clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Challenge Preview!

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Michigan
| MSU | Minn
| NW | Iowa
| Wisc | Purdue
| PSU | Illinois
DU-ILL
| WF-WIS
| IA-Md | UVA-MN
| UNC-MSU | NCS-PU
| UM-GT | CLEM-PSU
 | FSU-NW  | CNN-SI 
| BIG 10 BETTER? | MEANINGLESS?

GAME US SPORTSLINE
DUKE-ILL DUKE DUKE
WF-WISC WAKE WAKE
IA-MD IOWA MARYLAND
UVA-MN UVA UVA
UNC-MSU UNC UNC
NCS-PU PURDUE PURDUE
UM-GT TECH TECH
CLEM-PSU PSU PSU
FSU-NW FSU FSU

Well the ACC-Big 10/1 Challenge is upon us.  What to expect from our
esteemed rivals from the Big 10? Well, let's take a look.

  • Michigan is
    young
    but talented and
    improving
    . They'll get Tech, who is big inside, but not as great on the
    perimeter. Michigan's guards are both freshmen, so hard to tell how they'll
    do. They're in the Thriller Dome (actually a reader says it's in the new home of the Hawks, the Phillips Arena) for that one, and the inside game isn't
    available with Alvin Jones.
  • Michigan State is struggling without Cleaves.  They
    lost to Texas,
    but came close despite serious foul trouble for Morris
    "The Cat" Peterson.
  • Minnesota's bench has been decimated. Their
    depth at this point is non-existent.
      So from here it looks like
    UVa's pressing and quickness vs. Joel Przybilla's inside strength.
  • Iowa has been a bit inconsistent since Alford's brilliant debut. 
    They are playing Maryland, which means a running, pressing team vs. a more
    disciplined team. Usually Maryland loses those when the talent is equal
    anyway.
  • Northwestern-FSU. Normally the smart money goes against Northwestern, but
    with O' Neill coaching them it's not smart to bet against them. Our bet is
    he took the job specifically because no one has won there in decades.
  • Wake is playing Wisconsin in Joel.  Wisconsin has trouble scoring
    under the best of circumstances.  Both teams play excellent D but only
    one has Robert O' Kelley.
  • State is playing Purdue at Mackey, which is a tough draw.  It is that
    much more tough since Inge won't be playing.
  • Clemson-Penn State.  The question is can Clemson avoid humiliation?
    We don't know much about Penn State, but we know that Clemson, at this
    point, is truly awful.  There's no other word for it.  On the
    bench for Penn State - former Duke assistant Chuck Swenson.
  • Duke-Illinois.  Should be one of the better games. Both teams are
    relying on freshmen point guards, and that can always be tricky.
    The columnist for the Illinois paper is kind of cocky,
    particularly
    since he predicts a Duke win. Weird column.

 

Now that the season is underway, and before the games begin, we'd like to
revisit our picks.

  • Michigan-Tech. We'll go with Tech, but reluctantly.  They always are
    capable of a bone-headed game, and they are horribly unpredictable. But they
    should control the inside. If the guards show up, Tech should win.
  • MSU-UNC. We go back and forth on this one, even without Cleaves. But UNC
    did well in Hawaii and their backcourt is dynamic. UNC.
  • Minnesota-UVa. Lack of depth vs a running team, even a young one, is bad
    news.  We'll take UVa and an oxygen tank.
  • Iowa- Maryland.  Our principle from day one is you have to have
    talent to win but talent can't always overcome solid coaching.  
    More true for Maryland than most. We'll take Iowa.
  • Northwestern-FSU.  Conference loyalty dictates we pick FSU, but
    really it's a tossup in our book.
  • Wake-Wisconsin. Two good defensive teams, only one good offensive team.
    We'll take Wake. 
  • State-Purdue.  The loss of Inge is  huge in this game.  Can
    State defend well enough to stick it to Purdue?  Possibly, but we're
    going with Purdue.
  • Clemson-Penn State. Clemson is so bad right now it might be the worst team
    in our ACC memory. Truly bad to this point. Penn State.
  • Duke-Illinois.  Duke has improved a great deal rapidly, and Dunleavy
    has elevated his game a great deal. We'll go with Duke, but it will be
    close.