Big Ten/ACC Challenge 2019: Day 1 Preview
After a number of upsets in the thanksgiving tournaments last week, a few more could happen this week. The Big Ten/ACC Challenge returns for the 13th straight year on Wednesday, Dec. 4 and Thursday, Dec. 5. Last year was one of the tightest it’s ever been, with the ACC just outpacing the Big Ten, 8–6. Five games were decided by single digits, including one game going into overtime, which hadn’t happened since 2016. Here’s what you need to know about each of Wednesday’s games. (Check back tomorrow for previews of Thursday’s action.)
№14 Indiana (6–1) at №21 Miami (FL) (5–2)
(For more coverage of this game, don’t miss our preview of the top five games of the week.)
Both Indiana and Miami won their last game after previously falling to ranked opponents. Indiana had an impressive showing at the Paradise Jam tournament in the US Virgin Islands over Thanksgiving break, beating №5 South Carolina and Washington State. Miami has dropped two games against №16 DePaul and №5 Oregon State.
Indiana has already come into their own this season, winning by an average margin of 26.3 (11th nationally). Offensively they’re ranked third in 2P% (56.8%), fourth in FG% (49.7%) and seventh in points per play (0.96). Defensively they’re ranked ninth in opponent’s 3P%, 14th in opponent’s points per scoring attempt (0.80) and 15th in opponent’s points per play (0.63). The Hurricanes are also ranked in the top 20 in 2P% (19th, 52.5%) so this game will be a battle of 2-pointers. Neither team has abundant 3-point shooters as Miami’s Kelsey Marshall leads both teams averaging just 2.3 3-pointers per game.
Indiana Impact Player: Mackenzie Holmes’ FG%, offensive rebounding and blocks can lead the Hoosiers to a victory. She is seventh nationally with a 73.6% FG% while averaging 2.6 offensive RPG and 1.7 BPG.
Miami Impact Player: Beatrice Mompremier has become a powerhouse this season, averaging 18.1 PPG, 8.9 RPG and 1.1 BPG. If she can limit her 3.7 turnovers per game, she will be a difference maker in the game.
Pick ’em: Indiana
Nebraska will attempt to take another stab at a six-win team after losing to 6–1 Creighton last week. Duke is on a four game winning streak after dropping two out of their first four games, one of which was to Northwestern, another Big Ten team. Nebraska’s defense may hinder the Blue Devils, as the Huskers limit their opponents to 31.9% shooting (12th nationally) and have 5.9 blocks per game (12th nationally). Half of Nebraska’s total 47 blocks come from 6'5" junior Kate Cain. The key to Duke’s game is getting to the charity stripe, something the Blue Devils have managed to do 89 times this season, good for eighth in the country. They are third nationally in free throws made (136) fueled by Haley Gorecki’s 6.4 free throws made per game (13th nationally) and 89.5% free throw percentage.
Duke Impact Player: Haley Gorecki is prolific on both sides of the floor. She’s averaging 18.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 4.2 APG, 0.9 BPG and has had two double-doubles, a 23-point and 13-rebound performance against Troy and a 12-point 10 assist performance against Penn.
Nebraska Impact Player: Hannah Whitish may only average 8.2 PPG, but she can exploit two of Duke’s issues: lack of 3-point defense and opponent’s assisted shot rate. Whitish averages 2 3-pointers made and is Nebraska’s leader in assists averaging 4.2 APG (96th percentile nationally).
Pick ’em: Duke
Minnesota (5–1) at Notre Dame (5–4)
Notre Dame is having an unusually poor start to the season, losing four games in November after not losing a game in the month of November since the 2011–12 season. They are currently 1–1 against Big Ten teams this season already, beating Michigan but losing to a now 19th-ranked Michigan State. Minnesota’s only loss was in their season opener to a now 22nd-ranked Missouri State.
