The Big Ten nabbed its third straight challenge victory, but what did we learn?
The ACC made a valiant push on the third and final day of the event, but it was too much to overcome the Big Ten’s 6-2 lead after the Tuesday. Wisconsin clinched the challenge with a 70-66 victory at Georgia Tech, giving the Big Ten an 8-6 win and the conference its third straight in the event.
Ohio State and Purdue picked up the biggest wins of the week as the Buckeyes mounted a second half comeback to take down No. 1 Duke, and No. 3 Purdue comfortably defeated an always dangerous FSU squad.
We are getting closer to conference play — for both the ACC and Big Ten it starts this Friday — so let’s take a look at some lessons learned over this year’s event.
Can the Big Ten lock up another challenge tonight?
The 23rd edition of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge got underway Monday as the Big Ten took a 2-0 lead thanks to wins from Iowa and Illinois. In the opening game, Virginia stormed back from a 21-point deficit to take a one point lead late, but Joe Toussaint hit a tough shot with eight seconds left to secure the win. Notre Dame threatened to make things interesting in the second half before Kofi Cockburn and the Illini closed the door.
Tuesday proved more of the same as the Big Ten got wins in four of six games, taking a 6-2 lead on the ACC. Eight wins are needed to clinch. Syracuse and Wake Forest were the big winners for the ACC, while Ohio State’s comeback win over No. 1 Duke provided the marquee game of the night. The Blue Devils had no field goals (and just one made free throw) over the final 5:18 of the game. The Buckeyes, on the other hand, got 20 points from Zed Key and 14 from E.J. Liddell in the victory.
Since 2009, the Big Ten has outright won seven of these events, with the ACC taking two and the two conferences tying thrice. Overall, the ACC leads the series 12-7-3, buoyed by a 10-0 start from 1999-2008.
We have six more games tonight, so let’s take a look at what to expect.
The ACC-Big Ten Challenge continues as the Big Ten holds a 2-0 lead.
The 23rd edition of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge got underway Monday as the Big Ten took a 2-0 lead thanks to wins from Iowa and Illinois. In the opening game, Virginia stormed back from a 21-point deficit to take a one point lead late, but Joe Toussaint hit a tough shot with eight seconds left to secure the win. Notre Dame threatened to make things interesting in the second half before Kofi Cockburn and the Illini closed the door.
Since 2009, the Big Ten has outright won seven of these events, with the ACC taking two and the two conferences tying thrice. Overall, the ACC leads the series 12-7-3, buoyed by a 10-0 start from 1999-2008.
With four Big Ten teams in the newly released AP Poll and only now-No. 1 Duke ranked for the ACC, it looks like it could be another easy win for the Big Ten.
Six games take place tonight, with the ACC only favored in two of them. Let’s take a look at the action.
The ACC-Big Ten Challenge gets underway tonight on the men’s side as Virginia hosts Iowa and Notre Dame heads to Illinois.
The 23rd edition of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge gets underway tonight as the Virginia Cavaliers host Iowa and Notre Dame heads to Illinois. Since 2009, the Big Ten has outright won seven of these events, with the ACC taking two and the two conferences tying thrice. Overall, the ACC leads the series 12-7-3, buoyed by a 10-0 start from 1999-2008.
With four Big Ten teams in the newly released AP Poll and only now-No. 1 Duke ranked for the ACC, it looks like it could be another easy win for the Big Ten.
Just two games are on tap for Monday night, so let’s take a look at what to expect.
See who’s playing who in this year’s edition of the exciting event.
One of the biggest events of the college basketball season, at least in certain parts of the country, is the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. This is when teams from two of the nation’s power conferences get together to see which of the conferences is better. Historically, the ACC has the upper hand with a 12-7-3 advantage in the series and a 138-113 record. The Big Ten won’t be able to catch up in either category this year’s event, but maybe it can make up some ground with these matchups:
See who’s playing who in this year’s edition of the exciting event.
One of the biggest events of the college basketball season, at least in certain parts of the country, is the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. This is when teams from two of the nation’s power conferences get together to see which of the conferences is better. Historically, the ACC has the upper hand with a 12-7-3 advantage in the series and a 138-113 record. The Big Ten won’t be able to catch up in either category this year’s event, but maybe it can make up some ground with these matchups:
Notre Dame proved itself a worth competitor in this year’s ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchup with No. 22 Ohio State.
Notre Dame proved itself a worth competitor in this year’s ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchup with No. 22 Ohio State. In fact, it led for the majority of the contest. However, the good times couldn’t last as the Irish blew an 11-point lead in the second half and lost, 90-85.
