ACC once again proving Big Ten is no challenge

By Zeke Jennings
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Perhaps it's time to come up with a new name for the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

After all, wouldn't the Big Ten have to win once in awhile to make it a challenge.

The ACC won four of five games on Tuesday to run its mark to 5-1 in this season's, um, challenge -- the ninth in the series, with the ACC having won the previous eight.

No. 15-ranked Indiana's narrow 83-79 home win over unranked Georgia Tech is the Big Ten's lone win thus far.

Barring the Big Ten sweeping the five games on Wednesday, which is highly unlikely, the ACC will run its series record to 9-0 against the Big Ten in the challenge, which began in 1999.

What's even more alarming for the Big Ten this time around is that three of the six games have been blowouts, including No. 20 Wisconsin's embarrassing 82-58 loss to No. 7 Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Tuesday.

The bigger Badgers were never in the game. They were frustrated by Duke's guards, frustrated by the referees and frustrated by the Cameron Crazies. Duke led 48-25 at halftime.

Big Ten doormat Northwestern was beaten 94-52 on the road at Virginia in a game most didn't think would be much of a game, but a 42-point loss?

Florida State also easily handled visiting Minnesota 75-61.

Purdue fought valiantly at No. 18 Clemson, losing 61-58 in a game the Boilermakers led at halftime. Iowa also lost a narrow decision to Wake Forest on Monday, although the Hawkeyes were playing at home.

There is at least some hope that the Big Ten can make the final tally at least respectable.

Four of the five games on Wednesday are at Big Ten arenas, although one of them is No. 2 North Carolina visiting an inexperienced Ohio State team.

Michigan State should be able to handle North Carolina State at the Breslin Center, and Michigan has a decent shot at exposing undefeated Boston College in Ann Arbor.

The other games are Illinois at Maryland and Virginia Tech at Penn State, both of which could go either way, although once would have to give the edge to the ACC teams.

Still, even if things go well for the Big Ten tonight, the conference will be lucky to even post a 5-6 record. Chances are, it's not going to be that close.

But that would be fitting since the ACC-Big Ten Challenge hasn't been close either.