Wednesday kicks off the 2021 ACC/Big 10 Challenge. The Challenge pits teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference against Ohio State and its conference-mates of the Big 10. This season, Ohio State travels to Syracuse University. It’s a game that looks like a big matchup in name notoriety but looks can be deceiving.
Here’s what to look out for in tonight’s game.
Quick Info
Opponent: Syracuse University
Record: 3-4, 0-1 ACC
Location: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY
How to Watch: 8:00 p.m. ET – ACC Network
Syracuse’s Fall
After the 2020/21 season, 12 players transferred out of the Syracuse program. Those 12 included the Orange’s top scorer in the past two season, forward Emily Engstler. In addition, freshmen center Kamilla Cardoso left after winning both ACC Defensive Player and Freshmen of the Year.
Initially, the transfers were linked with COVID-19 protocol issues within the team, but that changed. Following the transfers, former head coach Quentin Hillsman resigned from the team. Hillsman’s resignation came after allegations became public of inappropriate behavior of student athletes.
In Hillsman’s place is interim head coach Vonn Read. So far this season, Read’s Syracuse has three wins, but all come against smaller conference opponents. Also, none of Syracuse’s wins come against teams with a winning record. This fall comes after a 15-9 2020/21 season and second round exit, to Connecticut, in the NCAA Tournament.
Who to Watch
While Syracuse has lost a lot, they aren’t without playmakers. Leading the team in minutes, points and assists is senior Chrislyn Carr. The Texas Tech transfer plays a lot. Carr averages 34 minutes per game, and averages 14 points, 2.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game.
Leading the team in rebounds is redshirt sophomore Teisha Hyman. The guard only started one game in 2019, and missed last season due to a medical redshirt. Hyman is making up for lost time with increased minutes and productivity. Specifically, leading the team with 46 total rebounds, averaging 6.6 in her seven starts.
What to Watch
Ohio State isn’t playing Syracuse of years past, but as the season goes on, this ACC side will only get better. That’s because Read’s opted to start the same lineup for all seven games. This move helps a team full of new names build much needed chemistry, even though rotating a team of multiple new players wouldn’t come as a surprise.
Something Syracuse does well is cause turnovers. Similar to Ohio State, Syracuse will press heavily. So far it’s worked. In seven games they lead the ACC forcing 148 turnovers. On the other end, Ohio State’s given up the second fewest turnovers in the Big 10, with 70.
It’ll be interesting to watch the guard play of Ohio State, and their reaction to the press. Guards Jacy Sheldon, who was named to the Big 10 Honor Roll this week, Taylor Mikesell and Kateri Poole have to find spaces to shoot, and maintain their low turnover rate, to compete.
Prediction
Unfortunately, this game doesn’t look like it’ll be as exciting as others in this ACC/Big 10 challenge. Ohio State is on a roll, and even with the issues in the Syracuse program, this is a game that players anticipate. No matter how many times they say they’re just focusing on the next game. Playing against a powerhouse like Syracuse adds a target, regardless of their season record.
Ohio State is 10-1 all time against Syracuse University. After Wednesday’s game, it’ll go to 11-1. The Buckeyes will win, but it’ll be closer than the rest of Ohio State’s games this season.
ACC/Big Ten Challenge
Ohio State and Syracuse are one of 14 matchups between the conferences, stretching from Wednesday to Thursday evening. In it are some big matches that will impact the polls.
The biggest come Thursday, where three games feature ranked teams facing off. Of those three, the one that looms the largest is number 2 ranked NC State against number 6 Indiana.
Below is a full list of games in the challenge:
Wednesday, December 1
Rutgers at Pitt 6 p.m. – ACCN
Nebraska at Wake Forest 7 p.m. – RSN
Georgia Tech at Purdue 7 p.m. – BTN
Virginia Tech at Wisconsin 7:30 p.m. – BTN+
No. 18 Ohio State at Syracuse 8 p.m. – ACCN
North Carolina at Minnesota 9 p.m. – BTN
Thursday, December 2
Penn State at Boston College 6 p.m. – ACCN
No. 24 Notre Dame at Michigan State 6 p.m. – BTN
No. 12 Michigan at No. 10 Louisville 7 p.m. – ESPN
No. 2 NC State at No. 6 Indiana 7 p.m. – ESPN2
Northwestern at Clemson 8 p.m. – ACCN
Miami at No. 8 Maryland 8 p.m. – BTN
No. 25 Florida State at Illinois 8 p.m. – BTN+
No. 9 Iowa at Duke 9 p.m. – ESPN
Follow Beyond Women’s Sports all season for more coverage of Ohio State basketball. Thomas Costello is on Twitter too. Follow him @1ThomasCostello.