Dec 8, 2020; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Nate Laszewski (14) goes up for a shot as Ohio State Buckeyes forward E.J. Liddell (32) defends in the second half at the Purcell Pavilion. Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
The game was tied at 75 with three minutes to go, and the Irish (1-2) got within one three times after that. They trailed, 88-85, with 17 seconds left and the shot clock turned off. Some tough defense by the Buckeyes (4-0) prevented an easy shot. Then, with time almost gone, the Irish got sloppy in desperation and ended up throwing the ball out of bounds without even getting an attempt, allowing C.J. Walker to ice the game with two free throws.
After missing all five field-goal attempts in the first half, E.J. Lundell came alive in the second to lead the Buckeyes with a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds. He and Walker (16 points) combined to shoot a perfect 13 for 13 from the free-throw line. Justice Sueing also scored 16, and Duane Washington Jr. had 13. Justin Ahrens’ 12 points off the bench were triple the scoring output of the Irish’s substitutes.
Dec 8, 2020; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Prentiss Hubb (3) dribbles as Ohio State Buckeyes guard CJ Walker (13) defends in the second half at the Purcell Pavilion. Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Prentiss Hubb scored a career-high 26 points and dished out a game-high six assists. Nate Laszewski came within a rebound of a double-double with 17 and nine. Dane Goodwin scored 16, and Cormac Ryan led all first-half scorers with 15 before being kept out of the points column in the second half. The Irish’s chances for victory were hampered after Juwan Durham fouled out with seven points and nine rebounds, which was pointed out on the ESPN2 broadcast as a rarity for a Notre Dame player.
As Notre Dame plays No. 22 Ohio State on ESPN2, we’re reminded that we’re in the middle of V Week.
As Notre Dame plays No. 22 Ohio State on ESPN2, we’re reminded that we’re in the middle of V Week. Every year, ESPN takes time to remember Jim Valvano, the legendary college basketball coach and broadcaster who valiantly fought cancer before succumbing to the dreaded disease. A month before he left us, Valvano delivered his finest moment as he accepted the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 1993 ESPYs. It’s a speech up there with the greatest ever delivered:
There is no reason for anyone not to watch this speech. It captures everything the human spirit strives to be, even as our bodies fail us. Though Valvano no longer is with us, the V Foundation he created along with ESPN has endured. You owe it to yourself to watch this speech and play your part in the fight against cancer so that one day, cancer won’t be a disease that can kill.
Notre Dame will host Ohio State this December in the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Get excited
Despite both schools being better known for their football prowess. both Notre Dame and Ohio State have accomplished quite a bit on the basketball court.
The two have combined to make 65 NCAA Tournaments (Notre Dame 36, Ohio State 29) while 21 times has one of them appeared in the Elite 8 (Ohio State 14, Notre Dame 7).
The two have also combined for 11 Final Four appearances with Notre Dame getting there in 1978 while Ohio State has been there 10 times, most recently in 2012.
So maybe Ohio State has done more on the biggest stage of college basketball than Notre Dame, but that will only bring more excitement to the 2020 ACC/Big Ten Challenge as Notre Dame is set to host the Buckeyes in early December according to Jon Rothstein.
Sources: Notre Dame will host Ohio State in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
Notre Dame and Ohio State have met five times previously in basketball with the Buckeyes taking three of those games, including the most recent meeting in December of 2013, a 64-61 final.
If Notre Dame (6-3) ever needed a time for Detroit Mercy (1-7) to appear on its schedule, this is it. A blowout loss at Maryland in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge followed by a tough home defeat to Boston College reminded the Irish that their recent …
If Notre Dame (6-3) ever needed a time for Detroit Mercy (1-7) to appear on its schedule, this is it. A blowout loss at Maryland in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge followed by a tough home defeat to Boston College reminded the Irish that their recent six-game winning streak merely was a blip in a long season. They hope Tuesday’s game with the Titans at Purcell Pavilion will give them to relief they need.
Facing the Titans for the first time since November 2011, the Irish once again will look to John Mooney, the nation’s leading rebounder at 13.5 boards a game. Mooney logged his third consecutive double-double and sixth in his first eight games with 16 points and 18 rebounds against Boston College on Saturday. He is 12 rebounds away from tying Rob Kurz (650) for most career rebounds in the Mike Brey era.
Notre Dame is averaging 10.1 turnovers a game after losing the ball a season-high 15 times in Saturday’s loss. It has not finished a season averaging double figures in turnovers since the 2013-14 season (10.3). Though the Irish rank sixth nationally in that category this season and second in the ACC, they’ll have to limit those turnovers to snap their two-game skid.
