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Your #18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish men’s basketball squad is taking on the Indiana Hoosiers in the second game of the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis tomorrow afternoon at ~2:30 PM ET.
Check out what our basketball staff thinks will happen, as well as our picks for a number of other games on a very solid December basketball Saturday!
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Jeff Czerniakowski, Staff Writer (5-1 ND Games) (21-8 Bonus Picks)
Indiana Hoosiers vs. #18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish — #18 Notre Dame
“It’s time Notre Dame gets some revenge on Indiana for some tough losses in the past few years. Indiana is down this year and just doesn’t have enough talent to win consistently. This is a game where leaning on Bonzie Colson could be the difference. ”
BONUS PICKS
Butler Bulldogs vs. #17 Purdue Boilermakers - #17 Purdue Boilermakers
Syracuse Orange @ Georgetown Hoyas - Syracuse Orange
Virginia Tech Hokies @ #8 Kentucky Wildcats - #8 Kentucky Wildcats
#25 Cincinnati Bearcats @ UCLA Bruins - #25 Cincinnati Bearcats
Oklahoma Sooners @ #3 Wichita State Shockers - Oklahoma Sooners
#13 Kansas Jayhawks @ Nebraska Cornhuskers - #13 Kansas Jayhawks
Ryan Kelley, Staff Writer (5-1 ND Games) (17-12 Bonus Picks)
Indiana Hoosiers vs. No. 18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish — No. 18 Notre Dame
“As long as the Irish are clicking offensively, Indiana won’t have enough to keep up. The Hoosiers shoot just 32.3 percent from deep and 65.5 percent from the free throw line. Indiana did play very well against Duke a few weeks ago though, so they will definitely be excited to get another crack at the ACC. I’ve got the Irish in a very entertaining ball game.”
BONUS PICKS
Butler Bulldogs vs. #17 Purdue Boilermakers - #17 Purdue Boilermakers
Syracuse Orange @ Georgetown Hoyas - Syracuse Orange
Virginia Tech Hokies @ #8 Kentucky Wildcats - Virginia Tech Hokies
#25 Cincinnati Bearcats @ UCLA Bruins - #25 Cincinnati Bearcats
Oklahoma Sooners @ #3 Wichita State Shockers - #3 Wichita State Shockers
#13 Kansas Jayhawks @ Nebraska Cornhuskers - #13 Kansas Jayhawks
Austin Gallagher, Staff Writer (4-2 ND Games) (19-10 Bonus Picks)
Indiana Hoosiers vs. No. 18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish — No. 18 Notre Dame
“It's been a bit of a rocky start for the Irish, and up next is an Indiana team that will undoubtedly present a challenge. However, the superior coaching and shooting prowess should tilt this game in Notre Dame's favor. The Hoosiers are no joke - an 8-2 record is definitely respectable - but the Irish will grab a double digit win against a prime in-state opponent.”
BONUS PICKS
Butler Bulldogs vs. #17 Purdue Boilermakers - #17 Purdue Boilermakers
Syracuse Orange @ Georgetown Hoyas - Georgetown Hoyas
Virginia Tech Hokies @ #8 Kentucky Wildcats - #8 Kentucky Wildcats
#25 Cincinnati Bearcats @ UCLA Bruins - #25 Cincinnati Bearcats
Oklahoma Sooners @ #3 Wichita State Shockers - #3 Wichita State Shockers
#13 Kansas Jayhawks @ Nebraska Cornhuskers - #13 Kansas Jayhawks
Ryan Chichester, Staff Writer (5-1 ND Games) (15-14 Bonus Picks)
Indiana Hoosiers vs. No. 18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish — No. 18 Notre Dame
“The Irish can score at a high rate and the Hoosiers cannot, to put it as simply as possible. I still see it being a somewhat competitive game, but the Irish rode their hot shooting to a double digit win.”
