ACC/Big Ten Challenge Matchups Announced, Plus Other Items

-- Jeff Goodman broke the news on some of next year's ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchups earlier in the week.  The official announcement came today:

Matchups for the 12th annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge were announced on Wednesday afternoon, and NC State will travel to Wisconsin on Tuesday, December 1.

NC State has posted a 5-5 all-time record in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Wolfpack has won four of its five home games in the challenge, and has gone 1-4 on the road, winning at 19th-ranked Purdue in 1999-2000.

Remember that Purdue game?  Justin Gainey from the top of the key (if I recall correctly) FTW.  The full slate:

Monday, November 29th
Virginia @ Minnesota

Tuesday, November 30th
North Carolina @ Illinois
Ohio State @ Florida State
Michigan @ Clemson
Georgia Tech @ Northwestern
Iowa @ Wake Forest

Wednesday, December 1st
Michigan State @ Duke
Purdue @ Virginia Tech
North Carolina State @ Wisconsin
Indiana @ Boston College
Maryland @ Penn State

Wins: UNC, Wake, Duke, BC, Maryland, ... Clemson?

-- NC State has assembled a committee for the athletics director search, though the school will also employ a search firm.  Kellie Harper strikes me as a curious choice for the committee considering she's only been here a year.

-- The latest in Carolina's ongoing search for more tall guys: they've expressed interest in 6-9 forward Justin Knox, who is transferring from Alabama.  Looking over Knox's numbers, it appears as though he's little more than a decent role player.  He's yet to make more than half his twos in a season.

-- Gobbler Country examines offensive and defensive turnover rates in ACC football games last season.  Both our offense and our defense were last in the league in plays per turnover.  So that's bad.  But it also suggests we're in for some correction in the right direction this season.  The offense, at least, is a good bet to improve.