B1G Win.

The Hoos got the ACC off to a nice start in the Big Ten / ACC Challenge tonight with a 70-58 win over #15 Michigan.  Of course, you saw the game on ESPN2.

Emptying my notebook...

-- I don't like scoring less than 50 points in a loss, but I love scoring low in a win in which we clearly dictate the tempo and frustrate the opponent.  It's grind-it-out Bennettball, and I absolutely love it when it works.  70 points isn't "low" but you understand my point.

-- 38, 48, 57, 35, 52, 42, 48.  Those are the point totals our defense has allowed this season.  It's a slow-it-down game we play, but this means we are successfully dictating tempo and playing good defense.  Bodes very well, moving forward.

It also helps to have a good shot blocker on the floor.

-- Only eight turnovers tonight.  Seems like we're getting that problem under control.

-- 77.3% from the line.  I don't see us losing many games in which we shoot better than 75% on free throws.  (66% in the loss to TCU.)

-- I think tonight showed us what the rotation will be this year: Mike Scott (30 minutes tonight) and Joe Harris (36 minutes) always starting and playing big minutes, Jontel Evans (29), Assane Sene (19 while battling some foul trouble), Sammy Zeglinski (34), KT Harrell (10), Malcolm Brogdon (24), and Akil Mitchell (15) rounding out the eight-man rotation.  Darion Atkins (3 minutes) and James Johnson (0) in bit time or if the bigs get into foul trouble.  And that's it.

-- Speaking of Johnson, I'm pretty disappointed in Big Red so far.  I expected him to be a lot better.  I at least expected him to be playing.

-- Mike Scott (18 and 11 tonight) is a frickin monster.  It looked like he was battling some thigh cramps, but still played 30 minutes.  Whenever we need a bucket, we can feed the beast.  And he's also a phenomenal rebounding force.

-- I think it's safe to say that Joe Harris' slump is over.  He look fluid and confident shooting the ball tonight.  He was also our designated free-throw shooter in the endgame.  (I was wondering who would replace Farrakhan in that role.)

-- Jontel Evans still drives me crazy, but his 4:1 assist to turnover ratio was good tonight.  I think he shot too much and got too crazy with the ball at times.  It's a conservative offense, and he has a gambler's mentality with the ball in his hands.  It's not a good fit.  His play will cost us a couple of wins this season, mark my words.

-- Sammy was bound and determined to make some threes tonight.  At one point, it got a little bit black holeish.  We need him to shoot and make shots, but we don't need him jacking 'em up willy nilly... especially when his shot is a bit off.

-- Malcolm Brogdon is legit.  Cool, confident kid with a sweet-looking jump shot.  He's outplaying KT Harrell, and should take control of the shooting guard position in short order (HATE Sammy and Jontel on the floor at the same time).  Brogdon's defense looked very good for a freshman in his seventh game.

-- The team is coming together a little bit, starting to gel.  This was a big, big win against a quality team that will no doubt go on to many wins of their own.  I think we're back to even money, this good win and two solid wins (Drexel, Drake) overcoming the RPI hit we took from losing to TCU.  We were at 78 before tonight, but this win should put us solidly in the 50s.  The goal is to be in the top 35 of the RPI when the season ends, lest we have to sweat the bubble on Selection Sunday.

-- We should coast past Longwood on Saturday to get to 7-1.  Our next test is a week from tonight against always-tough George Mason.  That's a big game.  After that, it's exams and then off to the West Coast for the Oregon and Seattle U games.  Maryland -- Eastern Shore and Towson wrap up the 2011 slate.  We need to emerge from this upcoming stretch at no worse than 11-2, though 12-1 is obviously ideal, and honestly attainable.

-- For the first time after watching this team play this season, I'm convinced we're a tournament team.  This was an impressive win tonight.  Bennettball clicked on all cylinders, and I am very encouraged.  Scott and Harris give us too good go-to scorers, with Zeglinski, Brogdon, and Harrell good in support scoring roles.  The defense is fantastic, and the rebounding is solid (especially with Scott on the floor).  I still think we need a guard who can get to the basket and find his own shot, but that is mitigated by being able to spread the floor with so many shooters and then moving the ball smartly.  It's going to be ugly at times, especially when the perimeter shots aren't falling, but I think there is too much substance here for us to not be a very good team.

-- Nice orange shoes, Jontel.

GO HOOS!