Spartans, Tar Heels to meet again in Big Ten/ACC Challenge
By Joey Nowak (Last updated: 04/22/09 11:16pm)The MSU men’s basketball team will take the floor with North Carolina for the third time in a calendar year and for the second consecutive year in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
The two teams will meet in Chapel Hill, N.C. on Dec. 1 in the 11th rendition of the weeklong event that pits teams from each conference against one another.
The Spartans and Tar Heels played at Ford Field on Dec. 3 in the Challenge and lost 98-63. The two teams met again in a rematch in Detroit in the national championship game April 6 and the Tar Heels won again 89-72.
It’s the fourth time the two programs have played in the event and North Carolina leads the all-time series 9-3. The Spartans defeated North Carolina in the inaugural Challenge in Chapel Hill in 1999, 77-64.
The Spartans are a Big Ten-best 5-4 in the 11 years of the Challenge, which the Big Ten has never won.
Originally Published: 04/22/09 2:30pm
Jason B
04/22/09 2:37pmNow I really hope all their starters go to the draft!
Jason B
04/22/09 2:38pmUNC’s starters I’m referring to
student
04/22/09 4:55pmThe only reason they beat us last year is because they had the strongest senior class in the country and well, unfortunately, they decided to come back for their senior year.
I don’t care if we beat them again next year. I just care about winning the NC Title again at least one more time within the next two years.
Also, for people that don’t know, the Frozen Four is in Detroit next year. So, we should rally behind our hockey team as we did with our basketball team.
MSU is the only force in the State and we have a lot of momentum. Let’s keep it up.
GO GREEN! GO WHITE! GO STATE!
SteveL
04/22/09 10:00pmThis is BS. Play someone else. It’s a media hype that will probably be at our expense. It shouldn’t be the same team 2 yeras in a row in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
04/22/09 10:40pmI look forward to the redemption game. I may even fly back to see it!
I hope that we do get out to support our icers with strong force. It’s a WONDERFUL time to be a Spartan.
Bleed Green!
julius holmes
04/23/09 3:52amSteve L: i understand your feelings. Remember it took us a while to get the duke bluedevil monkey off of our back. The only way we can get this tarheel monkey off of our back is to keep playing them. Bottomline…Our guys have both of those loses in the back of their minds. We could have beat UNC if we played MSU basketball. We helped them win the NC just as much as they beat us for it. MSU BASKETBALL WILL BE A NATIONAL POWERHOUSE before izzo leaves.(in the perception of the NATIONAL MEDIA..we already know it is) I like our chances. If we don’t turn the ball over and play consistent..WE CAN BEAT ANY TEAM IN THE COUNTRY.
Any team, any time, anywhere
04/23/09 10:56amThe best of the Big 10 vs. the best of the ACC. What’s not to like?
Izzo always talks about getting our program to that “next level”. We’ve got to be willing to play teams like UNC on their home floor if we want to take that next step.
Another brilliant move by Tom Izzo, if you ask me.
Triniti Anderson
05/04/09 3:19pmThis is a joke, right? UNC beat MSU because they’re the best…NOT because of any injuries that may have been on the Spartan side. Grow brains, please! People, UNC is gonna kick MSU’s ass AGAIN! They own you! Check out their recruits…they’re Lawson and Ellington part 2!
Tom Izzo is a great coach, but Roy Williams is an ELITE coach!