Final ACC-Big 10 Challenge... who yall got?

[Bigboote]

I like Iowa a lot but they definitely aren’t going to go anywhere until they improve the defense significantly. Clark throwing up gigantic numbers isn’t gonna cut it for them, they need more

I’d hate to see where they’d be if they didn’t commit themselves 100% to defense as Coach Bluder said in the preseason.

Caitlin should consider taking a page out of Paige’s or Azzi’s book and try to get her teammates involved at the beginning of the game.

 

[The deacon]

Proud of NC State. Definitely their best game of the season. Maryland has Diamond Miller...but we have a Diamond of our own, who stepped up big-time when Iowa was making a run.

The 4th quarter was just crazy. Neither team seemed to be able to miss.

Clark was incredible, too. Some of her shots were just jaw-dropping.

Agreed, LETTERL. Caitlin was amazing, playing as she did in the first half vs. UConn, but kept it going tonight against a lesser defense. That run of three 3s she made in about one minute early in the fourth was about as much fun to watch as you'll see in basketball.

Still, NC State was just the better team. The Wolfpack has improved a lot since the UConn game, perhaps mostly because of Rivers.

 

[The deacon]

I like Iowa a lot but they definitely aren’t going to go anywhere until they improve the defense significantly. Clark throwing up gigantic numbers isn’t gonna cut it for them, they need more

Teams have apparently figured a way to defense Czinano.

 

[Plebe]

Proud of NC State. Definitely their best game of the season. Maryland has Diamond Miller...but we have a Diamond of our own, who stepped up big-time when Iowa was making a run.

The 4th quarter was just crazy. Neither team seemed to be able to miss.

Clark was incredible, too. Some of her shots were just jaw-dropping.

Saniya Rivers deserves some love, probably had her best game yet. The combination of her and Johnson really carried the day, along with contributions from other key players. Who cares if Clark scores 45 if you can get 22 from both of them plus Brown-Turner, Hobby and Boyd making significant contributions.

 

[Iluvacc2]

The ACC will be the challenge winner and top to bottom they’re the stronger conference, but I’m more impressed with the B1G top teams (MD, OSU, Indiana).

OSU might be the biggest surprise for me in the NCAA. I didn’t think they would be this good, and definitely did not expect them to thrash Louisville like that, although I was pleased. Not a big Walz fan

Will the real MD please stand up? They have two huge road wins against Baylor and ND, but that inexplicable loss to DePaul though

 

[Plebe]

The ACC will be the challenge winner and top to bottom they’re the stronger conference, but I’m more impressed with the B1G top teams (MD, OSU, Indiana).

Will the real MD please stand up? They have two huge road wins against Baylor and ND, but that inexplicable loss to DePaul though

Top to bottom the stronger conference? That's a very ACC-homer-like spin on it. When you factor in Clemson, plus the conferencewide penalty for overall unlikability, the edge goes to the Big Ten

And put some respect on the best demonic-themed program in the land.

 

[undersized]

Saniya Rivers deserves some love, probably had her best game yet.

Before tonight, Saniya Rivers hadn't made a single 3 pointer since her collegiate debut, more than one year ago. Tonight she made 2. If that's not an indictment against Iowa's defense I don't know what is.

 

[undersized]

Caitlin should consider taking a page out of Paige’s or Azzi’s book and try to get her teammates involved at the beginning of the game.

Tell me you don't watch Iowa regularly without telling me you don't watch Iowa regularly.

 

[triaddukefan]

Diamond said shut y'all mouth

Ha... on the Statewide NC Sports Show tonight.. THAT was the play of the day

 

[jdote33]

I really enjoy watching Michigan. Solid road win vs Miami, who unfortunately looked like the classic young team vs the experience team.

 

[triaddukefan]

Wow it only took 13 games for the ACC to finally score a significant win in the challenge.

I can see why they're quitting the Big Ten and replacing them with an easier conference challenge opponent

Yeah, no thanks to the Heels and these guys

 

[triaddukefan]

Top to bottom the stronger conference? That's a very ACC-homer-like spin on it. When you factor in Clemson, plus the conferencewide penalty for overall unlikability, the edge goes to the Big Ten

And put some respect on the best demonic-themed program in the land.


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I get the feeling that Plebe is trying to ruffle my feathers with that bolded comment

And I disagree... the ACC has plenty of likeable programs... Duke, State, Wake, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech. UVA

 

[Plebe]

I get the feeling that Plebe is trying to ruffle my feathers with that bolded comment

And I disagree... the ACC has plenty of likeable programs... Duke, State, Wake, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech. UVA

Just Notre Dame alone negates any combined likability from those other programs, which is quite weak tbh

Then add in Boston College and you've permanently broken the unlikability scale

 

[LETTERL]

From the game recap...

The Pack's 94 points marked the most it's scored against a ranked opponent since March 16, 1991. It was also the team's highest scoring performance in a true road game in the Wes Moore era.

 

[jonson]

The ACC will be the challenge winner and top to bottom they’re the stronger conference, but I’m more impressed with the B1G top teams (MD, OSU, Indiana).

