be his first game since fracturing his hand in the pre-season. He led the Tar Heels in points and assists the last two seasons.
- Maryland will need every bit of their top 30 scoring defense this evening, which starts with star guard Melo Trimble. Trimble is averaging 1.5 steals per game and sets the tone with his pressure defense for Mark Turgeon’s squad.
Prediction
This is the game of the night, and they are saving the best for last with a 9:30 tip. Marcus Paige is the storyline in this game, as his return undoubtedly makes the Tar Heels a much better team. What kind of shape is he in and how healthy is his hand? Those will be the two main questions that should be answered early, as his first game of the year will be against one of the premier guards in the country in Maryland’s Melo Trimble, who will not give an inch in this match-up. Carolina’s overall size in the paint could end up being the difference in the game tonight, with Kennedy Meeks being the X-Factor in mind. Meeks has been stellar averaging 14.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, and who does Maryland have to stop him? I like the Tar Heels to pull away late, but Maryland’s Mark Turgeon will have his squad ready to go in the Dean Dome.
North Carolina 87 Maryland 79
Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @MikeMcDanielACC and check out InsideTheACC on Facebook and on Twitter @InsideTheACC.