Archive for the ‘Big Ten’ tag
NU to play N.C. State in ACC/Big Ten Challenge
Northwestern men’s basketball will play at N.C. State on December 1 as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The time of the game and television information have not been determined, but the game will air on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU.
The Wildcats are 3-7 in the 10 previous editions of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, including last year’s 73-59 win over Florida State last year.
The Wolfpack posted a 16-14 record and went 6-10 in the ACC to finish in 10th place. They did not make a postseason tournament. N.C. State is 5-4 in ACC/Big Ten Challenges and is undefeated in four home games.
The Cats faced the Wolfpack in the 2002 challenge, losing in Raleigh, N.C., 74-49.
The ACC has won each of the 10 inter-conference competitions.
This year’s challenge is headlined by a national championship rematch between Michigan State and North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Dec. 1. Duke will also battle Wisconsin and Florida State will travel to Ohio State in matchups of NCAA Tournament teams.
Men’s Hoops: Big Ten wakeup call
By Adam Fusfeld
In the preseason, the Big Ten was constantly labeled a “wide open” league where several teams had a shot at the conference crown. Though this often is a politically correct way to say “mediocre,” Northwestern (8-5, 0-3 Big Ten) has been a firsthand witness to the conference’s depth and strength.
After winning eight of their first 10 games, the Wildcats appeared to be a quality team. They looked good against opponents in powerhouse conferences, winning easily against the ACC’s Florida State and the Big East’s DePaul. But with the arrival of the new year and Big Ten competition, the team has not been as impressive.
NU dropped a tight 61-57 contest at Penn State despite holding the lead for most of the game. The Cats then hosted No. 10 Michigan State and lost 77-67 behind the Spartans’ second half surge. Last week the team lost at Wisconsin 74-45 in a game that was hardly ever close.
“I think everybody needs to adjust,” senior guard Craig Moore said. “You have non-conference (games) where you can get decent shots, but now every shot is contested and you have to make them.”
Click here to read more.
Women’s Hoops: Big Ten perception takes hit
By Danny Daly
Not too long ago, the Big Ten conference could call itself one of the nation’s strongest in women’s basketball. The league went 29-17 in the NCAA tournament from 2003 to 2005 and each year the conference was represented by no fewer than five teams, three of which advanced to at least the Sweet 16. Michigan State made it all the way to the national title game one season, and Minnesota reached the Final Four another.
But the past three years have not come close to matching the success of the previous three. The Big Ten has gone just 10-12 in the tourney - and not counting Purdue, the league sports an abysmal 4-9 record. One-third as many teams have reached the round of 16, with none progressing to the national semifinals. Ohio State has claimed at least a share of the Big Ten title each of the last three seasons, yet has never made it to the second weekend.
This past March marked a new low.
The league won just one game, while every other Big Six conference had a representative in the Elite Eight. No Big Ten teams were ranked in the top 25 of the final USA Today/ESPN poll.
This lack of postseason success has brought about a significant drop in national respect for the conference. Big Ten coaches point to three major reasons for their league’s sudden downturn, and they are confident the recent struggles are just an aberration.
Click here to read more.
