ACC - Big Ten Challenge

December always pits the Big Ten against the ACC, with the ACC reigning supreme ever year. The Big Ten tried to make it more of a competition this year, but still fell a game short. It didn't help that they got blitzed in the games involving each conference's three best teams. I happened to catch parts of Wisconsin vs. Virginia Tech, Miami vs. Ohio State, Duke vs. Purdue, and North Carolina vs. Michigan State. As we did with Feast Week, here are some quick hit thoughts:

• Wisconsin's offense looked extremely pedestrian at times during the first half. They lack a #1 scoring option and at times are too passive offensively. They might gel a little better as the season progresses and the players get more familiar with their new roles. You know they'll always defend and rebound.
• I still like Marcus Landry as a player. I wish he was a little more aggressive offensively because he has a turnaround move on the baseline and solid jump shot. He does, however, turn the ball over more than a big man should.
• A.D. Vassalo can fill it up and Victor Davila has nice athleticism, but otherwise I don't like that much about Virgnia Tech. I'll evaluate you them more throughout the ACC season
• Ladies and Gentlemen, Jon Diebler has rediscovered his three-point shot. He still has pretty terrible shooting consistency for a guy who has the Ohio state high school scoring record.
• Lance Hurdle is a nice second fiddle to Jack McClinton, but he couldn't take over when McClinton was thrown out.
• As was stated before, Purdue needs to find an inside game and an aggressive penetrator before we take them seriously.
• Duke played pretty well, but let's not crown them just yet. And I absolutely hate they slow the play down in the last ten minutes to let the other team back into the game.
• North Carolina is the best I've seen them play with this group of players. I'm legitimately afraid of them. They have so many productive guys to put on the floor.
• As long as Lawson stays healthy, no one is beating Carolina. The guy is the engine and they've shown what they can do without a healthy Hansborough.