Here are 10 ACC-centric observations from this year's ACC-Big Ten Challenge -- the most prestigious inter-conference event on the college hoops calendar:
1. The Big Ten may have won this year's competition (8-6), but the ACC still has more realistic contenders for the Elite Eight -- namely Duke, Virginia, Louisville, North Carolina, Miami and maybe Syracuse.
Even with Wednesday's defeat, the Badgers shall remain a viable Final Four favorite and one of the few national teams equipped to combat top-ranked Kentucky's absurd size and length -- when there's a championship on the line.
That's why it doesn't make sense to read too much into a December defeat.
2. Duke may not capture the national championship by season's end, but these Blue Devils aren't falling to the middling likes of Mercer or Lehigh in the NCAA tournament, either.
In other words, it'll take a giant effort from a prominent team to oust Duke from The Big Dance in March (or April).
Last year's Duke squad -- led by all-everything freshman Jabari Parker -- might have had more explosive perimeter players and arguably greater depth than this season's Blue Devils, who now stand at 8-0 and enjoy a No. 4 national ranking.
But the current Blue Devils (65-percent shooting against Wisconsin) have better balance, more defensive awareness and more maturity on the offensive end -- in terms of not being compelled to attempt 25-plus three-pointers in big games, regardless of the circumstances.
Who can forget that memory of Duke jacking up 37 triples in its Round of 64 defeat to Mercer back in March -- one of the more infamous upsets in NCAA tourney history?
Bottom line: No Mike Krzyzewski squad should ever attempt that many three-pointers when holding the "talent" and "size" trump cards; and yet, as part of that, the Blue Devils have somehow lost that once-feared, always-respected championship swagger over the last five or 10 years.
And that includes the 2010 Duke team that, you know, actually claimed the national championship.
(Quick: Name three Blue Devils off that title-clinching club.)
That indefinable, but eminently tangible "swagger" could be back in Durham, with Duke's prodigious balance of seasoned veterans and high-end freshmen -- notably Jahlil Okafor (13 points/6 rebounds against Wisconsin) and Tyus Jones (22 points/6 rebounds/4 assists) -- steadily taking shape, week by week.
And don't forget another freshman star, Justise Winslow, who evoked down-the-road comparisons to NBA All-Star James Harden during ESPN's Wednesday's broadcast ... but with more defensive potential.
3. Relative to the per-possession function of his team, Notre Dame guard Jerian Grant may be the ACC's most valuable asset.
In Notre Dame's overtime victory over Michigan State, Grant (27 points/6 assists/4 rebounds/3 steals) accounted for seven of the Irish's 12 second-half buckets (either points or assist), while also converting 5 of 6 free throws during that span.
Grant (academically ineligible last season) also spearheaded an Irish defense that kept the Spartans out of rhythm for essentially the entire second half and overtime.
In fact, don't let Michigan State's impressive accuracy from beyond the arc (9 of 17) paint an incomplete picture here: With MSU, it's hard to recall any motion-offense sets in half-court play during the second half ... or many fast-break chances off turnovers and missed shots.
Put it all together, and Notre Dame's balanced unit -- which includes double-digit scorers Grant (27), Demetrius Jackson (22), Steve Vasturia (12), Pat Connaughton (12) -- should feel great about their resume-building victory over a top-20 team ... even if a single Michigan State player (Branden Dawson -- 16 points, 18 rebounds) almost out-rebounded the entire Irish club (26 boards).
4. Nine months ago, on the final week of the regular season, only Maryland stood between Virginia and an ACC championship (the Cavaliers prevailed in overtime).
It was also the Terrapins' final regular-season outing as an ACC member -- adding to the drama of that nationally televised border clash.
Fast forward to Wednesday: There wasn't much drama with UVa's decisive road victory over the Terps, with the Cavaliers maintaining a double-digit lead throughout the final 17 minutes ... and Malcolm Brogdon (18 points) and Justin Anderson (16 points/6 rebounds) filling up the stat sheet.
Speaking of which, within its disciplined, methodical approach to both ends of the floor, it's impossible to imagine Virginia squandering a double-digit second-half lead at any point this season. That should frighten any national powerhouse ... which lives for latter-half comebacks.
5. It was imperative for Miami (8-0) to knock off a formidable foe (No. 24 Illinois on Tuesday) ... without the benefit of an insane shooting day from Hurricanes guard Angel Rodriguez (9 points/6 rebounds/5 assists).
