My Two Cents: For One Last Time, It’s Indiana vs. North Carolina in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — It is honest to query how a lot blue is within the Indiana blueblood dialog lately, however that is definitely not the case with North Carolina, who’s gained 4 nationwide championships since Indiana’s final in 1987 and performed for 2 others, together with final 12 months.

However what cannot be questioned is that when Indiana and North Carolina do play one another, it’s at all times must-watch TV. You hear me? I stated at all times, and that features Wednesday evening when the 2 groups get collectively at Simon Skjodt Meeting Corridor for what’s mainly the ultimate recreation ever within the ACC/Huge Ten Problem.

The sport, which begins at 9:15 p.m. ET and can be televised by ESPN, is a showdown of the preseason favorites to win America’s two finest school basketball leagues. Indiana was picked to win the Huge Ten, and UNC is favored to win the ACC.

 The Hoosiers are ranked No. 10 within the nation, and have opened the season with six straight wins. North Carolina, the preseason No. 1 workforce, is ranked No. 18 now after dropping to Iowa State and Alabama final week in Portland, Ore.

And, for one final time, we get to look at them collectively on this occasion that is supplied an unlimited quantity of enjoyable for the previous quarter century.

This occasion began in 1999 and Indiana did not even play it within the first two years. There have been solely 9 ACC groups again then and Bob Knight despised made-for-TV occasions like this. He had no real interest in collaborating, and so they did not.

Indiana has performed in all 21 since then, and are 8-13 total. They’ve had nice success — over North Carolina — and epic failures. They’ve performed Duke 5 instances, and have misplaced all 5.

It is considerably ironic that the one workforce Indiana has overwhelmed greater than as soon as on this occasion is North Carolina. They’re 3-1 in opposition to the Heels, successful in 2001, 2012 and 2016 with some actually good Indiana groups. Their solely loss to UNC was in 2004. It was the Sean Might recreation, and that was a Tar Heels workforce that went on to win an NCAA title that 12 months.

Here is a fast look again on the 4 conferences: 

Nov. 28, 2001, Indiana 79, North Carolina 66 (Chapel Hill): Indiana’s first win was type of odd contemplating all that these two colleges have achieved. That UNC workforce wasn’t superb and when the Hoosiers beat them that evening, the Tar Heels fell to 0-3 below Matt Doherty, with earlier dwelling losses to Davidson and Hampton. It was the primary time since 1928 that North Carolina had began a season with three straight losses. Indiana hit 9 first-half three-pointers within the win and AJ Moye led IU with 20 factors and Tom Coverdale had 17. IU would play for the nationwide title 4 months later, dropping to Maryland. It is the final time Indiana went to the Remaining 4.

Dec. 1, 2004, No. 9 North Carolina 70, Indiana 63 (Bloomington): Issues had been getting unhealthy within the Mike Davis by then, with the obvious failure his incapacity to recruit Sean Might proper out of Bloomington. Might is the son of Scott Might, one of many best gamers in Indiana historical past, however he spurned the Hoosiers for North Carolina regardless of rising up and taking part in highschool ball in Bloomington. Might solely scored eight factors that evening and was handled rudely by Indiana ”followers.” He obtained the final chortle as a result of UNC went on to win a nationwide title a couple of months later.

Nov. 27, 2012, No. 1 Indiana 83, No. 14 North Carolina 59: Tom Crean had Indiana again on high, with the Hoosiers ranked No. 1 within the preseason. They crushed North Carolina that evening, with Cody Zeller scoring 20 factors and Victor Oladipo and Will Sheehey every including 19. The Tar Heels opened the second half going 1-for-20 from the sector and obtained their solely basket on a deflected tip-in. The Hoosiers would go on to win the Huge Ten that 12 months, and earn a No. 1 seed within the NCAA Tournamen. They misplaced to Syracuse within the regional semifinals. 

Nov. 30, 2016, No. 13 Indiana 76, No. 3 North Carolina 67: Indiana had opened the season with a win over No. 3 Kansas and an inexcusable loss at Purdue Fort Wayne that had the Hoosiers fan base incensed. So right here got here No. 3 UNC, and nobody knew what to anticipate. However the Hoosiers performed nice, and got here away with a formidable 76-67 win. All 5 Indiana starters scored in double figures, led by OG Anunoby, who had 16 factors on 6-of-8 capturing. Accidents derailed Indiana’s season, which ended with an 18-15 file and the firing of Tom Crean.

Here is what Indiana has performed all-time on this occasion.

Indiana Leads to ACC/Huge Ten Problem

• Nov. 30, 2021 (A) — Indiana misplaced to Syracuse 112-110 (2-OT)
• Dec. 9, 2020 (A) — Indiana misplaced to No. 20 Florida State, 69-67 (OT)
• Dec. 3, 2019 (H) – Indiana defeated No. 17 Florida State, 80-64
• Nov. 27, 2018 (A) — Indiana misplaced at No. 3 Duke, 90-69
• Nov. 29, 2017 (H) — Indiana misplaced to No. 1 Duke, 91-81
• Nov. 30, 2016 (H) — No. 13 Indiana defeated No. 3 North Carolina, 76-67
• Dec. 2, 2015 (A) — Indiana misplaced at No. 7 Duke, 94-74
• Dec. 2, 2014 (H) — Indiana defeated Pittsburgh, 81-69
• Dec. 3, 2013 (A) — Indiana misplaced at No. 4 Syracuse, 69-52
• Nov. 27, 2012 (H) — No. 1 Indiana defeated No. 14 North Carolina, 83-59
• Nov. 29, 2011 (A) — Indiana defeated N.C. State, 86-75
• Nov. 30, 2010 (A) — Indiana misplaced at Boston Faculty, 88-76
• Dec. 1, 2009 (H) — Indiana misplaced to Maryland, 80-68
• Dec. 2, 2008 (A) — Indiana misplaced at No. 17 Wake Forest, 83-79
• Nov. 27, 2007 (H) — No. 15 Indiana defeated Georgia Tech, 83-79
• Nov. 28, 2006 (A) — Indiana misplaced at No. 10 Duke, 54-51
• Nov. 30, 2005 (H) — No. 17 Indiana misplaced to No. 1 Duke, 75-67
• Dec. 1, 2004 (H) — Misplaced to North Carolina, 70-63
• Dec. 2, 2003 (A) — Misplaced to No. 16 Wake Forest, 100-67
• Dec. 3, 2002 (N) — No. 10 Indiana defeated No. 8 Maryland, 80-74 in OT, in Indianapolis
• Nov. 28, 2001 (A) — Defeated North Carolina 79-66
• 2000 — Didn’t play
• 1999 — Didn’t play
• INDIANA WINS IN BOLD

Indiana within the Problem

• Whole File: 8-13
• Dwelling File: 5-4
• Highway File: 2-9
• Impartial Web site: 1-0

Indiana File by Opponent

• Indiana vs. North Carolina: 3-1
• Indiana vs. Pittsburgh: 1-0
• Indiana vs. N.C. State: 1-0
• Indiana vs. Georgia Tech 1-0
• Indiana vs. Florida State: 1-1
• Indiana vs. Maryland: 1-1
• Indiana vs. Boston Faculty: 0-1
• Indiana vs. Syracuse: 0-2
• Indiana vs. Wake Forest: 0-2
• Indiana vs. Duke: 0-5