Shocker: Big Ten Finally Wins Big Ten/ACC Challenge

December 3, 2009 By 3 Comments

Finally.

I remember when the Big Ten/ACC Challenge started. It now seems like eons ago. Hell, Bob Knight was still coach at IU back then. And ten years later, coming into this year’s event, the ACC had won it all ten times.

Now, thanks to a terrific victory over Duke by Wisconsin – shocking (right J.J. Redick?) when you consider Duke’s 10-0 record in the Challenge entering this year’s – , and a thrilling comeback win by Bruce Weber and the Fighting Illini, the Big Ten has finally captured its first ever title in the annual battle between the conferences.

jj-redickOur friend Ricky O’Donnell of Tremendous Upside Potential, who wrote about the Big Ten’s victory in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge at the SunTimes’ Full Court Press blog, summed it up the best when he said:

Or, to put in terms you’ll understand: the ACC is the Metrodome, the Big 10 is the White Sox. The ACC is the Circus Trip, the Big 10 is the Bulls. The ACC is Carlos Lee, the Big 10 is Cubs’ pitching.

Perhaps even labeling this as oppression was too kind. For 10 years, the Big 10 tried and the Big 10 failed. For 10 years, they never really stood a chance against the mighty ACC.

It is because of all this that I have to use the entirety of my will power not to type the rest of this entry in all caps.

Finally, finally, finally….the streak is over.

Big 10: 6
ACC: 5

I never thought I’d see the day. Exhale. And then rejoice.

I could not have said it better myself.

Unfortunately, my Hoosiers could not hold up their end of the bargain and defeat Maryland on Tuesday, but I am very happy as a Big Ten fan that this much-maligned conference finally has some bragging rights.

And this was not a fluke. The Big Ten is stacked with very good teams this year and will most likely get 6-7 teams in the NCAA tournament, and that’s with traditional power Indiana still trying dig itself out of its Sampson-dugg hole.

For once in December Big Ten fans can hold their heads up high.

To echo Ricky: finally, finally, finally…the streak is over.

**********

* – J.J. Redick photo credit: Full Court Press Blog

Share This Article:


Email Article Email Article
Filed Under: Big Ten Basketball, CBB Tagged With: Big Ten Basketball, Big Ten/ACC Challenge, bruce weber, CBB, jj redick
About Jerod Morris

A proud graduate of Indiana University, Jerod Morris founded Midwest Sports Fans in August of 2008 and has been its Managing Editor every day since. Follow him on Twitter (@JerodMorris) for MSF updates, sports discussion, and a compelling daily assortment of funny and interesting links.
In addition to his work at MSF, Jerod hosts the fast-growing Indiana basketball postgame show The Assembly Call and provides regular music recommendations at IndieChristmas.com. He also helped develop the Synthesis Managed WordPress Hosting platform on which MSF and all of his other sites are run.

  • http://www.thesportsbank.net Paul M. Banks

    Yey! It finally happened. Last year I thought was going to be the year, and had Illinois held on in overtime vs. Clemson it might have happened. Indiana looked a lot better versus Maryland than I thought they would. And I think Mo Creek is going to be a star someday soon.

  • AJ Kaufman

    Great win by Wisconsin, but it was Illinois' unexpected comeback vs a good Clemson team — perhaps tired from their three games out west over the weekend — that set the table. Boiler up!

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/JerodMSF JerodMSF

    It's funny you say that about IU. I was expecting more. I know the Hoosiers are young, but we need to start showing a little more poise and improve our ability to protect the basketball. And I agree about Creek. He's a very good scorer, but needs to be consistent in games. He scores in bunches and then disappears. Reminds me a lot of Greg Graham, a former Hoosier great from the early 90s. Very similar body types and games.