ACC / Big Ten Challenge

[American X]

Between the ACC/Big Ten, Pac10/Big 12, and early season tournaments, I love all these solid inter-conference matchups. Wisconsin @ Virginia Tech last night was a nice appetizer. That arena seems like a great atmosphere. Wisconsin is going to win a lot of games and get a nice seed.

Tuesday night:

Ohio State at Miami ESPN 7:00ET

Iowa at Boston College ESPNU 7:00ET

Clemson at Illinois ESPN2 7:30ET

Duke at Purdue ESPN 9:00ET

Virginia at Minnesota ESPN2 9:30ET

[Snipe]

I always root Illinois ever since at sat in the Illinois fan section down in the Georgia Dome. I got the tickets when they were returned from the University of Illinois. It was rock solid Illini.

I got them cheering for Xavier and they did a pretty good job. Our AD's met at the event I believe and scheduled the games we ended up playing together. I liked their fans and the programs willingness to play us so I cheer for Illinois. They have spent some some time out of the spotlight. If they win tonight they will probably be ranked again next week. Clemson vs. Illinois should be a great game. Both teams are undefeated.

I am rooting for Ohio State. Don't care much about Iowa/BC but will probably root for the Big Ten. I will root for Purdue against Duke even though we play Duke. Screw them.

And I will root for Tubby Smith over Virginia even though we play Virginia. I know I should be rooting for the schedule and all that jazz. I happen to like Tubby. I would like to see his team do better than Kentucky.

[MADXSTER]

Illinois has a good team this year as does Clemson. That should be a very good game.

[golfitup]

It certainly hasn't been much of a challenge for the ACC. They've won the thing every single year. Michigan State has the only winning record for the Big 10 since its inception.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Illinois has a good team this year as does Clemson. That should be a very good game.

I dont know that much about them, but I go to school in St. Louis where there are a ton of IU fans and my friends who are dont seem to think they are too good this year.

[MADXSTER]

Illinios is 6-0. They have good wins over Vanderbilt (5-1)and Tulsa(4-2).

[D-West & PO-Z]

Illinios is 6-0. They have good wins over Vanderbilt (5-1)and Tulsa(4-2).

Just because they have only 1 or 2 losses doesnt make them a good team. Neither Vandy nor Tulsa has even 1 top 25 vote in either poll. Duqesne only has 1 loss, that doesnt make them a good win.

[MADXSTER]

Not trying to get into a pissing match here.

Didn't say they were a top 25 team. I'd have them in the top 50 though which to me is a good team. I had Missouri as a top 50 team and Virginia Tech as a top 35 team.

Vandy - Last year finished

19th in the final AP Poll
25th in the final Coaches Poll
12th in RPI

They brought in 4 - 4star recruits in this year. PG, SF, SF, PF

They are very young and will only get better. Also IMO Vandy is usually underranked every year.

Tulsa - I'll give you that one to a certain extent. I'd probably put them in the top 100 - 125 which to me is still a good win.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Not trying to get into a pissing match here.

Didn't say they were a top 25 team. I'd have them in the top 50 though which to me is a good team. I had Missouri as a top 50 team and Virginia Tech as a top 35 team.

Vandy - Last year finished

19th in the final AP Poll
25th in the final Coaches Poll
12th in RPI

They brought in 4 - 4star recruits in this year. PG, SF, SF, PF

They are very young and will only get better. Also IMO Vandy is usually underranked every year.

Tulsa - I'll give you that one to a certain extent. I'd probably put them in the top 100 - 125 which to me is still a good win.

It all depends on your definition of good win then. I would say top 50 is a good win also but past that I dont consider it much of a good win. Also I was not only saying they werent top 25 but not even 1 vote. There are 44 teams with at least 1 vote and neither of those teams has one. Not saying the rankings are always correct, but it does say something.

[MADXSTER]

Have to agree with you.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Have to agree with you.

Wait what!! Thats not how this is supposed to go! Arent we supposed to continue disagreeing until we both decide that the other is completely and utterly stupid and its worthless to even go one?

[pizza delivery]

I'm watching Purdue - Duke through the 04 shit fest and 08 stomping goggles. Go Purdue!

[Juice]

They are really letting them play in this Duke - Purdue game.

[jdm2000]

If Purdue can win this one, the B10 might have a shot in the challenge. OSU winning at Miami was an upset. Illinois couldn't hold off Clemson, though.

(The Big 10 is at a big disadvantage in this Challenge each year. They basically start out at 0-2 because you can chalk up the Penn State and Northwestern games as losses.)

[AviatorX]

If Purdue can win this one, the B10 might have a shot in the challenge. OSU winning at Miami was an upset. Illinois couldn't hold off Clemson, though.

(The Big 10 is at a big disadvantage in this Challenge each year. They basically start out at 0-2 because you can chalk up the Penn State and Northwestern games as losses.)

Some would argue that UNC over MSU (minus Suton probably) and Wake over IU are also locks, the Big 10 shouldn't even try to compete with a conference that is just overall much better in the ACC.

Also, Duke looks very good. Usually, you can count me on the side of those that think they are perennially overrated, this year, they may be for real. We might get a chance to hand them loss number one...

[Rickmc23]

Anybody else watching Duke dismantle #10 Purdue AT HOME?

I HATE Duke...but this is a damn good basketball team.
Suffocating defense, sweeping rebounds, good guard play, good outside shooting....they are impressive.

For some reason, I usually think of Duke teams as soft/finesse. This team is simply digging in defensively and dictating the game to Purdue.

That being said, I hope D-Brown t-bags every Doookie in the arena in a couple of weeks.

[xavierdude]

props from Dukie V for X and Sean Miller when looking at upcoming Duke games

[GoMuskies]

If IU stays within 30 of Wake I'd be shocked. Hanbrough may not play at Ford Field, so MSU's got an outside shot.

