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Big Ten-ACC challenge opponent prediction?

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die hard gopher

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There's a lot of speculation on the Minnesota message boards that Duke coming to Minneapolis is a serious possibility. I believe Jay Bilas recently said either Duke or ND would be coming to Williams Arena. This would make sense because Duke won't get MSU in the challenge, they are due for a road game in the challenge, Minnesota is due for a home game and Minnesota is the projected #2 Big Ten team and a top 15 team nationally, the next best thing after MSU.

Thoughts?
 
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Duke1783

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I'd like to see us play someone fresh like Minnesota or even NW...it's getting old beating up on Sparty every year
 
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WI#1Dukie22

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Living near MSP, that would be AWESOME. I venture to say maybe the most anticipated game at the barn in 100 years lol
 
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Mac9192

Heisman
Jan 25, 2017
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I think it will be a bad night for whoever Duke plays in the challenge. I'm going out on a limb here and say this Duke team is gonna open a can on teams this season. Allen and Bolden will play pissed off basketball, the rest of the guys will play off of them, and Coach K will be even more inspired to do better this season. That will equal some a** whoopings for a lot of teams
 
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Quavarius

Heisman
Aug 12, 2009
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Minnesota
Northwestern (obvious storyline, but small arena)
Indiana
Maryland

I'm assuming it would be one of those four.
 
D

die hard gopher

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Quavarius said:
Minnesota
Northwestern (obvious storyline, but small arena)
Indiana
Maryland

I'm assuming it would be one of those four.
Click to expand...
Northwestern is playing at the Allstate Arena next year where where DePaul plays because they are renovating their existing Welsh Ryan arena. Much bigger but they won't have a true home court advantage next year though.
 
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skysdad

Heisman
Mar 3, 2006
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The only right pairings is for Duke to play the top ranked team in the Big 10 and for unc to play the worst ranked team in the Big Ten. Now things may change in the rankings right before tourney time and at that time adjustments needs to be made. Whoever Duke plays it should be an away game for Duke and unc should play at home. unc has been getting the shaft ever since this thing started and Duke has always played the runt of the litter. Only the right thing to do other than hof coach roy williams and johnny boy swofford make the pairings. OFC
 
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Quavarius

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die hard gopher said:
Northwestern is playing at the Allstate Arena next year where where DePaul plays because they are renovating their existing Welsh Ryan arena. Much bigger but they won't have a true home court advantage next year though.
Click to expand...

Ahhh, thanks for the heads up.

Well, now I REALLY think we play Northwestern now or else we play at the United Center (aren't we playing in Chicago for the Champions Classic?)
 
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HuffyJB

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With Northwestern cracking the tourney for the first time, that coach/protege storyline is going to be too much for them to pass up.
 
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dukedevilz

Heisman
Apr 3, 2002
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I would say Louisville @ Michigan State is about as close to 100% as you can get. As far as our opponent, I'm still leaning towards Minnesota. But I can see Northwestern as a realistic second option.
 
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Laettner

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dukehokie said:
I think there's an unwritten disclosure right now where Duke and Maryland will not be willingly scheduled. I'm ok with never playing them again honestly.
Click to expand...

If we played at Comcast, MD would need national guard in the building due to their fans hatred of us.

At Minn is my first choice, would love to play Williams. Very cool place to watch a game.
 
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die hard gopher

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This was posted on a gopher message board. Somewhat interesting.

"Apparently only 2 scheduling conflicts among 4 teams to work out and finalize. Bilas says it will be Duke or ND going to Minnesota, one hang up is a disagreement on a neutral site game still unresolved."

"No, it is the conferences sorting out who could be featured in a stand alone neutral game and where it would be. It is well known that Duke prefers a big arena neutral game in the past against a marquee program but they have traveled to really tough places in the challenge. In their recent NCAA title year they went to UW AND WON. Pretty sure Duke fears no one. This is likely about trying to fit a game between NW and ND at the United Center. Facility availabilty and TV decide these things. The TV part is very much a ratings deal and the reality is that Duke, UNC, Indiana and MSU do very well nationally and then you add Louisville, ND. The ACC has enough of a national footprint that it should be no problem to put Duke and Minnesota together if the facility dates work."

http://www.forums.gopherhole.com/bo...rs-ACC-Challenge-opponent-is-a-huge-one/page8
 
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LONMUNU

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Nov 13, 2003
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Will be a great early challenge for these kids. Not sure how good Indiana will be but that's a tough place to play.
 
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dukedevilz

Heisman
Apr 3, 2002
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What the heck? Indiana isn't on anyone's radar for even being remotely close to a top-25 team. Lunardi doesn't even have them as one of the "next four out" on his latest bracketology, meaning that if the tournament had 76 teams, Indiana wouldn't be projected to make it.

This is disappointing. I was hoping for Minnesota or Northwestern. At least someone with more talent - Michigan, Purdue, or Maryland would have been better options.
 
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Laettner15

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Obviously not sure of the times and dates yet but here's the breakdown:

Duke@Indiana
Northwestern@GT
ND@MSU
Miami@Minnesota
Penn St@NC St.
BC@Nebraska
Michigan@UNC
Clemson@Ohio St
Louisville@Purdue
FSU@Rutgers
Maryland@Syracuse
Wisconsin@UVA
Iowa@VT
Illinois@WF

To me, that Miami at Minnesota game looks very intriguing!
 
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dukehokie

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Jun 27, 2005
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Maybe they chose Indiana so Tucker could throw some more salt in their wounds. Haha.

Minnesota would have been fun but oh well.
 
BOOGIEMAN1914

BOOGIEMAN1914

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i had gotten all excited for minny........but duke indiana @ bloomington should be good nonetheless
 
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SwatX1

Heisman
Jan 4, 2011
8,336
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If Indiana has the year they had last year, who knows what to expect? One night they look like they could beat anybody in the country, the next night, they are losing to Fort Wayne...They had a really strange season.
 
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