ACC-Big Ten Challenge: Question everything

Even if it sweeps all nine games this week, the Big Ten would still trail all time in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, which currently stands 27-17 in the ACC's favor.

Does that mean the ACC has had the superior conference since 1999? Please. That question is too easy to dignify with a response.

Here are some harder questions, questions that should be answered to some degree during the sixth annual ACC-Big Ten Challenge, also known as "The FSU-Minnesota Invitational."

Monday's game

Game: Purdue at N.C. State

Question: So is N.C. State that good? The Wolfpack have beaten the heck out of New Orleans, Elon, East Carolina and Campbell, but all those games were at home ... and against New Orleans, Elon, East Carolina and Campbell. Purdue isn't going to the 2005 NCAA Tournament without my press pass, but the Boilermakers will give N.C. State its first test.

Tuesday's games

Game: Michigan State at Duke

Duke's Sean Dockery will give Michigan State freshman point guard Drew Neitzel all he can handle.(AP)

Question: Drew Neitzel -- ready or not? The Spartans' freshman point guard has played three home games against mid-majors. Now he gets his first real competition, and it comes in one of the country's most difficult venues. Heaven help him if he has to bring the ball up the court against Duke's Sean Dockery and 9,314 of his worst enemies.

Game: Michigan at Georgia Tech

Question: How important was Jeremis Smith to Georgia Tech? The freshman forward, the Jackets' first big man off the bench, was lost for the season last week against Arkansas-Little Rock. Without Smith's 15 minutes per game, the Jackets will either have to lean harder on Theodis Tarver or play some tiny lineups against a Michigan team that has four post players, all 6-8 or bigger, in the rotation.

Game: Florida State at Minnesota