Notre Dame’s main struggle this season has been turnovers. They’ve turned the ball over 151 times (335th nationally) while Marta Sniezek and Katlyn Gilbert each average around four turnovers a game. Minnesota has the ability to exploit that as they force their opponents into a turnover 26.8% of the time (9th nationally). They average 11 steals per game (24th nationally) and limit their opponents to only 4.7 SPG (9th nationally). The Fighting Irish may have lost four games but it’s not due to missing shots. They’re seventh in total FTM (132) and 8th in total 2PM (185). If Notre Dame can take care of the ball and get to the charity stripe, they’ll be in business.
Notre Dame Impact Player: Katlyn Gilbert, Notre Dame’s leading scorer will be the spark the Fighting Irish need to keep them above .500. She’s 12th nationally in 2PM (52) and as long as she can limit her turnovers, she will be a threat.
Minnesota Impact Player: Destiny Pitts is shooting 90% from the free throw line and in the 98th percentile in 3PM (17). If she can get hot in both, she can help lead her Gophers to a victory.
Pick ’em: Minnesota
Boston College (5–3) at Northwestern (5–1)
Northwestern’s first loss occurred last Sunday against №16 DePaul in a nail-biter where a jumper and a free throw were the deciding factor. Boston College has only beaten one team with a winning record so far, a 4–2 Rhode Island squad.
Turnovers may plague Boston College as four players average just under three per game. Northwestern forces a turnover on 24.8% of possessions (30th nationally) while averaging 10.7 SPG (35th nationally). If the Eagles can limit their turnovers, this game is surely to be a high scoring affair. They have six players averaging at least 9.5 PPG, and are ranked 6th nationally in both FGM (242) and 2PM (192) and 8th in total points (636).
Northwestern loves to share the rock as they are ranked first nationally with a 77% assisted shot rate. Guard Veronica Burton is the main culprit averaging 5.3 APG (98th percentile) along with her 4.0 SPG ranking her 7th nationally. Just over 52% of her assists are to Wildcats leading scorer Lindsey Pulliam contributing to 24% of her total points.
Boston College Impact Player: Emma Guy is part of the reason why Boston College has made so many shots. She’s in the 97th percentile in FGM and 98th percentile in 2PM (both 41). She may only average 12 PPG, but she is efficient with a 56.9% FG% while tacking on 6.4 RPG.
Northwestern Impact Player: Abbie Wolf has only shot below 50% once this season. What she brings to the court is her rebounding ability. The 6'4" Center averages 7.2 RPG and is in the 96th percentile in total offensive rebounds (19).
Pick ’em: Northwestern
This season so far has been a Big Ten challenge for Clemson as Iowa will be the third Big Ten team they’ve faced already, losing to Penn State and №9 Maryland in the past two weeks. Iowa had a good showing at the Puerto Rico Clasico over Thanksgiving break, beating Cincinnati and Towson but falling to Washington.
Clemson will look to dominate the offensive glass as their offensive rebound rate is 42.6% (15th nationally). The Tigers will look to Amari Robinson to help fellow forward Kobi Thornton grab those rebounds as Robinson leads the team with 7.0 RPG.
Iowa’s guard tandem Makenzie Meyer and Kathleen Doyle are averaging 30.3 PPG, 9.7 RPG and 9.0 APG. They’re the reason the Hawkeyes have an assisted shot rate of 70.2% (11th nationally). Nineteen out of their combined total 63 assists have been assists to each other.
Clemson Impact Player: Kobi Thornton’s average 3.0 offensive RPG (96th percentile) will be a key factor in the game as the Tigers try to get their first win over a team with a winning record. Clemson will not only need her offensive rebounding prowess but for her to continue to lead the Tigers in scoring and hope she will improve her 13.2 PPG average.
Iowa Impact Player: Other players have been lauded for their efficiency in this article but Monika Czinano is by far the best with a 74.5% FG%, ranking her sixth in the nation. She scores 1.47 points per scoring attempt ranking her 25th. She was a perfect 9–9 from the field scoring 18 points against North Alabama in Iowa’s second game of the season.
Pick ’em: Iowa
Projected record after Day 1: Big Ten 4, ACC 1
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