Ohio State And Duke Paired Again For ACC-Big Ten Challenge

Duke will get a chance to avenge a lopsided loss to Ohio State as the Blue Devils host the Buckeyes in an ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Wed., Nov. 28, at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C.

Exact game times for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge will be set at a later date, but the OSU-Duke match-up is almost certain to air in a prime spot on ESPN.Ohio State took an 85-63 win over Duke in a Challenge match-up on Nov. 29 at Value City Arena. That game matched up No. 2-ranked Ohio State with No. 3 Duke in arguably the biggest nonconference game in the 14-year history of VCA.

Duke has four starters back from a 27-7 team that fizzled down the stretch with three losses in its last four games. The capper was a 75-70 loss to 15th-seeded Lehigh in an NCAA second-round tournament game – in Greensboro, N.C., no less. That was certainly an early exit for a Duke program just two years removed from its latest national title under Mike Krzyzewski.

Guard Austin Rivers is leaving Durham after one year for the NBA. But 6'10" Mason Plumlee (11.1 ppg, 9.2 rpg) will be back for his senior year.

Also returning are guard Seth Curry (13.2 ppg), forward Ryan Kelly (11.8 ppg) and guards Andre Dawkins (8.4 ppg), Quinn Cook and Tyler Thornton. Duke also adds shooting guard Rasheed Sulaimon (ranked 11th nationally).

Ohio State has three starters back from its 31-8 team that won a share of the Big Ten title and reached the Final Four. The Buckeyes lost guard William Buford to graduation and saw center Jared Sullinger leave early for the NBA.

Wing Deshaun Thomas (15.9 ppg) announced he would be back. Thomas averaged just under 20 points per game in OSU’s Final Four run and could be poised for a big year. Guards Aaron Craft and Lenzelle Smith Jr. also return. OSU coach Thad Matta will ask sophs-to-be Sam Thompson, LaQuinton Ross, Shannon Scott and 6'11" Amir Williams to step up and fill the voids.

Thomas, Buford Blow By Illinois 83-67

Deshaun Thomas scored 19 points and Ohio State (No. 9 ESPN/USA Today, No. 8 AP) regained its shooting touch, rolling over Illinois 83-67 on Tuesday night to remain in the thick of the Big Ten race.

Ohio State shot 65 percent from the field.

William Buford, much maligned for his recent poor shooting, had 17 points, and Aaron Craft added 11 to go with five assists. Jared Sullinger, third in the conference at 17.5 points a game, managed just nine before fouling out.

The Buckeyes (23-5, 11-4) stayed on the heels of Big Ten leader Michigan State with three games remaining. The sixth-ranked Spartans are 11-3 in league play heading into a game at Minnesota on Wednesday night. Ohio State will visit Michigan State in the regular-season finale on March 4.

Meyers Leonard had 21 for Illinois (16-12, 5-10), which has lost six in a row and nine of 10.

The game was a dramatic turnaround for Brandon Paul, who had 43 points in Illinois' 79-74 stunner over then-No. 5 Ohio State on Jan. 10. Paul almost destroyed the Buckeyes by himself, making 11 of 15 shots from the field -- including 8 of 10 3-pointers -- and 13 of 15 free throws.

Freshman Recruit F LaQuinton Ross Ineligible

The NCAA doesn't stop, and now it's got it's eyes on the OSU basketball program by ruling incoming star forward LaQuinton Ross. Ross, an incoming freshman to this class, was supposed to be a huge part of this year's team to try and win a National Championship.

The reason for being announced ineligible was due to him failing his entrance exams such as the SAT/ACT.

Per 11W:

"Ross was ranked as the 43rd best player in the class of 2011 by Rivals and as the 13th best small forward in the class by Scout. Ross' agenda in the short term appear to be to head back home to Mississippi in order to take a class and retake the SAT in an effort to be granted eligibility. Even without the talented freshman, the Bucks are still expected to be amongst the nation's premiere teams in 2011/2012. Ohio State still welcomes in the highly touted Amir Williams, Sam Thompson, Shannon Scott, and Trey McDonald to join a core that includes Jared Sullinger, Aaron Craft, and William Buford."