OSU might be the biggest surprise for me in the NCAA. I didn’t think they would be this good, and definitely did not expect them to thrash Louisville like that, although I was pleased. Not a big Walz fan

Will the real MD please stand up? They have two huge road wins against Baylor and ND, but that inexplicable loss to DePaul though

I've found these games really enjoyable. My take is that Ohio State, Indiana, and NC State are the best of the bunch, and probably in that order given the injury situation at Indiana. Neither North Carolina nor Notre Dame strike me as being close to being top-10 teams, and Iowa seems the prototypical upset waiting to happen team: in a positive sense if everyone is shooting lights out, but negatively if not, or if it's the Caitlin Clark show with few, if any, supporting actors, as it was tonight. Maryland looks like another version of the same, if for different reasons. The jury is maybe still out for Louisville, but they have a way to go to be close to the Louisville teams of the past.

 

[triaddukefan]

Before tonight, Saniya Rivers hadn't made a single 3 pointer since her collegiate debut, more than one year ago. Tonight she made 2. If that's not an indictment against Iowa's defense I don't know what is.

You shortchanged Rivers one make.. she was 3-4 for the night. The first time she shot it.. i was like no no no... oh wow she made it. Then when she missed the second one... I was like now.... you being greedy, you should have stopped at one shot. To her credit, she made her final 2. Before the season I felt that State was the best team in the league, and nothing so far has changed my mind. Just like last season, they have multiple players who can go off on a specific night. I really liked when they played Rivers and Johnson in the back court. Next up for them..... a trip to UGA on Monday night.

 

[shiverz45]

Before tonight, Saniya Rivers hadn't made a single 3 pointer since her collegiate debut, more than one year ago. Tonight she made 2. If that's not an indictment against Iowa's defense I don't know what is.

I think she made one at SC.

 

[Geew1992]

I was thinking that was a distinct possibility. They just didn’t seem to be playing with much sense of urgency.

Either that or they’re just not that good.

Or maybe they actually played a better team than who they were playing

 

[cancontent]

For literally no reason, I’d like to say to @cancontent that I was just playing devils advocate in our conversation about why Indiana could lose to UNC. Just so that’s clear, no real reason to say this at this specific time.

Hey, I didn't see the game being that large of a differential. But I think Scalia's ears were burning about your insight about her shooting based on what she did last night.

 

[cancontent]

Anyone know what happened to Owusu during the VT-Nebraska game? Eight minutes isn't typical. Hoping it's not a serious injury.

 

[CBus13]

Hey, I didn't see the game being that large of a differential. But I think Scalia's ears were burning about your insight about her shooting based on what she did last night.

Coach Moren can send me a thank you letter later. Im not super familiar with her play style but she was shooting such deep threes and I was like “oh gosh…. “ but some went in. She did her role to open up the space.

I did say Parrish needed to have a big game for them to win and she did. I was surprised by that margin of victory for either team. I assumed it would be close no matter who won. I also didn’t realize the game was at IU, that was a fun environment for IU. I also really like Moore-McNeil running the show for them.

 

[cancontent]

Coach Moren can send me a thank you letter later. Im not super familiar with her play style but she was shooting such deep threes and I was like “oh gosh…. “ but some went in. She did her role to open up the space.

I did say Parrish needed to have a big game for them to win and she did. I was surprised by that margin of victory for either team. I assumed it would be close no matter who won. I also didn’t realize the game was at IU, that was a fun environment for IU. I also really like Moore-McNeil running the show for them.

The margin of victory was very surprising. I also expected it to be closer in the end. Moore-McNeil is something else. Her improvement since last season has been significant.

With all due respect to Berger's injury, if you didn't know anything about her impact on the team, no one would have known they're missing a key player. As some have said, Iowa may have been getting too much attention in the pre-season. This Indiana team is going to be tough to deal with with BIG10 conference play starting. If they can be this good without Berger, imagine what they'll be like when she returns?

The only concern I have is depth in the forward/post position. Browne hasn't played a game this season, which I'm assuming is due to injury. They played with a very short bench with 3 forwards coming off the bench for a total of 9 minutes. Will be interesting to see how that plays out during the season.

 

[GCKSFN4L]

Anyone know what happened to Owusu during the VT-Nebraska game? Eight minutes isn't typical. Hoping it's not a serious injury.

I believe it has something to do with her hand. She was on the bench with her hand taped up.

 

[JellyBean]

Living in Minnesota, I always ride with the Big Ten.

 

[jdote33]

I've found these games really enjoyable. My take is that Ohio State, Indiana, and NC State are the best of the bunch, and probably in that order given the injury situation at Indiana. Neither North Carolina nor Notre Dame strike me as being close to being top-10 teams, and Iowa seems the prototypical upset waiting to happen team: in a positive sense if everyone is shooting lights out, but negatively if not, or if it's the Caitlin Clark show with few, if any, supporting actors, as it was tonight. Maryland looks like another version of the same, if for different reasons. The jury is maybe still out for Louisville, but they have a way to go to be close to the Louisville teams of the past.

Very interesting. Indiana looked insane yesterday. I Iiked their transfer pickups but Garzon is truly a difference maker.
I don't know what to make of NC. I don't think they've played that well but I do see them still as a contender for the ACC title. I thought Paulina Paris was going to be an instant difference maker for them but looks like she may need a year to get acclimated to the college game.
I also don't know what to make of the lower tier teams in the ACC. I know they r u they won the challenge. But teams like Syracuse, Georgia Tech, Miami, who I thought were sure fore tournament teams have not looked great.