Oh, Manchester, So Much To Answer For

The ACC/Big Ten Challenge may not tip off until Monday night, but the Big Ten's already won one over the ACC: Purdue, led by 22 points from the indestructible Kenneth Lowe, toppled #2 Duke in the championship of the Great Alaska Shootout tonight, 78-68. [Lowe was named tournament MVP, as well.] Staying up past 2am was well worth it to see this. This also means that all of the top 4 teams in last week's coaches' poll lost this week, so we can assume it'll be rock, chalk, Jayhawk at the top when the new poll is released on Monday. And gee, you think Georgia Tech and Dayton (winners of the Preseason NIT and Maui Invitational, respectively) might join the Boilers in the new poll? And speaking of upsets of ranked teams by unranked Big Ten squads, how 'bout those Hawkeyes, eh, sliding past #16 Louisville at the Wooden Tradition? All 8 Big Ten teams in action Saturday won, actually. It's a beautiful thing.