Tuesday Morning Shootaround

As a whole, I am never that into the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. The marquee match-ups are a lot of fun to watch, but since both conferences tend to be top heavy, once you get past the best three or four games there really isn't that much to get excited about. I mean, Iowa at Boston College? 

And the ACC has never lost the challenge - they are 9-0.

Here's to hoping that this year is different. Virginia Tech and Wisconsin got us started with an instant classic last night. Talk about a thrilling finish. Wisconsin led throughout the entire second half, finally pushing it to 67-58 with just over a minute left. But Malcolm Delaney came down and hit a three. After a Badger free throw, Tech hit another three cutting the lead to 68-64. On the ensuing inbounds, the Badgers threw the ball away and Delaney was fouled taking a three. He hit two, and after two Wisconsin free throws, AD Vassallo knocked down Tech's third straight triple to cut the lead to one. It set up this ending.



Something I will never understand is why you don't foul when you are up three at the end of a game. I know the argument. You have to have faith that your defense can get a stop when you really need one, especially when all it requires is keeping the other team from hitting a three.

But let's take a look at the facts here. AD Vassallo is one of the streakiest shooters in the ACC and when he gets going is as dangerous as anyone in the country. He had 27 points at that point, including 21 in the second half. The Badgers have an experienced team with a lot of good free throw shooters and had just hit 5-6 in the final minute. The only thing I can think of is that Bo Ryan was worried about turning over an in bounds pass. They already had one and Trevon Hughes barely saved them from another.

All in all, that was a good win for the Badgers. Blacksburg is a tough place to play on the road (you have to credit the Tech fans because that building was rocking last night - the game had the feel of a late February conference match-up) and Wisconsin went in there and handled Tech pretty easily, save some impressive clutch shooting by the Hokies. Wisconsin looks like they are going to be regular old Wisconsin - nothing too pretty, but consistently grinding out wins.

They showed a stat last night during the game: there have been five teams that have won 30 games the last two season. Can you name them? Memphis, UCLA, North Carolina, Kansas, and Wisconsin.

Tech is going to be one of those teams you never want to play. They have three guys that are all capable of going for 30 on a given night in Jeff Allen, Delaney and Vassallo. When all three of them get going at the same time, Tech will be able to play with and beat any one in the country. But on a night like last night, where Allen played 15 minutes (fouls) and Delaney struggled offensively, they are going to be in trouble. All that said, VT is a Dante Jackson half court prayer and a Trevon Hughes runner away from (possibly, OT last night) being 6-1.

The rest of last night's action:

• UConn 79, Delaware State 49
• Syracuse 86, Colgate 51
• Kansas 87, Kent State 60: Impressive win for the Jayhawks. They held Al Fisher to 5 points on 2-11 shooting. Sherron Collins led Kansas with 19 points.
• Liberty 69, George Mason 66 OT: Another great finish in Virginia. Seth Curry proved that Stephen isn't the only Curry brother that can hit a clutch shot. He knocked down a three with 18 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime, then hit another deep jumper to give the Flames the lead with 41 seconds left in OT. Curry finished with 22 points.
• USC 74, San Francisco 69: The Trojans were led by 26 from Dwight Lewis, but they need a late run in order to knock off the Dons. 

-A couple news and notes to get you caught up on. DeAndre Liggins refused to reenter Friday night's game against Kansas State in the second half after he only played two minutes in the first half. It looks like he and Gillispie have made up, and Liggins played 27 minutes the next night (although he went for 4 points, 3 assists, and 4 turnovers).

-Casiem Drummond is leaving Villanova.

-Hasheem Thabeet is getting a big head because he is being looked at as a top 5 pick.

-As if Tyler Hansbrough isn't already enough of a hero god. From Yahoo Sports!

As American Airlines Flight No. 6 backed away from the gate, a passenger in seat 25C was discovered unconscious.

When attempts to wake him failed, a flight attendant yelled for assistance from some “big, strong basketball players.” Within seconds, Hansbrough had sprung from his seat six rows up and rushed to the man’s side.

Hansbrough, teammate Deon Thompson and video coordinator Eric Hoots then lifted 45-year-old Melvin Ridley into the air. Holding him chest-high, they carried him to the galley, where paramedics rendered aid for nearly 30 minutes.

I'm sick of hearing about how great he is too. He's the reigning player of the year. He passed up the NBA to stay in college. He always plays hard. But in the grand scheme of things, none of that means anything. All of us say that if we were in the situation that Hansbrough (and Thompson) found themselves in, we would do the same thing. But how can you know until it actually happens. Regardless of how much you hate Hansbrough, you gotta tip your hat to the kid on this one. He also sat in UNC's drubbing of Asheville.

-The Big East has eight teams in the top 25. Well, in the AP poll at least, where Marquette is #25.

-Mentioned it this morning, but Luke Harangody has pneumonia and it out indefinitely.