Big Ten/ACC Challenge Day 3
Wednesday: NC State (4-1) at Michigan State (4-1) 7:00 ESPN NC State comes into the Big Ten/ACC Challenge after winning the Old Spice Classic in Orlando over the weekend. Sydney Lowe has a nice group back from last year and a budding star in freshman forward J.J. Hickson. The Spartans only loss came against #1 ranked UCLA in a very tough battle. MSU is led of course by senior guard Drew Neitzel and sophomore forward Raymar Morgan. The Spartans are very tough to beat at home, and tonight marks NC State's first true road game of the season. Look for Michigan State to win a tight one. Boston College (4-0) at Michigan (3-3) 7:15 ESPNU BC has gotten out of the game with four straight wins, but they have yet to play anyone of substance. We have yet to see just how good the Eagles actually are, but expect Al Skinner's team to finish somewhere near the middle of the ACC. Michigan has struggled early with John Beilein's new system. This should be looked at as a learning year in Ann Arbor, but the Wolverines could prove to be a tough out later in the season. It's far too early to expect too much from Michigan. BC will remain undefeated. Illinois (4-1) at Maryland (4-2) 7:30 ESPN2 The Illini played nicely in Maui and came home with a 3rd place finish. All of a sudden the 13-point loss to Duke in Hawai'i doesn't look quite as bad after the Blue Devils drubbing of Wisconsin last night. Maryland has lost their only two games against quality teams, losing to both UCLA and Missouri. Under Gary Williams, the Terps are very tough at home against non-conference opponents, but don't be surprised to see Illinois squeak out an upset. North Carolina (5-0) at Ohio State (4-1) 9:00 ESPN UNC recently lost the nation's top ranking to UCLA, but the Tar Heels are still a heavy favorite to win the ACC. Point guard Ty Lawson is questionable for tonight's game, and UNC is a different team when he doesn't suit up. Ohio State is a very young team trying to fill the voids left by last year's trio jumping early to the NBA. If Lawson does play, senior guard Jamar Butler will have his hands full trying to slow him up. The Buckeyes have a nice young crop that will make some noise as they grow this season, but UNC is too much to handle this early in the season, especially with a healthy Lawson. Virginia Tech (2-2) at Penn State (2-3) 9:30 ESPN2 Virginia Tech's recent 1-2 showing in Anchorage was a bit disappointing, but also showed that the Hokie's could be in for a long rebuilding year. Many expected Penn State to be much improved from last year and finish around the middle of the pack in the Big Ten. Three straight losses to South Carolina, Rider, and Central Florida has tempered some of that talk. It looks like the Nittany Lions may be in store for another disappointing finish near the bottom of the conference. Both teams will struggle this year, but since the game is being played in Happy Valley and PSU has difference maker Geary Claxton, we'll pick the Lions in this one. Tuesday's Results: Indiana 83 Georgia Tech 79 Virginia 94 Northwestern 52 Florida State 75 Minnesota 61 Duke 82 Wisconsin 58 Clemson 61 Purdue 58 |