Big 10/ACC Challenge Tuesday Open Thread
Big 10 already up 1-0.
Two games just started:
NW at NCState (ncst -6)
Wake at Purdue (PU -10.5)
One starting in a matter of minutes:
Maryland at IU (Mary -5.5)
And two on the back end of the doubleheader
MSU at UNC (unc -1.5)
VT at Iowa (VT -2)
I have no idea if anyone wants to rap about these games, but if you are, let's do it. If not, at least read my blog post about tonight, lol
December 1st, 2009 at 7:13 PM ^
Big 10 has the edge in court atmosphere.
Mackey is hopping. Meanwhile, a ton of empty seats in Raleigh. I thought that was supposed to be basketball country. I guess only if you wear blue?
December 1st, 2009 at 7:41 PM ^
I virtually grew up on Tobacco road, loving ACC basketball, and here is a primer on court atmosphere.
Duke-we all know about the Cameron Crazies. The arena is tiny (9,314) and I doubt Duke would fill an arena above 15,000. I say this as someone who grew up loving Duke.
UNC-used to have an atmosphere as crazy as Dukes, but then they sold out to build the Dean Dome. Similar to the Big House, loud for big games, quiet for everything else. Down in front crowd included.
NC State-lost their home court advantage when they moved from Reynolds Coliseum on campus to the RBC center off campus. They aren't a basketball or football school. They are a whatever they can beat UNC at school. Therefore, especially recently, their crowd has been poor unless playing Duke, UNC, or WFU.
WFU- Good fans, but a tiny school. Have to have a good year to get the non students on the bandwagon to fill Lawerence-Joel. When they are good, this arena is as loud as any in the country.
FSU- recently built a small stadium. Loud for big games, quiet for anything else.
Miami- see FSU
Georgia Tech- The Thriller Dome is awesome. Always loud.
Clemson- Tied with Maryland for best home court outside of Duke. Small with very loud students. Not creative, but loud and generally very angry. Fits well with the teams full court press.
UVA- The downfall of the team coincided with moving to a new arena. The crowd has almost no effect on the game.
VaTech- Good student section in a small arena. Have an unfortunate tendency to turn violent. I remember Duke parents being assaulted by students in Blacksburg.
Maryland- Great home court advantage provided by what I consider to be the worst, most violent fans in college basketball. Have a huge inferiority complex when it comes to the 4 schools from NC. Always feel disrespected.
BC- I'm always impressed with BC's student section, possibly because I only watch them when they are playing Duke or UNC.
December 1st, 2009 at 7:52 PM ^
So that makes NC State a football school then, right?
Good stuff. like the Dean Dome/Big House comparison.
I have to admit, I have never noticed the Thriller Dome before. I'll have to pay closer attention to their home games this season.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:00 PM ^
NC State is a football school until UNC beats them at football again, then, who knows. They are very MSUesque in Raleigh. Most of my friends there prefer going to Hurricanes hockey games than NCSU basketball games.
As a disclaimer, I should have admitted that my dad is a Duke alumnus and I have been to more games at Cameron than anywhere else.
UNC's atmosphere was great at Carmichael, where they still play most of their women's games. The tiny arena, made mostly out of metal, was incredibly loud. Roy is hoping to convince the big donors to give the students their court side seats for the Duke game every year and move upstairs. I'd like to see them experiment with this for a less important conference games to convince the fans how great it could be. Also, UNC has an online ticket lottery for students due to high demand. It would be great if they could find a way to create more student tickets.
December 1st, 2009 at 7:14 PM ^
2-2 after 5 minutes? Get it together Purdue.
December 1st, 2009 at 7:15 PM ^
I'm certainly up for it. I loaded up betting against IU and Iowa (only +5 and +2.5 respectively)
I just don't see any way either of those teams hangs in their games for more than a half. Purdue HAS to win if the Big 10 has any chance to win the challenge.
December 1st, 2009 at 7:18 PM ^
With ya on VT over Iowa....I couldnt bring myself to bet against IU. But, I think you may onto something.
Good luck.
December 1st, 2009 at 7:32 PM ^
I've definitely seen times where IU's crowd has kept them in games they shouldn't be in. There just isn't enough talent on the Hoosiers to be successful. When both teams want to play the same tempo (and both these teams want to play FAST) the team with more talent is coming out on top a large portion of the time.
Unless the Hoosiers are leading late I'd say Maryland is close to 70% cover even in a close game. Hope I'm right!
