B1G-ACC Challenge 2011

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gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Nov 19, 2011 11:22 AM
Who ya got this year? For the first time, we can have a tie as all 12 teams from both conferences will compete.

Tue, Nov 29
7 p.m.- No. 23 Michigan at Virginia - ESPN2
7:15 p.m. - Northwestern at Georgia Tech - ESPNU
7:30 p.m. - Illinois at Maryland - ESPN
9 p.m. - Miami at Purdue - ESPN2
9:15 p.m. - Clemson at Iowa - ESPNU
9:30 p.m. - No. 5 Duke at No. 3 Ohio State - ESPN

Wed, Nov 30
7:15 p.m. - Indiana at North Carolina State - ESPN2
7:15 p.m. - Penn State at Boston College - ESPNU
7:30 p.m. - No. 21 Florida State at Michigan State - ESPN
9:15 p.m. - Virginia Tech at Minnesota - ESPN2
9:15 p.m. - Wake Forest at Nebraska - ESPNU
9:30 p.m. - No. 11 Wisconsin at No. 1 North Carolina - ESPN
Nov 19, 2011 11:22am
reclegend22's avatar

reclegend22

Cool Hand Luke

8,772 posts
Nov 19, 2011 12:53 PM
Obviously very much looking forward to the showdown between Ohio State and Duke. The Buckeyes and Blue Devils haven't met up since facing off in Greensboro in the 2002 ACC-Big Ten Challenge, in which J.J. Redick and Duke defeated Brent Darby and Ohio State, 91 to 76. I'll be in the Schott for this year's encounter. I'm just hoping that Duke's big men -- namely Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly -- continue to progress over the next few games in Maui and are ready for the unenvious challenge of facing the country's premier postman.

I'm not sure Duke will have enough, though, and I predict a heartbreaking five or six-point loss for the Devils in Columbus. If we do lose, I may not be able to leave the parking lot. I might just stuff my Duke hat in my exhaust pipe and quell my central nervous system. Having lived in Ohio all my life, I can't imagine anything worse than losing to Ohio State in Columbus live and in-person.
Nov 19, 2011 12:53pm
Mulva's avatar

Mulva

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13,650 posts
Nov 19, 2011 1:03 PM
I hate to pick a tie, but that's how I counted them out.
Nov 19, 2011 1:03pm
Azubuike24's avatar

Azubuike24

Senior Member

15,933 posts
Nov 19, 2011 1:08 PM
Virginia is tough at home and will beat Michigan.
Northwestern should win at Georgia Tech.
Illinois and Maryland is a battle between two programs who wish it was still 7 years ago, Maryland at home.
Miami and Purdue should be a good game, maybe one of the more entertaining ones, Purdue wins.
Not sure who to take between Clemson and Iowa. I'll go Clemson.
Ohio State will beat Duke in Columbus.
Actually like Indiana over NCSU, even in Raleigh.
Penn State is awful, Boston College wins, maybe the most lopsided game of the challenge.
I like MSU to bounce back and beat FSU in East Lansing.
Two much maligned teams but Tubby will win it at home.
Nebraska is underrated in the Big Ten. Possible NCAA team, they should easily beat Wake.
No chance for Wisconsin in Chapel Hill.

Big Ten 7-5, possibly split 6-6.
Nov 19, 2011 1:08pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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29,506 posts
Nov 19, 2011 2:14 PM
gorocks99;979046 wrote: Tue, Nov 29
7 p.m.- No. 23 Michigan at Virginia - ESPN2
7:15 p.m. - Northwestern at Georgia Tech - ESPNU
7:30 p.m. - Illinois at Maryland - ESPN
9 p.m. - Miami at Purdue - ESPN2
9:15 p.m. - Clemson at Iowa - ESPNU
9:30 p.m. - No. 5 Duke at No. 3 Ohio State - ESPN

Wed, Nov 30
7:15 p.m. - Indiana at North Carolina State - ESPN2
7:15 p.m. - Penn State at Boston College - ESPNU
7:30 p.m. - No. 21 Florida State at Michigan State - ESPN
9:15 p.m. - Virginia Tech at Minnesota - ESPN2
9:15 p.m. - Wake Forest at Nebraska - ESPNU
9:30 p.m. - No. 11 Wisconsin at No. 1 North Carolina - ESPN
Big Ten 7-5

I see 4 games as complete toss-ups.
-Indiana @ NCST
-Illinois @ Maryland
-Penn St. @ BC (Both teams are terrible)
-VT @ Minny
Nov 19, 2011 2:14pm
reclegend22's avatar

reclegend22

Cool Hand Luke

8,772 posts
Nov 19, 2011 3:02 PM
Life Flight better be on hand for Florida State and Michigan State, because that game is going to be a car accident. The Seminoles have one of the better and more suffocating defenses in the country, but the game that will happen in East Lansing is not my cup of coffee. It will be LSU versus Alabama on the hardwood, only instead of #1 versus #2 it will be #21 versus #52.

