One of the final games in this year's ACC/Big Ten Challenge is the most interesting game in this year's ACC/Big Ten Challenge. It's North Carolina at Indiana - otherwise known as a Wednesday night showdown between the two schools that can, at this point, reasonably be picked to win the ACC and Big Ten. Tipoff is at 9:15 ET on ESPN.
If North Carolina wins, the Tar Heels will own a victory equal to, if not better than, Villanova's win at Purdue. Additionally, they'll solidify themselves as an undeniable national championship contender, and improve to 2-0 against Big Ten powers.
UNC beat Wisconsin 71-56 last week.
North Carolina is No. 3 in the updated CBS Sports Top 25 (and one).
Indiana is No. 15.
The complete Top 25 (and one) is below.
Rk | Teams | Chg | Rcrd | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Kentucky
| The Wildcats have won their seven games by an average of 30.6 points. Freshman Malik Monk is averaging a team-high 19.3 points and 2.9 rebounds. | -- | 5-0 |
2 |
Villanova
| Nearly 50 percent of Villanova's field goal attempts are coming from beyond the arc. The Wildcats are making 39.2 percent of them. | -- | 3-3 |
3 |
N. Carolina
| Five different Tar Heels are averaging at least 10.7 points through seven games. Joel Berry is averaging a team-high 17.1 points while shooting 47.1 percent from 3-point range. | -- | 3-1 |
4 |
Kansas
| The Jayhawks have won six straight since their season-opening loss to Indiana. Frank Mason is averaging a team-high 19.6 points, 5.4 assists and 4.6 rebounds. | -- | 5-0 |
5 |
Duke
| The Blue Devils' lone loss is a 77-75 loss to Kansas. Sophomore Luke Kennard is averaging a team-high 17.5 points and 6.6 rebounds. | -- | 4-1 |
6 |
Xavier
| Trevon Bluiett has scored at least 21 points in four of Xavier's seven games. He's averaging a team-high 17.7 points and 6.1 rebounds. | -- | 5-0 |
7 |
Virginia
| The Cavaliers have seven players averaging between 7.0 and 10.0 points per game. They have the nation's most efficient defense, according to KenPom. | -- | 3-2 |
8 |
UCLA
| The Bruins are shooting 45.2 percent from 3-point range, which ranks fifth nationally. They'll play Saturday at top-ranked Kentucky. | -- | 5-1 |
9 |
Saint Mary's
| Jock Landale was 9-of-11 from the field in Sunday's win over UAB. He's averaging 21.0 points and 9.2 rebounds while shooting 76.3 percent from the field. | -- | 5-0 |
10 |
Gonzaga
| The Zags have already notched wins over three top-50 KenPom teams. Washington transfer Nigel Williams-Goss is averaging 12.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists. | -- | 5-0 |
11 |
Baylor
| The Bears already have four top-35 KenPom wins. Former three-star recruit Johnathan Motley is averaging a team-high 17.8 points and 7.0 rebounds. | -- | 4-2 |
12 |
Louisville
| The Cardinals have the nation's second most efficient defense, according to KenPom. Nobody has scored more than 62 points against them. | -- | 3-1 |
13 |
Creighton
| The Bluejays, as a team, are shooting 46.5 percent from 3-point range through seven games. That number ranks first nationally. | -- | 4-1 |
14 |
Wisconsin
| The Badgers' two losses are to North Carolina and Creighton. Nigel Hayes finished with nine points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in Tuesday's win over Syracuse. | -- | 6-0 |
15 |
Indiana
| Thomas Bryant has recorded double-doubles in three of Indiana's five games. The sophomore forward is averaging 13.6 points and 8.2 rebounds. | -- | 4-0 |
16 |
Purdue
| Caleb Swanigan finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds in Saturday's win over NJIT. He's averaging 18.8 points and 12.0 rebounds in 31.3 minutes per game. | 1 | 5-1 |
17 |
Iowa St.
| The Cyclones' lone loss is Sunday's 73-71 loss to Gonzaga. Monte Morris is averaging 16.0 points, 6.5 assists and 5.2 rebounds. | 1 | 3-0 |
18 |
Butler
| The Bulldogs have beaten Pac-12 schools (Arizona, Utah) in back-to-back games. Memphis transfer Avery Woodson is averaging 9.7 points while shooting 46.2 percent from the field. | 1 | 4-1 |
19 |
Arizona
| The Wildcats only made three 3-pointers in Friday's loss to Butler. Kobi Simmons was 0-of-3 from beyond the arc and is now averaging 12.7 points in 28.2 minutes per game. | 1 | 2-2 |
20 |
Florida
| The Gators own wins over two top-50 KenPom teams - specifically Miami and Seton Hall. Their lone loss is a 77-72 loss to Gonzaga. | 1 | 6-0 |
21 |
S. Carolina
| The Gamecocks beat Syracuse 64-50 on Saturday to record their second top-30 KenPom win. Sindarius Thornwell is averaging a team-high 20.0 points and 7.0 rebounds. | 1 | 3-2 |
22 |
Rhode Island
| URI lost a tough road game at Valpo Tuesday while missing 13 of 17 3-point attempts. The Rams' resume features a win over Cincinnati. | 6 | 4-0 |
23 |
Syracuse
| Both of Syracuse's losses are to teams (Wisconsin, South Carolina) ranked ahead of the Orange in the Top 25 (and one). Andrew White is averaging a team-high 15.5 points. | -- | 3-2 |
24 |
Cincinnati
| The Bearcats' lone loss is a 76-71 loss to Rhode Island. They're blocking 21.7 percent of their opponents' shots, which ranks second nationally. | -- | 4-0 |
25 |
Notre Dame
| The Irish's perfect start features wins over Colorado and Northwestern. Notre Dame, as a team, is shooting 84.5 percent from the free-throw line. | -- | 4-1 |
26 |
Michigan St.
| All four of MSU's losses are to teams (Kentucky, Duke, Baylor, Arizona) ranked in the top 20 of the Top 25 (and one). The Spartans own a top-25 KenPom win in the form of a victory over Wichita State. | -- | 4-1 |