Nov. 29, 2004
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Big Ten/ACC Challenge -- Year Six: Now in its sixth year, the Big Ten/ACC Challenge pairs off 18 teams from two of the nation's best conferences for nine games over three nights. The 2004 event takes place on Monday through Wednesday, as all nine games will be televised nationally for the third straight year.
Among the Ranked: Nine of the top 25 teams ranked in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll will compete in the 2004 Challenge, including five ranked in the top 10 (No. 1 Wake Forest, No. 3 Georgia Tech, No. 4 Illinois, No. 9 Michigan State and No. 10 Duke).
Postseason Success Stories: Both leagues have produced a long history of NCAA Tournament success. In fact, the two conferences rank first or second in NCAA Tournament appearances (Big Ten -167, ACC - 151), victories (ACC - 298, Big Ten - 267) and Final Fours (ACC - 40, Big Ten - 37) since the event's inception in 1939. The two leagues have advanced 13 teams to the national semifinals over the past six seasons, including 2004 Challenge participants Indiana, Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Duke, Georgia Tech, Maryland and North Carolina.
History of the Challenge: The ACC holds a 27-17 advantage in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge, claiming the Commissioner's Cup all five years. The five-year records of the Big Ten participants in this annual series are listed to the right.
Challenge Trends: Michigan State (3-1) and Minnesota (3-2) are tied for the Conference lead with three victories in the event . . . After earning its first Challenge victory in 2002 at Assemby Hall, Illinois will return home where the Illini will host No.1 Wake Forest on Wednesday. This will mark the first time that a No. 1 ranked opponent will play in Champaign since Jan. 11, 1979 when then-No. 1 Michigan State fell to Illinois, 57-55 ... The MSU-Duke game and Wisconsin-Maryland contest are the only rematches of a 2003 Challenge contest ... Home teams are 26-10 in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge (ACC is 14-3, Big Ten is 11-7) . . . The ACC holds a 6-3 edge in neutral site games . . . 24 of the 44 Challenge games played to date have had at least one ranked team playing . . . 15 games have had both teams ranked.
All-Tournament Honorees: Several Big Ten student-athletes were named to All-Tournament teams last week. Iowa's Jeff Horner earned All-Tournament honors at the EA Sports Maui Invitational after leading the Hawkeyes to a second-place showing at the tourney. It marked the best finish for Iowa at the Maui Invitational since claiming the title in 1987. Michigan's Dion Harris nabbed All-Tournament honors last week after the Wolverines earned their first trip to the Preseason NIT semifinals since the 1995-96 season. Ivan Harris and J.J. Sullinger also picked up All-Tournament accolades after leading Ohio State to a 3-1 record at the Guardian Classic.
The Century Mark: Michigan State has scored 100 points in three consecutive games for just the second time in school history and the first time since the first three games of the 1963-64 season. MSU posted a 102-52 victory over Nicholls State on Saturday, following back-to-back 104-point performances against UW-Green Bay (Nov. 22) and Florida A&M (Nov. 19). The Spartans also become only the second Big Ten squad in the last 10 years to claim three-consecutive 100-plus point games. Iowa opened the 1997-98 season with three straight 100-plus point victories. Prior to this year, MSU had topped 100 points just twice in Tom Izzo's nine full seasons.
Home Court Advantage: After three weeks of play, Big Ten squads have not lost a game at home this season, boasting an unblemished record of 22-0. Ohio State leads the League with a 4-0 record, while Illinois, Michigan and Michigan State follow with identical 3-0 marks. The Conference has also not lost a home opener this season, posting a 10-0 record. Northwestern will look to claim a victory in its home opener on Wednesday against Virginia.
On The Boards: Penn State's Aaron Johnson has shown his presence this season, nabbing 20-plus rebounds in two games. Johnson opened the 2004-05 campaign with a 24-board performance against Western Carolina (Nov. 15) and then hauled in 20 against Sacred Heart last Saturday. Johnson becomes the first Big Ten player to nab 20 or more rebounds in a game since Northwesterns' Evan Eschmeyer posted 21 versus Penn State on Jan. 20, 1999.
Badgers Streaking at Home: With Wisconsin defeating UC-Santa Barbara, 72-61, on Nov. 22, the Badgers extended their home winning streak to 30 games, the second-longest streak in the nation. UW currently trails Stephen F. Austin, which has racked up 31 consecutive victories at home. Last season, Wisconsin was the only League school to produce a perfect record at home as the Badgers built a 15-0 mark at the Kohl Center. The streak is the second-longest string of success in school history, as UW was victorious in 33 consecutive contests from March 8, 1911 to January 23, 1918. Wisconsin's last defeat at the Kohl Center occurred on December 4, 2002, against Wake Forest. UW still trails the Big Ten record of 53 straight home triumphs set by Michigan State from 1998 to 2002 -- a winning streak that was ended by the Badgers.
Big Ten Coaching Milestones: Two Big Ten mentors are in reach of claiming several coaching milestones during the 2004-05 season. Iowa head coach Steve Alford will look to become the fifth coach in school history to earn 100 victories after compiling a 92-72 record in his first six seasons at Iowa. Alford is also only two wins away from cracking the 250-victory barrier with a 248-149 all-time record in 13 plus years of coaching. Northwestern head coach Bill Carmody stands only four wins away from claiming his 150th career victory with a 146-92 all-time record that includes a four-year stint at Princeton before joining the Wildcat staff in 2000.
100th MSU Sellout: Not only did Michigan State claim its third consecutive 100-plus point game of the season last week, the Spartans also notched another 100th milestone. Saturday's game against Nicholls State marked the 100th straight sellout in Breslin Center and Tom Izzo's 300th game as the Michigan State coach (210-90). The Spartans lead the League this season with three sellouts, while Wisconsin has notched two.
The 2005-06 Signees: Big Ten schools will welcome at least 27 new men's basketball players next season as each program announced its additions from the early signing period, which ran from November 10-17. The incoming student-athletes hail from 16 different states, including Illinois (5), Ohio (3) and Minnesota (2). The League will also welcome four international recruits from Canada (2), Antigua (1) and Australia (1). The class includes 25 current high school students and two junior college transfers. A list of each school's signees is listed on page six of the release and the Big Ten website at www.bigten.org.
Celebrating 100 Years of Big Ten play: The Big Ten will celebrate its 100th season of men's basketball when Conference action begins on January 5, 2005. The first round of League play was held during the 1905-06 academic year, with Minnesota (6-1) edging Wisconsin (6-2) for the title.
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