ACC basketball: Game on
ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Right now we are in the midst of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge; the ACC has started off slow in the challenge this year. The challenge has been around for 11 years, this year being number eleven. The past 10 years the ACC has dominated the challenge winning all ten years. This year has started out as a different story; the Big Ten has come out on fire, as of Tuesday night the Big Ten is up three games to zero against the ACC. With schools like Indiana, Purdue, Michigan State, etc… the Big Ten is a solid conference that knows how to win basketball games and this year in the challenge they are showing it. In order to win the ACC/Big Ten Challenge you must have six victories and they are half way there.

As I write this article tonight, UNC is playing Michigan State, Carolina has showed it’s inside presence and Michigan State is finding it tough to handle the Tar heels. Michigan State is making a run right now and needless to say that it will come down to the end. Ed Davis is making a huge difference in this game he has already scored a career high in points tonight, and he is only a sophomore. Larry Drew has also come up big with a season high 15 points on the night. The amazing thing about the ACC is the conference is resilient and it is quite possible that even though they started out 0-3 to begin the night, by the end of this night it could be all tied up 3-3. The ACC schools that have fallen are Wake Forest to Purdue, NC State to Northwestern, and Virginia to Penn State. There was talk that this was the year for the Big Ten, but there is still a lot of basketball left.

> Find a great selection of discount ACC Merchandise & Apparel!

The ACC is the best basketball conference in nation, no doubt. The teams are always ready to play and always tough to play. To me this challenge is a match-up of the two best basketball conferences in the country and it is always fun to watch, with the ACC having bragging rights for the past 10 years, a decade of dominance for the ACC. So could it be the year of the Big Ten, it is possible but we all know anything is possible.

On Wednesday the challenge will wind up with Duke, Boston College, Clemson, etc… finishing strong for the ACC. I look forward to another year for the ACC to have those bragging rights. Oh and just an update Carolina did finish off Michigan State in a close one and the challenge is tied up 3-3, with Virginia Tech beating Iowa and Maryland defeating Indiana; the deciding finale of games will happen on Wednesday night. Ladies and Gentlemen college basketball is back!

By: Sam Adams
ACC Fans Staff Writer