A few Challenge notes as we get ready to kick the shindig off. First, UNC is apparently going to be without PJ Hairston, who sprained his knee during dribble drills. Not a big deal, and his coach and teammate are minimizing it if not outright mocking it. On the radio show he'd prefer not to do, Ol' Roy said "[w]e don't think ... it's anything serious, long term.But he sprained his knee, didn't feel like he could do anything in practice today. We're coming so close to the end of the semester -- if you can't play, stay home and study."
| Tuesday | Time | Network | ACC | Big Ten | Prediction |
| 7:15 | ESPN2 | Florida State | Minnesota | FSU | |
| 7:15 | ESPNU | Virginia Tech | Iowa | Virginia Tech | |
| 7:30 | ESPN | NC State | Michigan | Michigan | |
| 9:15 | ESPN2 | Maryland | Northwestern | Maryland | |
| 9:15 | ESPNU | Wake Forest | Nebraska | Wake Forest | |
| 9:30 | ESPN | North Carolina | Indiana | Indiana | |
| Wednesday | Time | Network | ACC | Big Ten | Prediction |
| 7:00 | ESPN2 | Virginia | Wisconsin | Wisconsin | |
| 7:15 | ESPNU | Clemson | Purdue | Clemson | |
| 7:30 | ESPN | Miami | Michigan State | Michigan State | |
| 9:00 | ESPN2 | Georgia Tech | Illinois | Illinois | |
| 9:15 | ESPNU | BC | Penn State | Penn State | |
| 9:30 | ESPN | Duke | Ohio State | Duke | |
But that's not nearly as funny as Dexter Strickland, who says that Hairston "is a little dramatic with his injuries... I'll give him about two days, and he'll probably be good -- back out on the floor, running again."
And Michigan State's Gary Harris and Travis Trice may or may not play at Miami, but the signs are encouraging for the Spartans. Harris has a shoulder injury and Trice is recovering from a concussion.
Virginia will be getting minimal input from Jontel Evans and as far as we know, Malcolm Brogden is nowhere near ready to take the court.
You know, it's easy for a comment to be taken out of context and we fully realize that. Even so, this is a weird thing for Wake's Jeff Bzdelik to say: "Iâve actually talked to some of the younger players, and itâs just everything is new. Even when theyâre in the starting lineup being announced, they donât know what to do. They kind of get this, âLike oh wow,â and look around, and then all of a sudden they get into the game."
Huh? He's actually talked to them? That just comes off as bizarre.
ACC-ish Links
- Tar Heels, Hoosiers ready for showcase game
- Tar Heels look for toughness in ACC / Big Ten Challenge
- Gottfried: Wolfpack trying to regain its groove against No. 3 Michigan
- DeCock: As No. 1 Indiana looms, Roy Williams questions UNC's toughness
- Tar Heels, Hoosiers ready for showcase game
- Deacons hoping to extend two winning streaks
- Green, Eddie give Tech a dynamic duo
- Bennett returns to Wisconsin for ACC-Big Ten Challenge
- Hokies prep for Iowa in ACC-Big 10 Challenge
- Bennett discusses return to Wisconsin
- Terps face road test at Northwestern
- U-Md. president: Move deliberate
- Terps face big test at Northwestern
- Mark Turgeon says Charles Mitchell can and will improve
- Booker leads Clemson at Old Spice
- FSU Seminoles quiet about Big Ten
- Maryland ready for clash of styles vs. Northwestern
- Scott gives Hurricanes huge boost
- Terps face big test at Northwestern in ACC/Big Ten Challenge
- Bryant basketball knocks off BC
Big Ten-ish Links
- Predicting all 12 games in this week's ACC-Big Ten Challenge slate
- Ohio State Buckeyes Have Great Shot At Knocking Off Duke Blue Devils
- Michigan Stateâs Travis Trice expected to play Wednesday; Gary Harris could, too
- Michigan State lacks options to give Keith Appling much-needed breather
- Ex-Wolverine Chris Webber writing a book; heâll address Ed Martin scandal
- ACC-Big Ten Challenge tips off in style
- Big Ten Conference Shows Early Dominance, Can it Beat the ACC?
- Gophers Travel to Florida State for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge
- Hawkeyes try to answer questions against Hokies
- ACC/Big Ten Challenge: Three reasons the Big Ten will win
- Spartans' Tom Izzo hopeful Travis Trice can play at Miami