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The final buzzer. That's what Ohio State men's basketball coach Thad Matta said he's looking forward to about today's game at North Carolina.

Matta knows he couldn't fully prepare OSU for the crowd and noise at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, but his players can learn from that atmosphere.

"That's what I like about a game like this — if there's anything to like about going to North Carolina," Matta said. "When we leave there, I know we're one step closer to being prepared to play in the Big Ten and really play in any environment we want to go into."

The Buckeyes (6-0) are ranked No. 1 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll and No. 3 by the Associated Press.

But Matta doesn't feel like a favorite (the Buckeyes are 7.5-point underdogs) against Roy Williams' No. 6/7 Tar Heels (4-1). After all, the Atlantic Coast Conference was 22-4 as the home team in the first seven years of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

The game is a battle of the top two 2006 recruiting classes.

"The great thing is our kids, our incoming players, have played against and played with the guys at North Carolina," Matta said. "I think there's really no secrets in that regard."

Matta knows Tyler Hansbrough and Co. have the talent to match Ohio State. "I think you kind of pick your poison," Matta said. "And hope guys don't have a breakout night on you."

Even for a 30-year coach, games like tonight aren't just another November contest.

"These are the kind of games that I do get excited about," Williams said. "I think that's what the kids work every day for. ... The coaches — we think about when you're sitting there in the summer trying to decide which guys can play for us and which guys can't — because you're trying to determine who can do a good job for you in a big game."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-6951 or mgokavi@DaytonDailyNews.com.

ACC/Big Ten Challenge hoops

Tonight's games

Michigan St. at Boston College, 7 p.m., ESPN

Iowa at Virginia Tech, 7 p.m., ESPNU

Virginia at Purdue, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2

Ohio State at North Carolina, 9 p.m., ESPN

Clemson at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m., ESPN2

Monday/Tuesday results:

The ACC leads 4-2

(N.C. State 74, Michigan 69 ... Maryland 72, Illinois 66 ... Duke 54, Indiana 51 ... Georgia Tech 77, Penn State 73 ... Wisconsin 81, Florida State 66 ... Northwestern 61, Miami 59)

1999-05:

The ACC led the series 40-23.

Tonight's OSU game

Who: No. 3 Ohio State (6-0) at No. 7 North Carolina Tar Heels (4-1)

Time, TV: 9 p.m., ESPN