No. 23 Michigan at Virginia
Northwestern at Georgia Tech
Illinois at Maryland
Miami at Purdue - If Reggie Johnson were playing for the Canes -- he's out with until ACC play after tearing cartilage in his knee over the summer -- I'd take Miami who owns superior guard play with Durand Scott and Malcolm Grant. With Johnson out, Hummel should be able to propel the Boilermakers to a win in Mackey.
Clemson at Iowa
No. 5 Duke at No. 3 Ohio State - My heart says the Blue Devils, so I'm taking Duke. This game will be even until the final buzzer, and completely up for grabs.
Indiana at North Carolina State -
Penn State at Boston College - A train wreck.
No. 21 Florida State at Michigan State
Virginia Tech at Minnesota - If Seth Greenberg is ever going to make the NCAA Tournament, this is the year.
Wake Forest at Nebraska -
No. 11 Wisconsin at No. 1 North Carolina - I imagine the Buzzcuts will keep this one close for awhile -- Bo Ryan teams always do -- but UNC has too much firepower. The Heels by 12 to 15.

8-4 ACC (here's to hoping)
Nov 19, 2011 3:02pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Nov 19, 2011 4:32 PM
This is always my favorite challenge every year as these are hands down the two best conferences in college basketball.

I see the B1G winning 8-4 or 7-5, book it.
Nov 19, 2011 4:32pm
hoops23's avatar

hoops23

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15,696 posts
Nov 19, 2011 4:39 PM
sleeper;979446 wrote:This is always my favorite challenge every year as these are hands down the two best conferences in college basketball.

I see the B1G winning 8-4 or 7-5, book it.
Agreed. It's usually very close.
Nov 19, 2011 4:39pm
Crimson streak's avatar

Crimson streak

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9,002 posts
Nov 19, 2011 5:52 PM
I'm not an Ohio state fan by any means but I can see Ohio state taking it to duke by 10+
Nov 19, 2011 5:52pm
reclegend22's avatar

reclegend22

Cool Hand Luke

8,772 posts
Nov 19, 2011 7:56 PM
Ohio State is obviously very good, but it is not a dominant team, at least not at this point. A forty-point shellacking of Marching Band College is not indicative of anything. Duke is also a good team with elite talent of its own and will be as well prepared as any team possibly could heading into Columbus. I like the Blue Devils' chances with K at the helm and the experienced duo of stone-cold killers Seth Curry and Andre Dawkins with the ball in their hands in the final minutes of what I think will be a very close affair.

Ohio State has a clear advantage inside with Sullinger, but Mason Plumlee has improved by leaps and bounds his ability to provide a reliable interior presence for the Blue Devils defensively, so I am hopeful that Duke can hang tough inside and garner a victory on the shoulders of its (imo) superior backcourt.

It could be a classic.
Nov 19, 2011 7:56pm
swamisez's avatar

swamisez

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1,990 posts
Nov 19, 2011 9:01 PM
Duke is going to throw bodies at Sullinger, there are quite a few bigs that can work to limit him. What worries me is the perimeter defense by Curry and Rivers against Ohio State's longer wing players. Lots of opportunities for Ohio State to collapse the defense by dribble penetration from the wing.

Conversely I don't know how Duke will handle this game. They are quite unpredictable at the moment. They are still crafting an identity. I definitely want to see more Quinn Cook though. The offense plays faster and gets better shots with him in there.
Nov 19, 2011 9:01pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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Nov 19, 2011 11:42 PM
I'll be honest, I don't think Duke can hang with OSU at OSU.
Nov 19, 2011 11:42pm
Hb31187's avatar

Hb31187

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8,534 posts
Nov 19, 2011 11:42 PM
Sullinger will man handle any big that Dook throws at him. And I despise OSU lol
Nov 19, 2011 11:42pm
hoops23's avatar

hoops23

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15,696 posts
Nov 20, 2011 1:23 AM
Not only that, but Aaron Craft will play a big role in this game because of his defense.
Nov 20, 2011 1:23am
SportsAndLady's avatar

SportsAndLady

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35,632 posts
Nov 20, 2011 7:29 AM
Would have loved to see OSU-UNC

But i'll take OSU over Duke..it wont be close
Nov 20, 2011 7:29am
H

holdingout

Senior Member

585 posts
Nov 20, 2011 7:55 AM
SportsAndLady;980336 wrote:Would have loved to see OSU-UNC

But i'll take OSU over Duke..it wont be close
March Madness in coming
Nov 20, 2011 7:55am
F

friendfromlowry

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6,239 posts
Nov 20, 2011 1:01 PM
reclegend22;979146 wrote: If we do lose, I may not be able to leave the parking lot. I might just stuff my Duke hat in my exhaust pipe and quell my central nervous system.
You okay?
Nov 20, 2011 1:01pm
reclegend22's avatar

reclegend22

Cool Hand Luke

8,772 posts
Nov 20, 2011 1:56 PM
friendfromlowry wrote:You okay?
Obviously not. Haha.