On Nov. 17, Miami pulled off an early-season road shocker over No. 8 Florida, on the strength of five triples from Rodriguez and some generally clutch shooting during the Hurricanes' 48-point second half.
As part of that, Rodriguez garnered a ton of national attention for leading the comeback; in fact, when viewing the highlights package from that football-heavy Monday night ... I don't recall a single basket from another U-M starter.
Back to Tuesday: The Hurricanes started fast, absorbed a mini-run from the Illini in the second half and then cruised to a 70-61 victory ... while limiting Illinois to 33-percent shooting from the field and suckering the opposition into 30 three-point attempts (only seven buckets).
Bottom line: Miami might not have the frontline size/shot-blocking acumen of its ACC title squad from two seasons ago (including the conference-tourney championship), but these perimeter-oriented Hurricanes still have the capacity to rise up and forge an upper-division finish in the super-sized ACC (15 teams).
As part of that ... there's little chance of the 2014-15 'Canes sneaking up on anybody -- thanks to the out-of-nowhere success from two years ago.
6. No. 12 North Carolina doled out a number of mixed messages in its home loss to Iowa. On the positive side:
**The Tar Heels limited the Hawkeyes to 33-percent shooting from the field (18 of 55).
**UNC enjoyed better tallies with three-pointers made, rebounds, steals and (fewer) turnovers.
**The Heels absurdly pulled down more offensive rebounds (24) than defensive boards (22).
On the down side:
**Point guard Marcus Paige, a national Player of the Year candidate, attempted 12 of UNC's 23 three-pointers against Iowa -- connecting on only three long-range shots.
**North Carolina (only three blocks for the night) continually allowed the Iowa guards and wing performers to penetrate the lane -- with little consequences of doing so.
From that moment, Iowa wouldn't surrender another point.
7. Virginia Tech, which fell to Penn State on Wednesday, may be a long-term work-in-progress, in terms of eventually competing for ACC titles. But at least we likely have closure on two sports-related questions with the Hokies ... such as:
**When did coach Buzz Williams leave Marquette for Blacksburg?
**Is Hokies center Satchel Pierce the first 7-footer named 'Satchel' in college hoops history?
8. It's not my joy to deride Tyler Ennis -- or any other talented college player who leaves school after his freshman season for NBA dough ... but not necessarily NBA fame.
But it's easy to envision the composition of Syracuse's starting lineup IF Ennis had been running the point as a sophomore ... instead of wallowing on the end of the Phoenix Suns' bench in the pros.
Yes, freshman guard Kaleb Joseph (9 points/7 rebounds/3 assists) has tangible talent, but the Orange might have been a true juggernaut -- if they were deep enough to develop first-year talents, like Joseph, as reserves.
That was evident against Michigan, when Syracuse had three chances in the final 20 seconds to either tie the score or produce the go-ahead basket.
However, two turnovers ... and one errant three-pointer during that decisive stretch prompted the Orange's second loss of the young season -- with non-conference tilts against St. John's, Long Beach State and No. 10 Villanova still on the December docket.
9. Georgia Tech, which notched a 66-58 win over Northwestern on Wednesday, looked sharp in those super-dark road uniforms -- although that might have been the odd lighting of Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Road triumph aside, there is one concern with the Yellow Jackets: Sophomore sharpshooter Quinton Stephens (2 points/2 assists/3 rebounds vs. Northwestern) has recorded only five three-pointers in the last five games -- one fewer triple than his supreme effort against Georgia on Nov. 14.
On that Friday night, Stephens required only 26 minutes to bury six three-pointers and seven shots from the field (22 points total).
From a broader perspective, Georgia Tech (6-1) has connected on only 16 of 57 triples in its last four games -- for a shaky rate of 28 percent.
10. I cannot hold out 23 more days for No. 5 Louisville (Tuesday win over Ohio State) and No. 1 Kentucky meeting on the same floor (Dec. 27).
For me, it's the most anticipated matchup of the month -- short of Gonzaga scheduling an impromptu pickup game with the top-ranked Wildcats, while the two programs were conveniently stuck at the same airport terminal ... during the Christmastime rush.
The Cardinals' frontline (led by Montrezl Harrell -- above) has enough size, talent and depth to keep Kentucky relatively in check.
