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Tuesday, November 28, 2000
Midwest: Hoosiers up to the Challenge
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
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Former Indiana coach Bob Knight wasn't a fan of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. So, the Hoosiers weren't involved last year or this year or were in the plans for anytime in the future.
|  | | Indiana freshman Jared Jeffries (here in high school) may get some ACC/Big Ten Challenge limelight. |
Then, Knight got fired. Suddenly, ESPN heard from Indiana and its willingness, almost pleading, to be involved. ESPN, of course, obliged and will rotate in the Hoosiers the next two years.
Ohio State was supposed to join the rotation next year. The Buckeyes weren't in the field the past two years because of scheduling conflicts.
Having Indiana and Ohio State will strengthen the package in the coming years. Northwestern and Minnesota and/or Penn State will probably be first up to be replaced.
Having Indiana in the event allows ESPN to schedule a game in Indianapolis in one of the next two years. The contract between the two conferences calls for at least two games to be played on neutral courts in an ACC and a Big Ten area. This year the games are in Greensboro, N.C. (Duke-Illinois) and Milwaukee (Maryland-Wisconsin).
Wisconsin wasn't bothered by the new emphasis on rough play during its opener against Tennessee. But there was a problem with offense. The Badgers couldn't score with Kirk Penney going 0-for-16 (although the Badgers were looking at it really being 0-for-13 for some reason).
Wisconsin's most improved scorer in the offseason was Maurice Linton. But Linton and point guard Travon Davis are out for the first nine games due to a suspension related to accepting discounted shoes over the summer. The Badgers miss Linton's athleticism on the wing, too. But point guard Mike Kelley might miss Davis more than Linton. Kelley has to play 38-40 minutes without Davis to give him a breather.
That could catch up to the Badgers throughout their brutal schedule this month, especially against Maryland next week in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge in Milwaukee.
Baylor opened its season Wednesday against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Bears have only three more games (Hardin-Simmons, Arkansas-Little Rock and St. Edwards) before mid-December. The reason? Baylor back loaded the non-conference schedule to wait until SMU transfer Chad Elsey is eligible. Elsey's first game will be at Cal State-Fullerton on Dec. 16, one of two non-conference road games for the Bears.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com. His Weekly Word on college basketball is updated Thursdays/Fridays throughout the year.
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