December 1st, 2009 at 7:37 PM ^
commercials every 2 seconds then maybe I would tune in. But since bball is useless until March I will not.
December 1st, 2009 at 7:38 PM ^
Rivers out 1 minute in with a back injury. Hulls is the current Mr Basketball from Indiana so he has a LOT of support running the point. Not sure how this is going to affect the game.
December 1st, 2009 at 7:41 PM ^
I feel like this is the Big Ten's year. I think our squad will bounce back from the deodorant tourney and take care of a relatively bad BC squad, and PSU already got us to a great start, as mentioned. When I look at each matchup, my analytical side says ACC wins again, but I just have a feeling the Big Ten will find a way to get to 6. There will have to be some thrilling and unlikely upsets along the way.
I always enjoy the ride with this event...I remeber how excited I was when it first emerged. Some of that has worn off after 10 straight failures, but honestly, after missing it by one game so many years, it has to tilt our way someday, and we're stronger this year than most recently, so we need to seize the day! This may prove to be extremely embarassing to myself, especially since I am pretty new to posting but here's what I see as the Big Ten's most likely path to 6 wins:
BIG TEN WINS
PSU over Virginia (Done)
Purdue over Wake
Northwestern over NC State
Michigan over BC
Ohio State over Florida State
Wisconsin over Duke (Biggest Long Shot)
ACC WINS
Maryland over Indiana
Virginia Tech over Iowa
North Carolina over MSU
Clemson over Illinois
Miami (that Miami) over Minnesota
Going out on a big limb with Wiscy, but the Kohl Center has some of the funkiest juju for the visitor, and no one knows this better than UM (and the rest of the conference).
That's my story...and you know the rest.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:18 PM ^
however, IMO the gophers are a better bet than the badgers
December 1st, 2009 at 9:09 PM ^
Very good point...Bucky did get run by Gonzaga out in Maui, but I still contend that they are tougher to beat at home than any other B10 team, and that includes Sparty. You are right thought, Minny is def. a better team than the Canes, but Miami his a pretty tough out at home as well. So far, every team has impressed me. Hopefully it keeps up.
December 1st, 2009 at 7:46 PM ^
Wow. Shooting 63 percent.
Pack has had a big advantage on the inside the last 6-7 minutes, but make too many mistakes, are lost at times on D and cant match or slow down the hot shooting Cats.
NW has scored on every possession its had after a TO.
Pack need to regroup, but I dont think NW is playing above their heads at all and have a 10-point halftime lead.
Shurna had btb 20 point games over the weekend, has 10 at half. Nash has hit three treys.
December 1st, 2009 at 7:48 PM ^
Is it just me, or did that first half go by in a flash? Didn't that game start after Purdue/Wake?
December 1st, 2009 at 7:46 PM ^
Is it really a challenge for the ACC when they are 10-0 in it? Sadly, I don't think so. But hopefully this year is different.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:34 PM ^
The frustrating thing is that in five of the 10 years, the ACC has won by a single game. They've indisputably been better overall, but to lose the challenge five times by one game is unlucky.
December 1st, 2009 at 7:50 PM ^
Of the early games the Indiana game is the one to watch for the atmosphere and the Raftery/McD combo
December 1st, 2009 at 8:05 PM ^
i love raftery so much more than dickie v... and IU is playing well... md is not that bad a team even though had a tough run in maui last week
December 1st, 2009 at 7:58 PM ^
If Watford doesn't remind you a bit of Jared Jeffries when he was good you're not watching the same game I am.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:21 PM ^
Fun first half in Bloomington. Final score prediction 75-64 Terps. Book it.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:36 PM ^
Most hated player in the Big 10?
For me it's hard not to say Chris Kramer from Purdue.
I believe I just heard the broadcast quote Kramer saying something along the lines of, "I hit people harder in B10 play and don't get called for it." Hey, that's fine with me if you don't drop like a rock after Manny Harris' elbow grazes you on a standard "basketball play."
Still, Go B10.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:53 PM ^
Pull the upset and take the Big Ten to 4-0!