[xavierdude]

To beat Duke....Guard that 3 with your life. Don't foul, kenny :)

[jdm2000]

The Big 10 should just do 9 games instead of 11. Keep Northwestern and PSU out and go from there.

[Snipe]

Duke is a handfull. The ACC is pretty stacked. Big win for Ohio State tonight.

[PMI]

If Purdue can win this one, the B10 might have a shot in the challenge. OSU winning at Miami was an upset. Illinois couldn't hold off Clemson, though.

(The Big 10 is at a big disadvantage in this Challenge each year. They basically start out at 0-2 because you can chalk up the Penn State and Northwestern games as losses.)

Penn State and Northwestern should get better then. I mean, if the ACC were only a few challenges ahead they could have an argument, but the ACC wins every year. This is not an accident. It is usually the better basketball conference.

[wkrq59]

Big wins for Ohio State and Minnesota. Gophers held off Minnesota nicely.
The Clemson defeat of Illinois in the Illini gym was a surprise as Purnell usually blows 'em. Damn Duke pounded Purdue.
The XU Duke and XU. UVA games should really be interesting.:D

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

To beat Duke....Guard that 3 with your life. Don't foul, kenny :)

yes. and dont let singler get hot from out there....i think i saw duke is 5-0 when singler has 20 or more points...Turnovers will be huge in that game because if we turn it over its most likely a guarenteed 2 points for them

[American X]

Impressive road wins for Clemson and Ohio State. Duke is better than I thought. Kyle Singler is fugly.

On tap for Wednesday:

Indiana at Wake Forest ESPN 7:15ET

Penn State at Georgia Tech ESPN2 7:30ET

Michigan at Maryland ESPNU 7:30ET

North Carolina vs. Michigan State at Ford Field ESPN 9:15ET

Florida State at Northwestern ESPN2 9:30ET

[stophorseabuse]

top 50 wins are looked at as VERY good victories by the selection committee.

They also call top 100 wins good wins.

Anything else ranking wise is not considered.
________
List of Subaru engines specifications (http://www.toyota-wiki.com/wiki/List_of_Subaru_engines)

[jdm2000]

Impressive road wins for Clemson and Ohio State. Duke is better than I thought. Kyle Singler is fugly.

On tap for Wednesday:

Indiana at Wake Forest ESPN 7:15ET

Penn State at Georgia Tech ESPN2 7:30ET

Michigan at Maryland ESPNU 7:30ET

North Carolina vs. Michigan State at Ford Field ESPN 9:15ET

Florida State at Northwestern ESPN2 9:30ET

Hard to see how the B10 doesn't go 0 for 5 tonight. IU and PSU are going to get hammered. Michigan might have a shot, but it's on the road. Don't know enough about Northwestern to know if they have a chance against FSU.

Is it possible MSU is the best bet for a win?

[The Artist]

I think Michigan and Northwestern are the only two with even a chance to win. In fact, NW is a 1.5 favorite.

Michigan and Maryland are probably close to even, unfortunately the game is at Maryland.

[XUglow]

Gophers held off Minnesota nicely.


Q! That's not like you. ...but a good win for Tubby.

Speaking of conference match-ups, I don't get the watered-down Big East/SEC series. ...and who in their right mind sent Mississippi State to Cincy and Ole Miss to L'ville rather than reversing those games and sending Andy Kennedy back to UC???? (BTW. AK's Rebs host Huggy Bear's Mountaineers tonight. Few people down here know anything about their connection.)

[drudy23]

We better have a point guard (or two) by that game. Their defense is swarming, quick, and relentless.

Purdue forced a lot of shots because they felt rushed by the swarming D. First, you have to take care of the ball...second you have to be patient...third you have to hit shots.

[The Artist]

You also have to stop them from getting to the rack. They do that very well.

I think stopping dribble penetration will be the key to our matchup...in addition to offensive preparation to deal with them overplaying every passing lane.

[XU05and07]

Purdue doesn't look to be ready to play with the big boys...I thought they came out scared and never recovered. They might be a little overhyped after all.

[Juice]

This Duke team is a lot better than I thought they would be. I thought they would be exactly how they were last year: soft and live and die by the three. Well they aren't as soft as I thought they would be. Scheyer and Singler are going to be the two that cause us the most problems. I dont see any problems really in defending their point guards or Zoubek but its those two that will cause match up problems. BJ, CJ, and Derrick are going to have to show up, and I am glad its our seniors and redshirt junior that will matchup with them.

[GoMuskies]

who in their right mind sent Mississippi State to Cincy and Ole Miss to L'ville rather than reversing those games and sending Andy Kennedy back to UC????

Both games are being played in Cincinnati in a doubleheader downtown. So Kennedy is going back to Cincinnati, just not the Shoe.

[JTG]

Did anyone notice Duke smoked a very good Purdue team last night at Purdue. I watched some of it on tv. Purdue was packed and their fans were all jacked up. But Duke passes the ball so well it looks like they have 10 guys on the floor. There seemed to be an open man every time they shot. Purdue plays pretty good D but Duke passes so quickly and does so much moving without the ball, they are scary good. We are going to have our hands full 12/20.

[jdm2000]

Disregard my earlier posts about Penn State and N'Western being automatic losses. I am apparently an idiot. (I'm taking this revelation very poorly.)

[Swifty]

Disregard my earlier posts about Penn State and N'Western being automatic losses. I am apparently an idiot. (I'm taking this revelation very poorly.)

Don't feel bad I thought the same. Although Florida State and Georgia Tech aren't very good. FSU almost lost to LaSalle and Georgia Tech lost one of their best players to injury for the whole year and had another defect to Europe to play pro with a year of eligibility left.