Duke can definitely play with this Buckeye team. I have no reservations about that. As swami stated above, however, it just depends on which Duke team shows up. The Devils, although stocked with plenty of talent and one of the top backcourts in the country, are still trying to figure out their identity. I suspect we will learn a lot more about the potential of this group as the Maui Invitational unfolds. If Duke can overtake a field in Hawaii that includes Michigan, Memphis, Georgetown and Kansas and win the tournament, I like its confidence heading into Columbus.

As for Aaron "Little Dumars" Craft, it's quite easy to be a so-called turnover-creating machine when your brand of defense is I'll-just-foul. He's a solid player, but hopefully referees around the country this year will begin to call Craft's glaring hand-checking with more regularity. Also, I am looking forward to Coach K placing Tyler Thornton on Craft. A taste of his own medicine.
Nov 20, 2011 1:56pm
swamisez's avatar

swamisez

Senior Member

1,990 posts
Nov 20, 2011 2:30 PM
Big Ten officials let guards get away with quite a bit of hand checking where the ACC does not. I think this is why the ACC has teams that score a few more points per game because the offense isn't deterred as much.

Conversely the ACC officials let big men have fist fights in the paint. The Plumlees will probably be in foul trouble in the first 8 minutes because they are so accustomed to grabbing and pulling players out of position in the paint. A Big Ten crew will not allow them to continue to do this. Sullinger will earn his keep at the foul line when Miles Mason Hariston and Kelly keep fouling him then look around with that bewildered "what did I do face?"
Nov 20, 2011 2:30pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

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Nov 20, 2011 2:47 PM
reclegend22;980704 wrote:
As for Aaron "Little Dumars" Craft, it's quite easy to be a so-called turnover-creating machine when your brand of defense is I'll-just-foul. He's a solid player, but hopefully referees around the country this year will begin to call Craft's glaring hand-checking with more regularity. Also, I am looking forward to Coach K placing Tyler Thornton on Craft. A taste of his own medicine.
Craft doesn't hand check with any regularity. I don't know where you getting this other than to build in an excuse when Craft completely shuts down your best guard. He's probably the best on the ball defender in the country and plays very fundamental defense.

Continue the bandwagon though...
Nov 20, 2011 2:47pm
Hb31187's avatar

Hb31187

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8,534 posts
Nov 20, 2011 3:00 PM
idk if Craft is the best on ball defender in the country, but hes certainly very good. Every conference has their scrappy guard who locks up on D, we just happen to know in the B1G its craft
Nov 20, 2011 3:00pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

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27,879 posts
Nov 20, 2011 5:32 PM
Hb31187;980892 wrote:idk if Craft is the best on ball defender in the country, but hes certainly very good. Every conference has their scrappy guard who locks up on D, we just happen to know in the B1G its craft
No he definitely is without question. He's the only player I've seen cross a guys face and seal off his angles. Perfect defense. Sure, he reaches and has stupid fouls like everyone else, but Craft is a big reason I'd consider playing 2 PGs so that at least someone can get the ball up the floor.
Nov 20, 2011 5:32pm
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

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13,948 posts
Nov 20, 2011 6:15 PM
I've watched a lot of College Basketball in my day, and Craft is one of the best defensive guards I've ever seen play. Also, even Billy Donovan said that Craft plays great defense within' the context of the rules.
Nov 20, 2011 6:15pm
Hb31187's avatar

Hb31187

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8,534 posts
Nov 20, 2011 6:17 PM
I think he plays D exactly like Kramer from Purdue. Better on offense, but about an exact replica of Kramer on the defensive end
Nov 20, 2011 6:17pm
reclegend22's avatar

reclegend22

Cool Hand Luke

8,772 posts
Nov 20, 2011 6:25 PM
sleeper wrote:No he definitely is without question. He's the only player I've seen cross a guys face and seal off his angles. Perfect defense. Sure, he reaches and has stupid fouls like everyone else, but Craft is a big reason I'd consider playing 2 PGs so that at least someone can get the ball up the floor.
Weren't you the person who just yesterday said that it was fortuitous that the Harvard fan who was flattened by a U-Haul truck ended up expiring because, as you put it, Harvard fans need to be taken down a peg or two? Perhaps you should take note of your own words of wisdom.
Nov 20, 2011 6:25pm