The official games and dates for the ACC-Big Ten 2020 Challenge are finally available. Everything has been delayed and announced at the facility because of the current Coronavirus pandemic, but we are starting to get some information around the calendar of the season. This is the 22nd challenge ACC-Big Ten, and the ACC has the advantage with an overall record of 12-6-3.
Again, the ACC and the Big Ten should have a real presence in the top 25, with Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin in our 4-6 and Andy Katz’s recent Power 36 rankings, respectively. Virginia leads the ACC on rank 7, with Duke on rank 11.
This year’s event takes place on December 8 and 9, and there are some very good games on the program. There is also Pitt-Northwestern. Here are all the actions:
After reviewing the pairings for this year’s challenge, here are the five games we find most intriguing.
Indiana at Florida State
The Hoosiers defeated the Seminoles in Assembly Hall in the 2019 Challenge, so it’s a Chance for the FSU to take revenge. Florida State loses Trent Forrest and Devin Vassell last year’s Team that lost only five games, but I have no doubt that Leonard Hamilton has a Top-15 Team until he gives me. Indiana returns its top scorer in Trayce Jackson-Davis (13.5 points per game), but loses Devonte Green and Justin Smith.
Penn State at Virginia Tech
The Nittany Lions have a 1-point win over the Hokies in this event in 2018, but the biggest question for this game is who will be on the sidelines for Penn State. Pat Zimmer stepped down as head coach on October 21, leaving Jim Ferry for the stage as interim head coach. Virginia Tech has finished 16-16 in 2019-20 in its first year under new head coach Mike Young, so many questions remain about what we will see from Hokies this year. VT returns PG Wabissa Bede, but the best Marker Landers Nolley (15.5 points per game) transferred to Memphis.
Illinois at Duke
Make. No. Sleep. About. Illinois. The Actioning Illini went 21-10 (13-7 Big Ten) last season, and come back pretty much everyone. Kofi Cockburn, Ayo Dosunmu and Giorgi Bezhanisvili are three of the funniest players in the League this year, and Trent Frazier brings experience and stability in the top position. Duke joy again, but relies on Jordan Goldwire (Sr.), Joey Baker (Jr.), and Matthew Hurt (So.) to perform the Show. Add high-profile freshmen like Jeremy Roach and Jalen Johnson and Coach K cuisine. OH, and watch out for Henry Coleman. He has potential.
North Carolina at Iowa
Last year was an absolute disaster for the Tar Heels, and there are not many people who felt sympathy for them. UNC went 14-19 on the season, and fell flat embarrassed by Syracuse in the ACC tournament in what was one of the last games of the season 2019-20 played. This game is the action of the big men as UNC returns to Garrison Brooks and Armando Bacot in the yard before they go against the potential player of the year favorite Luka Garza for the Hawkeyes. Garza averaged 23.8 points per game last season (no typo), and it would be wise to expect a lot of points in this one.
Michigan State at Virginia
The Hauser Bowl! This game pits the younger brother Joey (MSU) against the Big Brother Sam (Virginia), while Hauser dissolves after the decision to transfer Marquette. In recent history, the Spartans have eliminated the Cavaliers from the 2014 and 2015 NCAA Tournaments. Both could have made it to the 2019 Final Four (which Virginia won, for those of you who follow at home), but the Spartans went down against Texas Tech. He loses Cassius Winston, but gives Josh Langford, Rocket Watt and Aaron Henry. Hauser is a great addition to a Virginia offense that was out of reach at certain times last season, and the Wahoos are expecting big things from Jay Huff, Kihei Clark and Tomas Woldetensae.
