ACC/Big Ten Challenge: A Peak Ahead, Part I

Guess what folks, the 12th annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge is right around the corner. For the longest time, this “challenge” wasn’t much of a challenge for the members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The ACC won the first 10 of these bad boys before the Big Ten finally managed to win last year. It was like when Ralphie finally stood up, took on and defeated the yellow-eyed Scut Farkus in “A Christmas Story”. No more would the ACC torture and torment the Big Ten.

Heading into the season, the Big Ten actually had the clear edge heading (three teams ranked in the top-10) and so far, I haven’t seen anything that would change that perspective.  ACC teams have already dropped 21 games this season. Every team but Duke has lost already. In fact, seven ACC teams have already suffered two defeats.

The Big Ten has also suffered some set backs, Michigan State dropped one in Maui and Purdue has some issues minus Robbie Hummel. Overall though, they’re already 2-0 against the ACC and four teams remain undefeated, including Ohio State, who looks like a real contender right now.

So let’s look ahead and see what we have to look forward to for Monday and Tuesday night (Wednesday’s match ups will come Tuesday).

Monday, November 29th

Virginia @ Minnesota

One team beat North Carolina and West Virginia, the other lost to Stanford by 21 and Washington by 43. Who you got in this one? Minnesota and Virginia have faced off twice before in this Challenge. Like this one, both were in Minneapolis and both were won by the Golden Gophers. This one should be no different.

The Cavaliers have been killed in the paint. Outside of Mike Scott’s 16.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, no other Cavalier big man has produced much of anything. Of the four other forwards/centers getting playing time, they have combined to score just over 11 points, grabbing nine rebounds per game.

Minnesota has three guys averaging nearly seven boards per game. Forward Trevor Mbakwe is the man inside. A year after popping a woman in the face twice (it never went to trial), Mbakwe finally got back on the court, and is dominating. He’s averaged 13 points per game, hitting 69-percent of his shots, and grabbing nine rebounds per game.

WORTHLESS PREDICTION: MINNESOTA, 75-52

Tuesday, November 30th

North Carolina at Illinois

These two teams have faced off three times in this tournament and the Fighting Illini have taken two of the three games. Both teams have faced off with a team from the opposing conference. North Carolina fell to Minnesota, while Illinois took down Maryland in Madison Square Garden.

It’s early, but the Tar Heels are about as sharp as Aaron Ralston’s right arm. They’ve already dropped two games and they barely beat the College of Charleston. Preseason All-American (and second coming of Christ) Harrison Barnes has struggled in the early going.

He is second in scoring on the team, but he’s hit just 38 percent of his shots, struggling to finish plays up close and personal with the basket. Thank God for that business degree he plans on getting at UNC.

The Fighting Illini have been one of the most balanced teams in the nation. Nine guys see solid minutes on the floor and five different players average double-digits in points. The Tar Heels clearly have more future pros on their roster, but until they start playing like a team, they’ll continue to lose.

WORTHLESS PREDICTION: ILLINOIS, 87-84

Ohio State @ Florida State

The Buckeyes have faced the Seminoles once before in the tournament back in 2009. The game was played in Columbus and was won by Ohio State, 77-64.

Florida State has typically been known for their defense, but so far this year, they’ve turned into Scott Baio at a “Charles in Charge” Reunion (i.e., they’re scoring a lot). Florida State is averaging 83.6 ppg, second in the ACC behind Duke. Chris Singleton has done about everything short of strangling a charging bear with his bare hands. He’s averaging a double-double (17/10), and producing three blocks and three steals just for fun.

Buckeyes’ big man Jared Sullinger may be hogging all the national headlines (and he certainly deserves it), but let’s not forget about senior David Lightly. While Sullinger dominates the inside, Lightly has been unstoppable on the outside. He actually leads the team in scoring (15.6 per game), hitting 51 percent of his shots.

While I can get bogged down in the players and numbers of these two teams, here is the simple math that even a Florida State graduate could understand…Florida State lost to Florida by five in Gainesville. Ohio State beat the same Florida team in Gainesville by 18. Those kind of numbers don’t lie.

Continue reading: ACC/Big Ten Challenge: A Peak Ahead, Part I