With all due respect to Florida State’s 80-67 win over Iowa Monday night (right), the ACC/Big Ten Challenge truly gets under way tonight with what promises to be the most exciting of two nights of matchups. Unplug the phone, don’t answer the door: Here’s a preview of the games between the two best conferences.
Tuesday:
Ohio State (1-1) vs. No. 4 Duke (3-0) at Greensboro, N.C.
Time & TV: 6 p.m., ESPN
For your information: Although he is in his 28th year of coaching and has faced 166 different opponents, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has never faced Ohio State as a head coach.
Penn State (0-3) at Clemson (2-0)
Time & TV: 6:30 p.m., ESPN2
For your information: Clemson is 6-11 against Big Ten teams. Penn State has a good football team.
No. 9 Maryland (3-0) vs. No. 10 Indiana (4-0) at Indianapolis
Time & TV: 8 p.m., ESPN
For your information: A rematch of last year’s NCAA title game. Maryland is on an eight-game win streak from last season. Indiana won the Maui Classic.
No. 12 North Carolina (5-0) at No. 25 Illinois (3-0)
Time & TV: 8:30 p.m., ESPN2
For your information: The Tar Heels have started the same five players in each of the first five games this season and are led by their outstanding freshmen: Rashad McCants (left; 21.1 ppg), Sean May (14.4 ppg) and Raymond Felton (9.2 ppg). Illinois has Brian Cook back in the lineup with Dee Brown, the Illini’s impressive freshman.
Wednesday:
Georgia Tech (3-0) at No. 20 Minnesota (2-0)
Time & TV: 6 p.m., ESPN
For your information: The Gophers begin their busiest stretch of the year with five games in 10 days.
Northwestern (3-1) at N.C. State (2-0)
Time & TV: 6:30 p.m., ESPN2
For your information: Although you won’t see a game with more screens and backdoor cuts, watch out for the Wildcats’ shooters, who nailed 11 of 27 three-pointers in their upset of Kansas State. Northwestern figures to put up more of a fight than Mount St. Mary’s and Coppin State against the ‘Pack.
No. 22 Virginia (3-1) at No. 21 Michigan State (2-2)
Time & TV: 8 p.m., ESPN
For your information: The game is just Virginia’s third meeting with Michigan State. The teams met last year but had to suspend the game because condensation on the floor made it dangerous to continue. Michigan State is reeling from a disastrous trip to Anchorage (above) and needs to get back on track before the conference schedule begins.
Wake Forest (2-0) at No. 23 Wisconsin (4-0)
Time & TV: 8:30 p.m., ESPN2
For your information: Both teams start just one senior leading their team in scoring–Josh Howard (18.0 ppg. for Wake) and Kirk Penney (19.7 ppg. for Wisconsin).