December 1st, 2009 at 9:01 PM ^
indiana shows flashes of great defense, and then total mental lapses... the atmosphere at assembly hall looks pretty lively.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:07 PM ^
Indiana needs to make a Tom Hammond head for those cutouts that they hold up during free throws.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:23 PM ^
Shooting in the Dean Dome is tough for visiting teams early. It isn't quite the "dome" atmosphere they complain about in the Final Four, but it is close to that. It looks like they have regained composure now. Tight calls by ACC officiating should make this a very fast paced game and could favor MSU.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:25 PM ^
Maryland finally pulling away... Hoosiers just don't have the interior defensive depth to keep up.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:27 PM ^
The crowd @ UNC is huge for them. I worry about this game being a similar atmosphere to our upcoming game at UK. Not sure how our guys will handle a crowd like this given their road play up to this point. Hopefully, I'm wrong.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:31 PM ^
I would worry more about KU's players than fans.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:37 PM ^
Of course, that's a given. I'm just concerned about our shooting and how off we were in Orlando--with like 100 indifferent people in the stands. I'd think a deafening home crowd would not be a good thing for our shooting %. That being said, if we are shooting well, I think we can beat anybody.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:42 PM ^
I remember how we stepped up against UConn last year and it makes me wonder how much we may miss the leadership of Lee and Merritt. I think playing KU will do a great job of preparing us for the Big Ten season. A good showing at Phog Allen would do wonders for our team as we head into what may be the toughest conference schedule we have faced. I think we need to go undefeated in the rest of non conference (excluding KU) in order to be in good position for a return to the tournament.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:48 PM ^
UK is Kentucky.
KU is Kansas (although, strangely enough, its official name is the University of Kansas).
December 1st, 2009 at 10:00 PM ^
Iowa is playing really well.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:07 PM ^
VA Tech on an 8-0 run since your post. Nicely jinxed.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:13 PM ^
That and MSU has their typical UNC deer in headlights look.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:24 PM ^
...we're gonna give away a 3-0 lead and be tied 3-3 going into tomorrow. Thanks a lot Sparty!
December 1st, 2009 at 11:05 PM ^
"Thriller" has clearly joined the list of songs overplayed by marching/pep bands. It seemed like every visiting marching band played it as part of its halftime performance in football this year. And now tonight I've heard it played in two different basketball games. I imagine that this is a temporary thing (in response to MJ's death), though. If only that were also true for "Don't Stop Believing," "Sweet Caroline" and the rest.
December 1st, 2009 at 11:33 PM ^
Well, so far this has gone pretty much how I expected it to. I really hoped I was wrong about Iowa, but man, they might be scrappy but that doesn't make them good. Ditto for IU, though I will say they are showing some signs of improvement. At the end of the day, I really think Iowa will emerge as the 11th place team in the conference, and Indiana will start their slow climb back to the conference elite. Tomorrow should be a thrilling slate; this is shaping up to be the typical fight to the finish, but I still have a good feeling. All we need to do is win the day, 3-2. This struggle will not last an 11th year.
December 1st, 2009 at 11:59 PM ^
I just want to be a douche and point out that I'm 5-for-5 on my predictions today :)
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:45 AM ^
I called all 5 today as well. So, I will be a douche and point that out as well. Who you got today? I'm taking, Michigan, Ohio St, Minnesota, Duke and Clemson. Big Ten wins challenge 6-5 and gets the monkey off its back.
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:20 AM ^
All but Clemson. I'm taking Illinois instead. I know they had a couple rough losses lately but I don't think much of Oliver Purnell as a head coach and I think Illinois wins it. BTW I put my picks in the comments of the Challenge preview post, so they're up for posterity.
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:34 PM ^
I put my picks on that post too...but only after the Penn St win. And you are wrong, Oliver Purnell is a genius coach in the first month of the season, then he sucks.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:15 AM ^
...another season of abysmal Big Ten basketball.
Let's be honest -- the Big Ten doesn't hold a candle to the ACC, or the Big East, or even arguably the SEC or Pac-10. It's cute that the Big Ten was 3-0 against the ACC to start the series, but now it's all tied up, and the games left favor the ACC. Big Ten basketball is just ugly.
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:50 AM ^
If you think that the Pac 10 is arguably better than the Big Ten this year, then you don't follow basketball. The Pac 10 is God-awful this year.
I would say that the games left favor the ACC by maybe a hair, but I really think Minnesota @ Miami is a pick 'em game. And the other four should be split.
But Pac 10 better than Big Ten this year? As Stephen Colbert would say, "now that's the craziest fuckin' thing I've ever heard!"
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:21 PM ^
It feels like Greivis Vasquez has been at Maryland for about 10 years.
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:00 PM ^
Tell me about it. Guy's a Class A douche rocket.
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:05 PM ^
Don't look now.. but both Wisconsin and Ohio State are winning..
I can't bring myself to root for OSU but.. GO BADGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!