UNC Topples No. 1 Michigan State; Challenge Finishes Tied
J.P. Tokoto helped North Carolina to an upset in over No. 1 Michigan State Wednesday.
North Carolina entered the hostile confines of the Breslin Center Wednesday night and handed No. 1 Michigan State its first loss of the season.
The 79-65 victory – which came as part of this year’s ACC-Big Ten Challenge – marked the Tar Heels’ biggest win of the season so far. It also ensured that the Challenge would finish tied 6-6 for the second straight year.
North Carolina put in a solid all-around performance as it outclassed a Spartans side that has looked strong all season.
Five Tar Heels scored in double digits, including Kennedy Meeks (15pts) and Brice Johnson (14pts) coming off the bench. J. P. Tokoto tallied 12 points and 10 rebounds while Marcus Page had 13 points, five boards, five assists and two steals.
UNC out-rebounded Michigan State to the tune of 49-38 and shot nine more free throws, making seven more than their opponents.
The Spartans’ backcourt pairing of Keith Appling and Gary Harris combined for 30 points but shot just 33 percent, dished out only five assists and turned the ball over four times. Appling left the court injured in the first half but returned before the break, much to the relief of the East Lansing crowd.
The loss – which was Michigan State’s first home defeat at the hands of an unranked non-conference opponent in more than 10 years – and, more importantly, the accompanying poor performance will have given Head Coach Tom Izzo plenty to ponder and correct before the Spartans head into Big Ten play on December 31.
The Tar Heels meanwhile continue their Jekyll and Hyde-like season. Wednesday’s win over the Spartans easily ranks alongside the team’s win over then-No. 3 Louisville two weeks ago, but leaves you questioning losses to UAB and Belmont.
If Williams’ side can find some kind of consistency, more wins like Wednesday’s huge upset will follow which could lead to North Carolina becoming a threat in the ACC this season.
As it stands, online sportsbook Bovada has the team ranked joint ninth (with Florida and Syracuse) on their college basketball futures list. Odds of the Tar Heels winning a national championship currently stand at 9/1.
Elsewhere in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge on Wednesday, No. 5 Ohio State made easy work of Maryland, who will switch allegiances and play for the Big Ten next season. No. 8 Wisconsin also defeated Virginia in a low-scoring affair. Both Big Ten schools remain unbeaten on the season and could see their stock rising when the rankings are released next weekend.
The Big Ten as a conference took four of Wednesday’s six meetings, matching the ACC’s haul on Tuesday. As it did in 2012, the Challenge finished tied 6-6.
The ACC can stake a claim for bragging rights having defeated two ranked teams, Michigan State and No. 22 Michigan. The latter was soundly beaten by No. 10 Duke on Tuesday.
Betting Notes
North Carolina’s win over Michigan State marked the 16th time in 170 games this season that an unranked team has defeated a ranked team. That’s a win rate of 9.4 percent, which is down on a season ago.
During the 2012-13 regular season: Â 118 unranked sides defeated ranked opponents across 628 games. The win ratio for last season was a mammoth 18.8 percent, which truly made it the Year of the Underdog.
ACC-Big Ten Challenge Results
Tuesday
No. 4 Syracuse 69, Indiana 52
Georgia Tech 67, Illinois 64
Pittsburgh 78, Penn State 69
No. 10 Duke 79, No. 22 Michigan 69
Notre Dame 93, No. 23 Iowa 98
Florida State 61, Minnesota 71
Wednesday
Maryland 60, No. 5 Ohio State 76
Virginia 38, No. 8 Wisconsin 48
North Carolina State 69, Northwestern 48
North Carolina 79, No. 1 Michigan State 65
Boston College 67, Purdue 88
Miami (FL) 49, Nebraska 60
Challenge finishes tied 6-6
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