Random ramblings on a Wednesday afternoon ...

--In March 2003, Virginia and Illinois looked like sister programs. Each was guided by a legendary coach (Debbie Ryan, Theresa Grentz). Each had managed to wiggle into the NCAA tournament, with a short stay projected. (The four-team subregional was hosted by Tennessee. 'Nuff said.) Each program appeared to be struggling to return to its salad days, with Ryan and Grentz looking like their prime years were behind them, unable to find a path to the nation's elite. Virginia won that game easily, and in the intervening time, the Wahoos have turned it around.

Virginia arrives in C-U on Thursday with some of the nation's top talent, a serious threat to the powers-that-be in the ACC and a program on the rise. If you noticed that Illinois' incoming recruiting class is ranked among the nation's top 10, you might have also seen Virginia's name high on that list. As in No. 3, according to Blue Star, two spots ahead of Illinois. While Grentz called it a career in 2007, Ryan has returned Virginia to a prominent spot on the basketball landscape, a feat that Grentz surely can appreciate.

--Not sure what's going on at ESPN.com, but it's a little spooky. On the day that Illinois took on South Dakota State, a feature on the Jackrabbits showed up on ESPN.com. Then, a day before the Illini take on Virginia, Beth Mowins penned a piece on Cavaliers star Monica Wright. You think anyone at the Worldwide Leader is working on a story about Bradley's Braves in advance of Saturday's game? Yeah, probably not.

--The ACC/Big Ten Challenge, won 8-3 a year ago by the East Coast set, begins tonight. I think the Big Ten will get more than three wins this season, but not by much. My breakdown:

TONIGHT

Michigan State at Georgia Tech: A tossup. I'll give a slight edge to Tech because it's at home.

Penn State at Florida State: The Seminoles should win because they have more talent, but they've underachieved so far while Penn State has overachieved. Another close game, edge to FSU.

North Carolina at Ohio State: Can't see the Buckeyes handling UNC's pressure. Tar Heels win.

THURSDAY

Maryland at Purdue: The best matchup of the series. I'll take the Boilers, who have been impressive so far.

Iowa at Duke: Blowout City. Dick Vitale's favorite team wins.

Northwestern at Clemson: The Wildcats are much improved, but this is on the road. Clemson.

Boston College at Minnesota: Gophers in overtime.

Virginia Tech at Wisconsin: Neither team is very good, but Tech's pretty bad. If Wisconsin can't win this, it's really bad news for the Big Ten. Badgers.

Virginia at Illinois: Wahoos.

FRIDAY

N.C. State at Michigan: The Wolverines have been mighty tough at home, scaring Texas A&M and beating Vanderbilt. Wolverines win.

Indiana at Miami: I think the Hoosiers can steal one here, but it'll be tight. Indiana.

So, I've got ACC 6, Big Ten 5. If the Big Ten wins five of these games, it's a moral victory for a league that isn't nearly as good as the ACC.