North Carolina State University Athletics
ACC - Big Ten Wrap Up
12/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 4, 2003
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C.-The ACC did it again this year, winning its annual made for TV college basketball challenge with the Big Ten. This was the ACC's 5th straight triumph in the series, but this year's event was different. It was different because of the way the ACC dominated. In capturing seven of the nine games, the ACC also improved its early season record against non-conference foes to 38-3. And if what happened earlier this week is any indication, then the regular season race promises to be as intense, competitive and tight as ever.
If the previous four ACC - Big Ten Challenges proved anything, it was that the two leagues were relatively close. In winning the first four events, the ACC prevailed 5-4 on three occasions and 5-3 in 2002 when one game was suspended.
This week, however, the ACC demonstrated a superiority that had not been seen the first four years. Duke's 72-50 demolition of Michigan State in East Lansing and Georgia Tech's 20-point romp at Ohio State were shockingly one-sided games, particularly because they occurred in two of the more difficult venues the Big Ten has to offer.
Home court advantage, however, was again a major factor as the Blue Devils and Yellow Jackets were the only road teams to come away with wins.
Matching up against a Michigan team that finished in a 3rd place tie in the Big Ten last season, NC State, which was 4th in the ACC, ran into a program that has suddenly been energized by its chances to return to postseason play. Now that the Wolverines' self-imposed banishment from the NCAA Tournament is over, their eyes are clearly focused on the light that is shining at the end of their regular season tunnel.
The Wolfpack may not have run into a buzz-saw on Tuesday night, but it did encounter a tradition-laden program that is once again ready to make noise in the Big Ten.
Now, as it turns its attention to the future, NC State finds itself preparing for a league schedule that may be even more challenging than originally thought. Georgia Tech's early emergence is certainly raising some eyebrows. North Carolina and Duke - as expected - are strong. And how about Wake Forest? The Deacons served notice when they manhandled Indiana by 33 points on Tuesday. Florida State is off to its first 6-0 start in 15 years. Virginia, which is also unbeaten at 4-0, seems to have worked out the chemistry problems that sabotaged its season in 2002-03. The Cavaliers will provide the Pack with its first conference test when they visit Raleigh at the end of this month.
Basketball fans from College Park to Tallahassee probably had a ball watching the ACC stick it to the Big Ten for three days this week. It's always fun to watch the conference you root for beat up on somebody else. But what will it be like when all of these quality teams start turning against each other in about a month?
It's sure to become a monumental battle for survival.
