North Carolina 77 Ohio State 73

Looking down the road a couple weeks: Apparently, North Carolina's not going to let a little thing like "losing 4 starters to the NBA" stand in the way of playing dominating basketball.

The Buckeyes mounted a furious comeback in the final minute, but the UNC defense dominated for 39 minutes. Evan Turner was flustered into 10 (!) turnovers, and Jon Diebler and William Buford combined to shoot just 7-29 from the field. (It's going to take Turner the rest of the nonnconference season just to get his TO% back down to a respectable level.)

Tom Izzo's got 12 days to get the MSU offense ready to face the new-and-not-so-much-downgraded Tarheel defense. Oh, and there's 4 other games to be played in the meantime.

2 months ago KJ@theonlycolors 13 comments 0 recs |

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Big Ten ACC Challenge

I am assuming this game does not count as part of the Big Ten ACC challenge.

Has the Big Ten ever won the BTACC Challenge?

by DrDetroit on Nov 20, 2009 3:38 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

No and No.

by TMadison25 on Nov 20, 2009 7:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I like the chances this year

But really, the important part of that ‘challenge’ is the fact that MSU has a winning record against the ACC in the ‘challenge’. In fact, MSU is the only Big Ten team to boast that.

We’ve done our job throughout the years, so whatever.

by cwel87 on Nov 20, 2009 8:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm...

Not sure if ‘flustered’ was the right word. Dude was getting hacked horribly every time he drove – and never was able to draw a single foul (Despite the whistle-happy refs everywhere else on the court). Consequently he either turned the ball over or was called for a travel/carry nearly every time… Maybe 5 of those 10 were legit turnovers that were straight-up Turners fault – which still isn’t great though.

Also – I would hardly consider that game to be ‘dominating basketball’. They got a big lead because Ohio State couldn’t hit a shot more than because they played great. Bufford was awful, Deibler was awful, and every time Turner tried something he was hacked and turned it over.

by MooTheKow on Nov 20, 2009 6:00 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Also funny...

Evan Turner had his 2nd triple double of the season already.. Double digit points, rebounds, and turnovers.

by MooTheKow on Nov 20, 2009 6:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't watch the first half closely enough to comment definitively on the officiating.

But I did see Turner driving into the lane and not being able to shoot over or pass around Thompson/Davis down low on multiple occasions.

Wasn’t part of the reason that OSU was jacking up outside shots the UNC interior defense? (6 blocks on 40 2pt attempts)

Hopefully, it was more OSU playing badly than UNC dominating, but it looked like a decent amount of both from what I saw.

Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!

by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 20, 2009 7:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd glad I don't play for MSU

because UNC would be in my head. I get nervous every time they come on the television. I’m sure Izzo will get them one day, hopefully soon.

by intrpdtrvlr on Nov 20, 2009 9:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

FWIW

The Geeks think the outcome was flukey, too.

Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!

by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 20, 2009 9:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't see last night's game

so I can’t comment on the officiating. Maybe Turner was just forcing stuff instead of letting the game come to him, or maybe he’s just not that good a fit at point guard. Any player can have an off night.

As for UNC . . . I am getting tired of losing to them. I think we’ll break through one of these days (hopefully this year) but the bottom line is that as long as Ol’ Roy is there they will be in perpetual reloading mode. You will never be able to count on a down year because too much talent is on hand. Plus, he really knows how to coach them up. It took us a while to break through against Duke but we eventually got there.

Somewhat off topic but SI’s college bball writers had a college dream team draft

I like Wahl’s team as it has Cole Aldrich and our own Mr. Lucas. Only one of the writers got to draft Izzo as their coach but three of the four said they would have drafted him had he been available.

by TheCrestedHelm on Nov 20, 2009 10:32 AM CST reply actions 0 recs