Big Ten Keeps it Close; Loses Challenge Again

After Wisconsin's win to start off the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, the goal for the Big Ten was to split the rest of the games and finally steal a win in this thing.

After dropping three of five the first night, it didn't look good. Illinois and Iowa had close losses that would have been huge wins for the Big Ten and left a tall task for the teams playing the second night.

Penn State took care of Georgia Tech on the road and it looked like the Big Ten had a shot. Michigan battled with Maryland, even bouncing back to take the lead after a 16-3 run by the Terps to start the second half. Maryland won by five though, leaving it up to Michigan State to keep the Big Ten alive. North Carolina was just too much for the Michigan State in a mostly empty Ford Field. How do people fill it up to watch the Lions, then stay at home when the best basketball team in the NCAA comes to town?

Anyway, when the Tar Heels beat up the Spartans, it was over and the ACC won again. Could you imagine though, if it had all came down to Northwestern and Florida State and the Wildcats got the win to give the Big Ten its first BT/ACC victory?

This has to be the closest the Big Ten has come to winning the challenge, needing only one of three very close games to go their way for the win. It didn't help that the Big Ten was on the short end of the home games this time around either.

As close as this event ended up, it was clear the Big Ten is down this year and the ACC is superior, especially at the top. Duke dominated Purdue on Purdue's home court and North Carolina came into Ford Field and made it clear they were in a separate class than Michigan State. If Wake Forest had gone up against Wisconsin, this thing could have been ugly again, since Indiana would have lost to just about anyone.

Oh well, I guess the Big Ten will just have to wait until next year to try and get its first win in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. How long will they keep doing this thing anyway?

Big Ten/ACC Challenge Tied Going into Final Night

With the ACC going 3-2 against the Big Ten Tuesday night, they squared up the challenge and set up another ACC win based on the schedule tonight.

Last night Ohio State started things off with an upset win at Miami, but Iowa and Illinois likely killed the Big Ten's chances in the challenge with a pair of two point losses. Ohio State benefited from the ejection of Miami guard Jack McClinton after he bitch-slapped an OSU player; shocking from a Miami student-athlete. Illinois and Iowa both had chances to send their games to OT, but the Illini failed to get a shot off in the final 11 seconds and Iowa missed the front end of a 1 and 1 (that probably should have been a three-shot foul) with seconds left. Duke dominated Purdue throughout the game and Minnesota closed out the night with a win.

The win by the Gophers gives hope to the Big Ten, but not much. Here's what we're looking at tonight.

Indiana at (15) Wake Forest, 6:15 PM

The Hoosiers don't stand much of a chance in this game. I don't really know what a Hoosier is, but a Demon Deacon is not to be messed with. That's not the only reason though. Indiana has been anything but impressive early on with blowout losses to Notre Dame and St. Joes. Wake, meanwhile hasn't played much of anyone, but has looked great doing it. With Indiana looking sketchy and the game at Wake Forest, I'll pick the Demon Deacons to win this one.

Penn State at Georgia Tech, 6:30 PM

Add Penn State to the list of teams that has played absolutely no one yet this season, oh and look, add Georgia Tech. The Nittany Lions lost to Rhode Island, while GT has pulled out close games against Mercer and Jacksonville. Ron Mercer is kind of washed up and the Jags can't seem to beat anyone, so I don't see those wins as being too impressive. Based on the fact that this might be the Big Ten's best chance at a win, I'll pick Penn State.

Michigan at Maryland, 6:30 PM

Michigan might have the second best chance at a Big Ten win and that tells you a lot about the Big Ten's chances. Maryland is a killer at home, winning over 86% of their games in College Park over the past 10 years. The Terps have been a bit difficult to figure out thus far, beating Michigan State by 18, then losing to Gonzaga and Georgetown by 22 and 27, respectively. The Wolverines have an upset of their own against UCLA and a 15 point loss to Duke. With a young team rebuilding under Beilein, I think Michigan falls short at Maryland and the Terps get the win.

(1) North Carolina at (13) Michigan State, 8:15 PM

A week ago this looked like an unbelievable match-up. A possible Final Four preview, even at the Ford Field venue, which will host this year's Final Four. A week later, it looks like the Spartans will be lucky to keep things close. Tyler Hansbrough's health and availability was still in question as of Tuesday night, but the Spartans have health issues of their own with big man Goran Suton out and Delvin Roe limited. You can never count a Tom Izzo coached team out of any game, but this will be one of his toughest tasks against a Tar Heels team that has the best talent in the country. UNC wins and if this thing isn't decided already, the ACC wins the challenge.

Florida State at Northwestern, 8:30 PM

And for dessert, we get FSU and Northwestern. The Noles are 7-0 with wins at Cal and at Cincy coming into the game with Northwestern. The Wildcats, well they have won some game, but they're still Northwestern and this is basketball. I expect a loss.