ACC/Big Ten Challenge Open Thread
BigTen off to a good start.
NW is absolutely lighting it up (shooting 73%) against a worse than advertised GT team.
Iowa almost at half with a lead on Wake.
OSU (should win easy) just starting vs FSU; UM at 9 vs Clemson (we'll win); Illinois at 9:30 vs UNC (toss up)
November 30th, 2010 at 7:46 PM ^
or is there a stream available online?
November 30th, 2010 at 7:50 PM ^
LETS GO BIG 10..errr...BIG 11....errrr.....BIG 12....errr wait, 1,2,3,4...
November 30th, 2010 at 7:50 PM ^
Bookmark that site, right next to mgoblog.
November 30th, 2010 at 7:50 PM ^
NW hanging 55 on GT... 10 of 12 from the arc (22 of 29 overall 75.9%)... as Dan Patrick would say, "en fuego"
Iowa up a dozen on Wake... Wake sloppy with TO's and Iowa crushing the boards.
November 30th, 2010 at 7:51 PM ^
I like Michigan's chances against a Clemson team still adjusting to a new coach, but beating Clemson on their home court won't be easy. U-M is a 9-point underdog.
November 30th, 2010 at 8:13 PM ^
They need to bust out the Michigan team that played against Syracuse. Stu and Morgan lit it up. Need Tim to get on a hot streak.
November 30th, 2010 at 8:24 PM ^
Clemson lost to a terrible ODU team, and hasn't beaten "anyone".
November 30th, 2010 at 8:42 PM ^
I think you have to take into account that the Clemson players are in the process of learning a new system, which may explain the ODU loss. Clemson may still end up an NCAA Tournament team, regardless of how they've looked so far.
By the way, your confidence about Michigan's chances is a welcome change from the usual negativity that prevails around here in regard to the basketball team (such as the person on another thread predicting that Michigan will get stomped tonight by 20).
November 30th, 2010 at 8:50 PM ^
was getting rid of Oliver Purnell. He had them to the highest level they'll see, roughly 3rd best in the ACC - all they can hope for. Any difficulties during the transition are their own fault. I think the current coach (former Wright St), is capable, but he still won't exceed what OP did. They're going through all this just to tread water at best.
November 30th, 2010 at 8:59 PM ^
Back when we played them in the 2009 tournament, someone (Katz? Big Ten Wonk? Can't remember) crunched the numbers and found that John Beilein had the greatest career performance of any active coach, relative to seeding, in the NCAA tournament. The worst? Purnell.
November 30th, 2010 at 9:10 PM ^
Purnell has never won an NCAA tourney game. He 0-6--third worst in NCAA history, according to this article on Purnell's hiring by DePaul.
I guess I should have said below that Purnell is a good regular-season coach.
November 30th, 2010 at 9:00 PM ^
I agree that Purnell's a good coach, but I don't think the program is simply going to fall apart because he left. That's why I'm not quite as confident as you are about a Michigan victory.
Also, I don't think it's the case Clemson "got rid of" Purnell. From what I've read, Purnell simply bolted for DePaul (and bigger bucks) pretty much out of the blue. You might say that Clemson made a mistake letting him go, but they didn't get rid of him.
November 30th, 2010 at 8:51 PM ^
Terrible ODU? The same Monarch team that has 4 starters back from a team that won the Colonial and advanced into the second round of the tournament? Losing to one of the top Colonial teams is not terrible.
November 30th, 2010 at 9:22 PM ^
Anyone who has the inside scoop on Old Dominion deserves a +1.
November 30th, 2010 at 7:58 PM ^
We pretty much need to win all the games tonight after Minnesota laid an egg last night. Or hope for an upset tomorrow, but outside of Wisco our match-ups tomorrow are not so good.
November 30th, 2010 at 8:13 PM ^
How is Iowa so bad all of a sudden? That happened so fast. Remember when Steve Alford was being considered for the IU job?
November 30th, 2010 at 8:23 PM ^
Maybe Northwestern can lend Iowa some of their points. NW is rolling.
November 30th, 2010 at 11:45 PM ^
Steve Alford hasn't coached at Iowa in years.
December 1st, 2010 at 12:02 AM ^
I didn't know 2007 was a such a long time ago....thanks for that reminder.
December 1st, 2010 at 12:05 AM ^
Considering they've had two different coaching staffs since him, yeah it is.
If you're going to be snarky, you should change your signature.
November 30th, 2010 at 8:20 PM ^
Considering UNC already lost to Minnesota, I have the sinking feeling that their game tonight will be slightly less than a toss-up. Big Ten has a good chance this year.
November 30th, 2010 at 8:22 PM ^
Forgot about Minny losing last night...
I think everyone but MSU (vs Duke) has a legitimiate shot to win tomorrow. Purdue (vs VT), Wisc (vs NCST), and IU (vs BC) all win, and PSU is a toss up vs Maryland (who I think is a little overated).
November 30th, 2010 at 8:27 PM ^
a "Michigan College of Engineering Homework Open Thread"? Or will that be a violation of the Honor Code?
November 30th, 2010 at 8:59 PM ^
after Iowa had a 3 go half way down, then pop out on previous possession.
November 30th, 2010 at 9:00 PM ^
Wake hits a 3 with just a few seconds left to break the 73-73 tie.
November 30th, 2010 at 9:00 PM ^
Could this finally be the year Northwestern makes the tournament?
November 30th, 2010 at 9:03 PM ^
Not gonna lie, I am rooting for them to make the tourny this year
November 30th, 2010 at 9:05 PM ^
Is Sullinger a one and done type of player?
November 30th, 2010 at 9:41 PM ^
... is playing great! How refreshing to see a team that plays together. Not that they haven't yet this season, but mostly compared to last year's team.
Also, Morris has come so, so far from last year. He's really developed into a great scorer
November 30th, 2010 at 9:42 PM ^
.... and on national TV, no less. Go blue!
November 30th, 2010 at 10:21 PM ^
Lovin' what I'm seeing. First time seeing them this year, and cant be more pleased. I just hope they are able to keep this up the whole season.
November 30th, 2010 at 11:49 PM ^
The league should be able to pull off two more wins and take the Challenge for the second year in a row.
November 30th, 2010 at 11:55 PM ^
If only Iowa could've beaten Wake.
Wisconsin and Purdue need to win, Big Ten gets the victory.
If Indiana manages a bit of an upset, that'd be cool too.
December 1st, 2010 at 8:23 PM ^
Wisconsin is just laying it down on NC State, 48-21, just underway in the second half. Purdue leads VT by 4 at the break. If these leads hold (lolncstate), this will give the B10 the necessary 6 wins to take the Challenge for the second year in a row (and overall), thus saving anyone the dilemma of rooting for MSU for the Challenge's sake, while actually wanting to see them get whupped.
Go Big Ten!
December 1st, 2010 at 8:40 PM ^
But my Duke hate will leave me sorta rooting for Sparty. If they beat Duke it will make the B10 look that much better.
December 1st, 2010 at 8:44 PM ^
Wisconsin leads NC State 73-37(!!).
Wow.
December 1st, 2010 at 9:03 PM ^
Wisconsin has the same exact team every year.
December 1st, 2010 at 10:01 PM ^
Fire Sidney Lowe.
B10 wins the challenge when Purdue beats VT by 3. Now root for MSU to beat Duke.
Fuck Duke