The 10th annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge has now ended with the ACC winning the series for the tenth straight year. Despite a few of the scores, there were some close matchups and the Big Ten had a pretty good showing. They've closed the gap a bit by only losing six games to five.But what did we learn from the 2008 version of the Challenge?
ACC's Best Is Better: Well, we did learn that the ACC's best is a great deal better than the Big Ten's best. North Carolina went up to Michigan State (well, Ford Field in Detroit) and destroyed the Spartans by 35 points. That came a night after Duke went to Purdue and beat the Boilermakers by 16. These are the two best teams in their respective conferences and all have Final Four aspirations. Yet the ACC went into Big Ten country and flexed their muscle.
Add into the fact that Wake Forest predictably hammered Indiana and the ACC's top three teams came up roses.
Big Ten's Bottom Half Is Better: One of the reasons the ACC has dominated the Challenge is because their bottom teams are better that the cellar dwellers of the Big Ten. That wasn't true this year. Northwestern handled Florida State pretty well; Penn State went to Atlanta and beat Georgia Tech; Minnesota did in Virginia. I'm not sure if it is because the Big Ten is deeper this year or the ACC has some stinkers. I'm thinking the latter.
Middle Is a Mixed Bag: We didn't learn much from those teams stuck in the middle but it looks like the ACC is a bit better. Clemson went into Illinois and beat the Illini ... just as Maryland topped Michigan. Both showed that they could be teams to reckon with in ACC play and could have NCAA tournament dreams. The Big Ten did get a big win with Wisconsin's buzzer beater at Virginia Tech.
Miami Needs Jack McClinton: If there was one scary sign for any one team during the Challenge, it was the fact that the Miami Hurricanes cannot win without McClinton. McClinton scored 12 of the Canes 19 points when he was ejected for swiping his hand at an Ohio State player. They gave up their big lead and looked raggedy down the stretch. When stuff like this happens, opponents know they can get under McClinton's skin. He now has all eyes on what he does and may not get the benefit of the doubt if anything like that happens again.
Road Is Where the Heart Is: Usually home court advantage is key in the Challenge. Not this year. Michigan State, Purdue, Virginia Tech, Miami-FL, Illinois and Georgia Tech all lost at home. Coming into the season, the ACC had won 33 of 37 at home.
North Carolina Is That Good: Just because they look good on paper doesn't mean that they will bring home the hardware. Their showing in the Maui Invitational and that 35-point beatdown of Michigan State just showed everyone that they are committed and serious about winning the whole thing. Aside from a New Year's Eve game at Nevada, there isn't any one standing in Carolina's path before conference play starts in January.
Duke May Be That Good, Too: How Duke played on the road in a lively building goes a long way into believing the Blue Devils will be here for the long haul. Kyle Singler has emerged as their best player, Jon Scheyer showed his flexibility and their defense and rebounding have been outstanding. Who is looking forward to Duke-UNC this year?
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
I'll tell you what I learned! You writers for fanhouse suck!!!! Why was Ohio State beating Miami not front page news? Answer: because you don't know how to be unbiased sports writers and you're all on the ACC ban wagon. What a piss poor excuse for reporters you are!!!!!!!
you're an idiot matt. this article was about the whole acc/little 10 challenge. who cares that one of your podunk teams managed an upset. the story is....once again...the acc bent the little ten over their knee and administered a spanking.
For the second time in less then a week Maryland has knocked off a" better team"from the state of michigan with Vasquez posting a better stat line then any "top" acc player and all you can write about is duke or carolina ,it gets old
And in the game no one's talking about, Maryland made the difference! And no--I'm not in Md--I'm in Florida and my Noles lost!
So true.... Maryland put on a gutsy show last night after being down most of the first half. Maryland has already faced 3 Top 15 teams this year (any other team doing that so far this year??). Upstart Michigan did pull off the upset over UCLA, while MD blew out MI State by 18. But without the Maryland comeback last night, the Big ten would have won its first BT/ACC challenge
Yeah Matt. We all care about what Maryland does. Just remember how big this win over Michigan was when you are buying NIT tickets in March. Stinking Savannah State took Michigan to overtime last week. I'm sure ACC schools have a bit more pride than barely beating teams on your floor that almost lost to Savannah State on theirs.
That Maryland win over Michigan State doesn't look as good as it did last week, guys. North Carolina just blew them out of the water up in Michigan.
One point to disagree with....................The Average Ten’s bottom half is not stronger.
Indiana is clearly at the bottom of the Average Ten. Reseed the entire tournament with Indiana at the bottom and bump everyone else up one level and the match-ups favor the ACC. A few of those close wins for bottom half of the Average Ten might turn the other way for the ACC.
this is not one of the Terps strongest teams, but don't count them out. Gary Williams is at his best when he has less talent and has to teach and make the best of the players he has.
I Love the article about the ACC-Big Ten..but as usual,there is not one mention of BC.. remember there in the ACC .must be the biased against the Northern Team....Oh..and by the way they are still undefeated in their years of playing in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge
Hey NOT so genius and merle land Who's the idiot now? Can you say open mouth and insert foot.
Hey Idiot oops I mean genius, did you even watch the Big Ten/acc challenge. 3 games were won by 2 points by the acc one went to overtime, if you were watching the same games as me, any idiot would know those games could have gone either way! I suppose your a Duke fan, which may I say just got their hat handed to them by Michigan.
Hey Karpman, Gary Williams I agree a great coach and an Ohio State product!