The Pack doesn’t get its shot at the Wildcats of Northwestern until tomorrow (PNC Arena, 7:30pm, ESPNU), but there are still six games tonight (at least two of which I have at least lukewarm interest in), and then six more tomorrow night.
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The ACC holds an all time series lead vs The B1G by a 10-3-1 record. HOWEVER, the ACC has not won this thing in 4 years (0-3-1 last four years, last year ended in a 6-6 tie).
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NCSU is only 5-8 all time in the challenge, but are 4-2 at home. A late run fell short for the Pack last year vs Michigan in Ann Arbor.
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Links:
Daily Word: Ready for Big Ten/ACC Challenge? (ESPN.com)
The ACC-Big Ten Challenge will be fun (but not what it could’ve been) (CBSSports.com)
Northwestern at NC State: I’m not sure NC State fans are preconditioned to get excited about Northwestern. But don’t look at it that way, guys. That’s a Blue Devil (ex-Duke assistant and player Chris Collins) coaching the Wildcats! You fired up now?
Prediction: NC State 69, Northwestern 65
ACC/Big Ten Challenge preview (SI.com)
First to 50 Wins?
Wisconsin and Virginia meet Wednesday night (7 p.m. ET) in what may be the most evenly matched game of the Challenge. Fans of track meets should look elsewhere, however, as both the Badgers and Cavaliers rank in the bottom quarter of D-I in possessions per game. When you consider the basketball ethos of the two men on the benches, the snail’s pace should come as no surprise. Both Tony Bennett and Bo Ryan value precise offensive execution and solid, stay-in-front-of-your-man defense above all else. Oh, and that match-up at the three between Virginia’s Joe Harris and Wisconsin’s Sam Dekker? What a dandy.
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Games Schedule
Tuesday, December 3
7:15pm
- Illinois @ GaTech (-2) – ESPN2
- Indiana @ Syracuse (-7) – ESPN
7:30pm
- Penn State @ Pitt (-13.5) – ESPNU
9:15pm
- Michigan @ Duke (-7) – ESPN
- Notre Dame @ Iowa (-7) ESPN2
9:30pm
- Florida State @ Minnesota (-3) – ESPNU
Wednesday, December 4
7:00pm
- Wisconsin@ UVa – ESPN2
- Maryland @ Ohio State – ESPN
7:30
- Northwestern @ NC State – ESPNU
9:00
- Carolina @ Michigan State – ESPN
- Boston College @ Purdue – ESPN2
9:30pm
- Miami @ Nebraska – ESPNU
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ACC teams in the ‘left out’ games…..
Tuesday: VT hosts Winthrop (7pm) and Clemson welcomes SC State to town (7pm)
Wednesday: Wake hosts Tulane (7pm)
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So, with all due respect to VT, Clemson and Wake, just swapping those three out for ‘Cuse, Pitt and ND should up the ACC’s chances to get back in the win column.
Hopefully the Pack learned a bit this past Saturday (mostly about themselves), and are on their way toward being the team we hope they can become.
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