BONUS PICKS
Butler Bulldogs vs. #17 Purdue Boilermakers - #17 Purdue Boilermakers
Syracuse Orange @ Georgetown Hoyas - Syracuse Orange
Virginia Tech Hokies @ #8 Kentucky Wildcats - #8 Kentucky Wildcats
#25 Cincinnati Bearcats @ UCLA Bruins - #25 Cincinnati Bearcats
Oklahoma Sooners @ #3 Wichita State Shockers - #3 Wichita State Shockers
#13 Kansas Jayhawks @ Nebraska Cornhuskers - #13 Kansas Jayhawks
Brad Wechter, Editor (5-1 ND Games) (16-13 Bonus Picks)
Indiana Hoosiers vs. No. 18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish — No. 18 Notre Dame
“I love Archie Miller and I think he will do great things at Indiana. As much as that pains me to say. But it isn't going to happen over night, and I think the Irish will be focused following the long break.”
BONUS PICKS
Butler Bulldogs vs. #17 Purdue Boilermakers - #17 Purdue Boilermakers
Syracuse Orange @ Georgetown Hoyas - Georgetown Hoyas
Virginia Tech Hokies @ #8 Kentucky Wildcats - #8 Kentucky Wildcats
#25 Cincinnati Bearcats @ UCLA Bruins - #25 Cincinnati Bearcats
Oklahoma Sooners @ #3 Wichita State Shockers - #3 Wichita State Shockers
#13 Kansas Jayhawks @ Nebraska Cornhuskers - #13 Kansas Jayhawks
Bobby Norell, Editor (5-1 ND Games) (17-12 Bonus Picks)
Indiana Hoosiers vs. No. 18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish — No. 18 Notre Dame
“As they are currently constructed, IU just doesn't have the scorers or shooters to win this game, especially if the Irish are hitting shots. I've watch a fair amount of the Hoosiers this season, they just don't have an elite scorer. They played good games against Duke and Louisville, but they just didn't make enough shots to put them over the top. I see this game going pretty similar. IU will give the Irish a good fight, but the lack of a scorer hurts them in the end. Too much Bonzie Colson and Matt Farrell. Irish pull away late in the second half.”
BONUS PICKS
Butler Bulldogs vs. #17 Purdue Boilermakers - Butler Bulldogs
Syracuse Orange @ Georgetown Hoyas - Syracuse Orange
Virginia Tech Hokies @ #8 Kentucky Wildcats - Virginia Tech Hokies
#25 Cincinnati Bearcats @ UCLA Bruins - #25 Cincinnati Bearcats
Oklahoma Sooners @ #3 Wichita State Shockers - #3 Wichita State Shockers
#13 Kansas Jayhawks @ Nebraska Cornhuskers - #13 Kansas Jayhawks
Pat Rick, Editor (5-1 ND Games) (18-11 Bonus Picks)
Indiana Hoosiers vs. No. 18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish — No. 18 Notre Dame
“I think this will be a close game, considering ND’s Crossroads Classic games usually are, and IU will have a de facto home crowd with the game being in Indy. However, I don’t think IU has the firepower to keep up with this Notre Dame team, nor do I think they have enough talent and length down low to slow down BONZIE. Between him, Matt Farrell’s shooting, and TJ Gibbs appearing to have his game back on track, I think the Irish win this one late and clinch it with free throws. Also, Martinas Geben will get a dunk in this one.”
BONUS PICKS
Butler Bulldogs vs. #17 Purdue Boilermakers - #17 Purdue Boilermakers
Syracuse Orange @ Georgetown Hoyas - Syracuse Orange
Virginia Tech Hokies @ #8 Kentucky Wildcats - #8 Kentucky Wildcats
#25 Cincinnati Bearcats @ UCLA Bruins - UCLA Bruins
Oklahoma Sooners @ #3 Wichita State Shockers - #3 Wichita State Shockers
#13 Kansas Jayhawks @ Nebraska Cornhuskers - #13 Kansas Jayhawks
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Disagree with our picks??? Let us know in the comments. #EmbraceDebate